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2022 in focus: climate and health

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Atypical floods hit Afghanistan

Afg1_Spin_Boldak_District_hospital_affected_by_the_flash_flood_Herat_Afghanistan Flash flood washing through Spin Boldak District Hospital, Herat, Afghanistan, 2022. WHO

More than 110 600 people were hit by unexpected floods that affected 33 provinces in Afghanistan, claiming scores of deaths and hundreds of injuries, as well as damaging or destroying more than 14 000 homes and displacing their inhabitants. 

The WHO-supported ambulatory system transported victims and survivors to hospitals and provided medical kits to health facilities, including trauma kits to treat the injured. Cholera kits and cholera rapid diagnostic tests were also provided to prepare for possible outbreaks in the aftermath of the floods. In August 2022 alone, WHO trained a total of 600 medical doctors and nurses to ensure proper treatment of patients with acute watery diarrhoea, while continuing to work with partners to scale up support for life-saving health interventions and prepare for any potential infectious disease outbreaks due to the floods.

Risk communication was also enhanced in flood-affected areas to empower communities with prevention messages to protect themselves and their families

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Additional audiovisual material here and here