Severe floods swept away 16,000 homes, death toll rises to 70, Afghanistan

Heavy rainfall has been affecting central, southern and western regions of Afghanistan since the start of the month, triggering deadly floods that resulted in widespread destruction. The most affected provinces are Kandahar, Helmand, Farah, Herat and Badghis, DG ECHO reports.

Nine provinces have been affected by heavy rains and flooding since March 1, with Helmand, Zabul, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Herat and Farah, also affected by a five-year drought, particularly impacted. Another seven provinces were hit by snowfall, avalanches and mudslides.

Many areas are also exposed to conflict and drought and are host to hundreds of thousands of displaced, UN OCHA reported. Population resilience is very low, and any additional shock puts them in a dire situation.

According to ACAPS (Assessment Capacities Project), the death toll stands at 70 as of March 13. A further 111 000 people live in areas of high risk and may be affected as rains resume in the coming days. 

More than 16 000 houses were swept away and 8 670 damaged with approximately 250 000 people affected.

The storm that hit Kandahar city and the districts of Zheri, Dand, Damand, Arghandab, Spinboldak and Takhtapu at the beginning of March dropped 97 mm (3.81 inches) of rain in just 30 hours.

This region has a desert climate with about 176 mm (6.92 inches) of rain in an entire year.

January is the region's wettest month with about 62 mm (2.44 inches) of rain, followed by February with 43 mm (1.69 inches), and March and December with 21 mm (0.82 inches). Other months receive between 0 and 4 mm (0.15 inches) of rain.

Over the next 72 hours, locally heavy rain and snowfall are forecast over Kabul area and north-eastern areas of the country while moderate rainfall and snowfall are forecast over the central areas of the country.

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At least 24 dead, over 100 missing in Zimbabwe after cyclone

At least 24 people have been killed and dozens are missing in parts of eastern Zimbabwe hit by the peripheral effects of tropical cyclone Idai which lashed neighbouring Mozambique, the government said on Saturday.

Zimbabwe's ministry of information announced on Twitter that so far the "number of deaths is confirmed at 24 mainly from Chimanimani East," including two students, while at least 40 other people have been injured.

Many houses have been damaged and bridges washed away in parts of the Manicaland province which borders Mozambique.

A group of people who fled their homes were "marooned" on top of a mountain waiting to be rescued, but strong winds were hampering helicopter flights, the ministry said.

Over 100 missing

Earlier a lawmaker told AFP that thousands of people have been affected, power cut off and major bridges flooded.

"The information we have so far is that over 100 people are missing and some of them" may have died, Joshua Sacco, a member of parliament in Chimanimani district, told AFP.

"At least 25 houses were swept away following a mudslide at Ngangu township in Chimanimani urban. There were people inside. They are part of the missing," he said.

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At least 24 dead, over 100 missing in Zimbabwe after cyclone

At least 24 people have been killed and dozens are missing in parts of eastern Zimbabwe hit by the peripheral effects of tropical cyclone Idai which lashed neighbouring Mozambique, the government said on Saturday.

Zimbabwe's ministry of information announced on Twitter that so far the "number of deaths is confirmed at 24 mainly from Chimanimani East," including two students, while at least 40 other people have been injured.

Many houses have been damaged and bridges washed away in parts of the Manicaland province which borders Mozambique.

A group of people who fled their homes were "marooned" on top of a mountain waiting to be rescued, but strong winds were hampering helicopter flights, the ministry said.

Over 100 missing

Earlier a lawmaker told AFP that thousands of people have been affected, power cut off and major bridges flooded.

"The information we have so far is that over 100 people are missing and some of them" may have died, Joshua Sacco, a member of parliament in Chimanimani district, told AFP.

"At least 25 houses were swept away following a mudslide at Ngangu township in Chimanimani urban. There were people inside. They are part of the missing," he said.

