1,000 domestic animals lost to Kunduz snowfall

KUNDUZ (PAN): Up to 1,000 domestic animals were lost to recent heavy snowfall and avalanches in northern Kunduz province, but affected families are yet to be assisted, residents said on Thursday.

On the other hand, provincial agricultural department officials say livestock owners have given an exaggerated number of the cattle killed by the natural disaster.
They insist timely efforts by the authorities led to saving many household animals. They also claim distributing grass to livestock owners and farmers.
As of Monday, 20 centimeters of snowfall was recorded in most parts of the province.
Muhammad Ayub, a resident of Gultapa district, said he had lost 20 of his 200 sheep to last week’s snowstorm at a pasture in the Abadan desert.
“I had no way to take my sheep to safety and 20 of them died of severe cold,” he recalled, confirming that 500 animals in the area had died because of harsh weather conditions.
Livestock owners in Chahardara district say 500 household animals have been killed in Dashti Abadan and Miralam areas.
Abdul Wahid, speaking on behalf of livestock owners in Chahardara district, said 30 of his animals had died of cold.
Wahid, who owns 150 sheep, said the agriculture department had provided him only two sacks of grass -- enough for less than two weeks.
But Azizullah Eimaq, agriculture director, said they had distributed 780 tonnes of grass to more than 8,000 livestock owners two days ago in the capital and districts.
Every livestock owner received 98 kilograms of grass, he said, adding the department -- with support from the governor’s house and police -- had rescued many animals in the Abadan desert.
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