The principal river of Afghanistan is the Amu Darya. It divides the Turkistan (ancient name of 5 northern provinces of Afghanistan) districts on the north (the ancient Bactria) from the provinces of Kabul, Herat and Kandahar (the ancient Ariana and Arachosia) on the south. The sources of most rivers lie in the mountains and are fed by snow melt. The flow is thus highest in spring and early summer. During other seasons the rivers may become scarce or disappear entirely. This seasonal nature of rivers and streams make the areas through which they flow highly vulnerable to floods, mostly flash floods and landslides.

The village of Gardi Gouse, Jalalabad Province has 700 year old history with a current population of 3500. The village is hit by floods every 2-3 years. Fifty five years ago, in a severe flood, the entire village was washed away. The villagers now depend only on daily work namely petty trading and loading assistance to travelers moving across the Afghan-Pakistan border. With limited resources and access to infrastructure, the village perennially remains caught in the vicious cycle of poverty and disasters.