Read more -CLICK HERE

Israel Strikes 100 Targets in Gaza Overnight in Response to Rockets Fired at Tel Aviv

■ Israeli army assesses that militants mistakenly fired rockets at Tel Aviv during maintenance work 

■ Weekly Gaza border protest canceled 

■ Three additional projectiles launched from Gaza to southern Israel Friday morning

The Israeli army attacked some 100 targets in Gaza Thursday overnight in response to two rockets being fired at Tel Aviv from the Strip the evening before, a first since the 2014 war. According to a preliminary army assessment, the rockets were fired at Tel Aviv by mistake during maintenance work.

The army said the Iron Dome missile defense system was activated as a result of the launches. It is assumed that the rockets landed in open areas due to the fact that no damage or injuries were reported. The last time rocket alerts were activated in Tel Aviv was two years ago, in what turned out to be a false alarm. The flare-up comes three weeks before Israel holds its general election on April 9.

In an unusual move, the organizing committee for the March of Return in Gaza announced Friday morning that it called off the weekly protest along the Israel-Gaza border in light of the flare-up. The committee said in a statement that the protest, which has been held every Friday since last March, was canceled in an effort to prevent further escalation and Palestinian casualties.

Read more - https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/rocket-alerts-blare-in-tel-aviv-1.7022326

Israel Strikes 100 Targets in Gaza Overnight in Response to Rockets Fired at Tel Aviv

■ Israeli army assesses that militants mistakenly fired rockets at Tel Aviv during maintenance work 

■ Weekly Gaza border protest canceled 

■ Three additional projectiles launched from Gaza to southern Israel Friday morning

The Israeli army attacked some 100 targets in Gaza Thursday overnight in response to two rockets being fired at Tel Aviv from the Strip the evening before, a first since the 2014 war. According to a preliminary army assessment, the rockets were fired at Tel Aviv by mistake during maintenance work.

The army said the Iron Dome missile defense system was activated as a result of the launches. It is assumed that the rockets landed in open areas due to the fact that no damage or injuries were reported. The last time rocket alerts were activated in Tel Aviv was two years ago, in what turned out to be a false alarm. The flare-up comes three weeks before Israel holds its general election on April 9.

In an unusual move, the organizing committee for the March of Return in Gaza announced Friday morning that it called off the weekly protest along the Israel-Gaza border in light of the flare-up. The committee said in a statement that the protest, which has been held every Friday since last March, was canceled in an effort to prevent further escalation and Palestinian casualties.

Read more - https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/rocket-alerts-blare-in-tel-aviv-1.7022326

FACEBOOK DOWN: SITE AND APP NOT WORKING FOR USERS WHO ARE TOLD IT IS 'DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE'

Facebook has stopped working for some of its users.
A message showing to those affected suggests the problem is part of scheduled maintenance, though Facebook's own developer page makes no reference to those issues.
"Facebook will be back soon," the message showing to users reads.

"Facebook is down for required maintenance right now, but you should be able to get back on within a few minutes. In the meantime, read more about why you're seeing this message. Thanks for your patience as we improve the site."
Others suggested they were able to get online, but that some particular functions – like uploading photos, adding statuses or adjusting particular pages – did not appear to be working. People reported seeing a message about there being a "problem updating your status", encouraging people to try again in a few minutes

Read more - CLICK HERE

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FACEBOOK DOWN: SITE AND APP NOT WORKING FOR USERS WHO ARE TOLD IT IS 'DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE'

Facebook has stopped working for some of its users.
A message showing to those affected suggests the problem is part of scheduled maintenance, though Facebook's own developer page makes no reference to those issues.
"Facebook will be back soon," the message showing to users reads.

"Facebook is down for required maintenance right now, but you should be able to get back on within a few minutes. In the meantime, read more about why you're seeing this message. Thanks for your patience as we improve the site."
Others suggested they were able to get online, but that some particular functions – like uploading photos, adding statuses or adjusting particular pages – did not appear to be working. People reported seeing a message about there being a "problem updating your status", encouraging people to try again in a few minutes

Read more - CLICK HERE

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