Hasht-e Sobh, 18 May 2025
A resident of the Kart-e Chahr area in Kabul is quoted as saying, “We used to have a 40-meter well in our yard, which was sufficient. A few years later, that well dried up, so we dug another one, 90 meters deep. But for the past two years, even that well has run dry, and in just seven years, the water level has dropped several times over.” While another one says, “Tap water often has an unpleasant taste and smell. (…) City tap water comes once a week, very weakly—sometimes it takes an hour to fill a 10-liter bucket. The amount is too little, especially for families with more than 10 members.” Meanwhile, as families grapple with unemployment, declining incomes, and rising poverty, the increasing cost of [bottled or tank] water has further exacerbated their challenges.
The report also quotes international agencies:
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned of an escalating water crisis in Afghanistan. According to OCHA, rainfall levels in the country have been below average, raising serious concerns.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has also issued a warning about water shortages in Afghanistan. According to the ICRC, approximately 33 million people lack access to sufficient water. The committee’s findings indicate that four decades of armed conflict and climate change have created significant obstacles to water provision.
Revisions:
This article was last updated on 21 May 2025
