The Taliban’s Disaster Management Authority announced that at least 148 people have drowned in Afghanistan over the past year. According to the provided figures, 71 men, 66 children, and 11 women lost their lives in various bodies of water.
Taj Mohammad Hemmat, deputy spokesperson for the authority, stated on Saturday, July 25, on the occasion of World Drowning Prevention Day, that dozens of Afghan citizens lose their lives every year in rivers, qanats, canals, pools, dams, and other hazardous water sources.
He identified the main causes of these incidents as the failure to observe safety precautions while swimming, a lack of public awareness, and unfamiliarity among citizens particularly children with the dangers posed by water bodies. According to him, expanding public education could play a crucial role in reducing such accidents.
The deputy spokesperson also noted that with rising summer temperatures and more people turning to swimming, drowning incidents have increased. He urged citizens to keep children away from canals, dams, and other dangerous water sources and never leave them unattended near water.
The authority further warned citizens against swimming in very cold water and fast-flowing rivers. The Taliban emphasized that broadening information sharing and raising public awareness about the risks of swimming in unsafe locations can effectively reduce drowning rates.
Experts also attribute these fatal incidents to public negligence, swimming in high-risk and prohibited areas, a lack of rescue equipment, and the absence of safety measures around Afghanistan’s dams and rivers. According to them, the lack of warning signs and lifeguards at recreational sites has further contributed to the rising toll of drowning victims.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
