PESHAWAR- Water crisis in Afghanistan is escalating, with experts warning that groundwater in Kabul could run dry within six years if immediate action is not taken.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) highlighted this alarming scenario on January 17, stating on the social media platform X: “Water is life. Rapid urbanization and climate change could deplete Kabul’s groundwater by 2030. We must act now to halt this trend.”
Kabul residents, particularly those in mountainous areas, have long faced water shortages, but the situation has worsened in recent years.
Many complain that their hardships have been overlooked. “We struggle daily to secure water while other parts of the city get some relief. No concrete steps have been taken in our area,” said a local resident. In July 2024, the Swiss-based Emergency and Complex Crises Needs Assessment Foundation (ACAPS) released a report identifying Afghanistan as disproportionately affected by climate change.
The report highlighted rising temperatures, melting glaciers, droughts, floods, and landslides as major threats. Afghanistan’s warming rate, 1.8°C since 1950, is higher than the global average, exacerbating the water crisis in Afghanistan. The report noted that reduced rainfall over the past four decades has particularly impacted northern, western, southeastern, and southern provinces, leading to severe drought.
The diminishing glaciers of the Hindu Kush mountains, which supply up to 80% of Afghanistan’s water resources, were also highlighted as critical. These natural reservoirs play a vital role in sustaining seasonal rivers and providing freshwater.
ACAPS warned that Afghan communities will face severe climate-related risks between 2024 and 2025. These risks, coupled with rapid urbanization, threaten millions. “If we don’t act collectively, the water crisis in Afghanistan will only deepen, affecting livelihoods and survival,” a climate researcher warned.
Urgent and sustained efforts are required to tackle the dual challenges of climate change and urbanization, ensuring access to clean water for Afghanistan’s vulnerable population.
