President Karzai Is Deeply Disturbed By
Band-e-Sultan Dam Burst Incident in Ghazni Province
Released by the Office of the Spokesman to the President Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan
03/29/2005
Presidential Palace, Kabul - H.E. Hamid
Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is
deeply disturbed by the Band-e-Sultan dam burst incident this
morning in Ghazni province, causing extensive flooding in villages
and in the streets of Ghazni city.
While there are reports about a small number of
deaths, casualties have been mainly avoided by prior warning
of villagers by the local authorities.
In his reaction to the news, the President said:
"I am deeply disturbed by the news of this incident. It
is sad that heavy rains, while a blessing for the drought-hit
Afghanistan, are causing unexpected calamities such as this
one. I assure the people of Ghazni that all steps will be taken
immediately by the Government to provide relief to the affected
communities".
Responding speedily to the incident today,
various government ministries took action to deal with the emergency
situation. The Rural Rehabilitation and Development Minister
and the Public Works Minister are in Ghazni now to oversee the
rescue and relief operations. Both ministries have carried essential
food and relief items to the region for distribution to the
affected families. A delegation from the Ministry of Water and
Power is also in the area assessing the emergency needs of the
affected communities. The Ministry of Defence and the Ghazni-based
Provincial Reconstruction Team are also helping with the emergency,
especially by providing air transport.
