Flooding Forces Closure Of Major Routes Across Afghanistan

In a statement, the commission said at least 169 returnees were transferred from Kabul to various provinces on that day.

Pakistan has recently stepped up the arrest and deportation of Afghan migrants. It has reopened the Torkham crossing specifically for the expulsion of undocumented migrants.

The crossing had previously been closed to passenger traffic following tensions and clashes between the Taliban and Pakistan.

Pakistan had shut the Torkham crossing to trade and transit since October amid border clashes.

Officials said the crossing has now been reopened on a one-way basis solely for the return of Afghan migrants.

This comes despite repeated warnings from international organisations that returning many Afghan migrants, including women, journalists, former government officials and soldiers, to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is unsafe.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy Taliban spokesperson, said on Saturday, April 4, that the earthquake caused casualties and damage in Kabul, Panjshir, Logar, Nangarhar, Laghman and Nuristan.

The US Geological Survey said the 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck at about 8:42pm Kabul time in the Hindu Kush region at a depth of 186 kilometres.

The Taliban said the earthquake destroyed one house in Bagrami district of Kabul, killing eight people.

Tremors were also felt across large parts of India and Pakistan.

Radio Television Afghanistan under Taliban control earlier reported that a house collapsed in Bagrami, killing eight members of a single family.

Marking Mine Awareness Day on Saturday, April 4, the ICRC said it recorded at least 217 incidents involving explosive remnants of war across Afghanistan last year.

The organisation noted that landmines and unexploded ordnance from decades of conflict continue to pose a serious threat to civilians.

According to UN data, Afghanistan remains one of the three most contaminated countries in the world by explosive hazards.

The report said one-third of such incidents occurred in eastern Afghanistan, while 48% were in western regions and 34% in southern areas. The lowest number of incidents was recorded in northern provinces.

The ICRC described the level of casualties as alarming, noting that for every person killed, nearly four others were injured. Many of the wounded suffer long-term disabilities and require ongoing care.

The report stressed that the high casualty rate highlights the urgent need to expand mine risk education programmes across Afghanistan.

Last year, the ICRC provided essential awareness training to 120,000 people in areas contaminated by explosive hazards.

UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett also called on the international community to invest in continued clearance of landmines and unexploded ordnance, stressing that Afghanistan remains among the most affected countries globally.

The group said the changes come as Afghan cases are already delayed and entry for those with Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) has effectively stalled.

In a statement, AfghanEvac warned that if implemented, the “Enduring Welcome” programme for relocating Afghan allies would be fully closed, with no replacement offered.

It added that the proposed 2027 budget includes no funding for refugee and migration assistance, reducing the capacity to resettle refugees.

According to AfghanEvac, the budget prioritises deterrence policies over humanitarian support, redirecting resources towards deportations and migration control.

The organisation warned that the proposal would not only change policies but reshape the immigration system, leaving legal pathways on paper while removing practical access to them.

Following a shooting by an Afghan refugee at US National Guard personnel in Washington, DC, the Trump administration increased restrictions on Afghan refugees, leaving them unable to obtain permanent residency or citizenship indefinitely.

The administration had also previously banned entry to the United States from 12 countries, including Afghanistan.

Reports indicate that thousands of Afghans eligible for resettlement as refugees or through Special Immigrant Visas are currently awaiting transfer to the United States.

He said the floods have also caused widespread damage, with hundreds of homes completely or partially destroyed.

Thousands of acres of agricultural land have been lost, putting the livelihoods of many residents in affected areas at serious risk.

According to Taliban figures, four people remain missing and more than 2,400 homes have been damaged. Flooding has also blocked roads in several provinces.

Over the past week, Afghanistan has experienced unusually heavy rainfall and snowfall. In some provinces, intense rain has fallen, while in others, including Zabul, snowfall has reached up to 50 centimetres.

Flooding is one of the deadliest natural disasters in Afghanistan, claiming hundreds of lives each year.

Experts say a combination of climate change, prolonged drought and unregulated construction has increased the impact and casualties of such disasters in recent years.