Building Climate Resilience: How a Flood Protection Wall Revived an Afghan Community

Herat, Afghanistan – What was once a vibrant community has turned into a ghost town, with hundreds of families forced to leave behind their homes, land, crops, livestock and dreams.

The Shadi Bera community in Herat, Afghanistan, consisting of over 400 families, has long relied on agriculture as a source of livelihood. However, the mud houses in the community were frequently destroyed by floods, which are becoming more prevalent across the country as a result of climate change.

Despite contributing minimally to global carbon emissions, Afghanistan ranks among the top ten countries most affected by climate change. Since 2022, climate change has replaced conflict as the primary driver of internal displacement in the country, according to the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) data.

In May 2024, heavy rains triggered devastating flash floods across several provinces in Afghanistan, destroying over 4,000 homes and claiming 210 lives. The month recorded several of the deadliest floods in the country's recent history.

“In spring, we struggle with dust and floods; in winter, with harsh snow and cold weather,” said Fatima, a 26-year-old resident of Shadi Bera, who dreams of working in a beauty salon one day. “One time, we had to sleep on our roof for a week because our entire house was submerged, and we spent the night under a tarpaulin, enduring heavy rain until morning.”

Like many others, Fatima and her family had no choice but to move to Herat city, leaving everything in Shadi Bera behind. “The floods were unpredictable and could destroy our homes in minutes. We felt helpless and fearful every time the rains came,” she said.

Severe droughts and floods have worsened over the last three years, now impacting more than half of Afghanistan’s population. These events have caused water shortages, land damage, desertification, food insecurity, economic difficulties and displacement.

Fortunately, the situation is now different in Shadi Bera.

Following an assessment, IOM worked with the local community to build a flood protection wall around the village.

“Before, frequent floods often destroyed my crops. This year, thanks to the wall, our wheat production increased significantly compared to last year,” said Gul, a 70-year-old community member.

The flood protection wall successfully protected the Shadi Bera community from the deadly floods in May 2024.

IOM works with at-risk communities to strengthen resilience and reduce disaster impact by empowering local communities to lead the construction of flood protection structures such as walls, culverts, check dams, weir dams, dikes, floodways and canals. These initiatives not only mitigate disaster risks but also provide temporary employment opportunities for community members.

Moreover, IOM provides training and equipment for early warning systems, first aid, and basic search and rescue, enhancing disaster preparedness within communities.

Shadi Bera has witnessed a remarkable transformation since the start of this initiative. Families have returned to their homes, and the local economy is slowly recovering.

“The floods drove out almost the entire population of our community and forced them to migrate,” said Abdullah, a 75-year-old community leader. “Thanks to this protection wall, almost half of the population has returned, and families are rebuilding their lives. This wall has also given our community the confidence to resume agriculture and livestock activities.”

Since 2013, IOM has implemented 157 projects in 19 provinces of Afghanistan, reaching over 580,000 people. Since 2016, over 19,650 people have received training on community disaster resilience, including early warning systems, first aid, search and rescue operations, and basic construction skills.

The construction of the flood protection wall in Shadi Bera was made possible through funding from the KfW Development Bank and the Government of Japan.