Heavy snow avalanches in Badakhshan have killed more than 16 people. Hundreds of villages are trapped, roads blocked and many missing feared to be dead. At least 12 districts of the province are disconnected with center. In one village, 72 houses have been buried under snow. It is feared that the death toll will increase. Thousands of villagers in trapped far-flung areas are in emergency need of food and shelter, while officials are making the usual excuses of early snowfall or lack of cleaning equipment.

Local people are trying themselves to clear up the blocked roads caused by a series of avalanches and heavy snowfall since last week. People in more than 12 districts are in need of edible supplies and emergency assistance. Local people are unable to move and take the affected people to hospitals.

The Disaster Management authorities and higher officials of the Government must immediately send emergency teams to evacuate people and open the blocked roads. Despite the fact that winter disaster is inevitable in some particular parts of the country in January and February each year, concerned authorities have no preparedness.

Earlier last week when the snowfall started, local officials had warned of a catastrophe due to lack of equipment for emergency response. Because of lack of communication as far-flung areas are cut off from Provincial center, earlier signs of catastrophe went unreported in media. Transport is at standstill. Usually in such areas government have no machinery to reach and help people, therefore masses help themselves. But the heavy snow makes it impossible sometimes. But Disaster Management authorities are responsible for any catastrophe due to their utter disregard.

Daily usage items such as flour and cooking oil prices have already gone double. Locals have urged authorities to immediately reach out to their villages and clear the roads, otherwise they could face severe food shortage.
When asked about the reports of blockades in far-flung villages of northern provinces, the Disaster Management Authority put the blame of Public Works Department for being responsible to clear the roads. It's usual of them to pass blames on each other and not take responsibility, but they are not bothered to the urgency of the issue.

Natural disasters such as heavy snowfall cause hundreds of deaths every year in winter. The Natural Disaster Management Authority officials in Kabul should call emergency rescue operations in Northern provinces where heavy snowfall has made life miserable for thousands of villagers.