Government figures show that 8,000 families were displaced in Baghlan in the last three weeks, leaving many of them stranded on the streets of the northern city of Pul-e-Khumri while others live in close quarters with dozens in a single home.

In one instance, 17 families are living in one home, said TOLOnews reporter Sharif Amiri.

There are many houses on the outskirts of Pul-e-Khumri – in Band-e-Do area for instance – that have been destroyed in the fight between the government forces and the Taliban.

Many homes that have been evacuated are looked after by at least one member of each family.

Saifuddin, a resident of Pul-e-Khumri, said he looks after their home and has sent other family members to a safer place, but he added that his home has been severely damaged in the clashes.

“My 1,350 dollars and 280,000 afghanis were burned. I came here to get the bag… but it was burned,” Saifuddin said. His two-story building, made of concrete in a common fashion favored by many Afghans, has been damaged and many parts of his house have been damaged, including assets within the building.

The displaced people have been seen everywhere in the central parts of Pul-e-Khumri city for the last three weeks. They are searching for safer places to live.

“The clashes erupted. We left. We could not take anything with us,” said Mohammad Akbar, a displaced person.

“Unfortunately, 8,000 families have been displaced. We helped 1,500 families,” said Sharifullah Shafaq, the head of the Refugees and Repatriation Directorate in Baghlan.

In another home that has 7 rooms, Anwar Shah, a displaced person, said he lives there with 17 families who have left their homes in other parts of the province due to ongoing conflicts.

“Our homes were left under Taliban mortars and bullets. Our assets were left there. We only have blankets,” Anwar Shah said.

Eight districts in Baghlan have fallen to the Taliban in the fighting over the last three weeks. Security forces have retaken two of the districts: Doshi and Khinjan.