Marking World Water Day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday stressed that access to safe water and sanitation is essential for protecting the rights and health of women and girls, urging governments to take stronger action.

In his message, the Secretary-General warned that women and girls bear the greatest burden where water and sanitation services are inadequate. Many are forced to use unsafe facilities, care for relatives affected by waterborne diseases and spend hours each day collecting water—often missing out on education and opportunities.

Highlighting this year’s theme, “Where water flows, equality grows,” Guterres said improving water access can play a key role in advancing gender equality.

He called on governments to boost investment in water and sanitation systems by improving service delivery, strengthening workforce capacity and ensuring sustainable financing. He also urged developed nations to support these efforts by sharing technology, expertise and funding to build resilient infrastructure.

The UN chief emphasized the importance of including women in decision-making processes to ensure water systems effectively meet community needs.

While noting that water scarcity can contribute to conflict, Guterres said it can also foster cooperation and peace. He pointed to the upcoming UN Water Conference as an opportunity for countries to accelerate progress toward universal access to water and sanitation.

“Together, let’s make water a force for gender equality,” he said, calling for global efforts to ensure no community is left behind.

As the world marks World Water Day, Afghanistan is facing a worsening water crisis, with millions of people struggling to access safe and reliable supplies.

Years of drought, declining rainfall, rapid population growth and the return of families from neighbouring countries have placed increasing pressure on already fragile water systems.

Traditional sources such as wells and karezes—underground channels that have sustained communities for generations—are now under severe strain.

In many rural areas, families are forced to rely on unsafe surface water or travel long distances to meet daily needs. Women and children are most affected, often spending hours each day collecting water.

Urban centres, including Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif and Kandahar, are also grappling with shortages. Rapid population growth and unregulated groundwater extraction have led to significant depletion, leaving many households dependent on private wells or water deliveries.

The situation in Kandahar is particularly severe. Reports indicate that numerous wells have dried up, while others have dropped to depths of more than 100 metres.

Local community leader Fazil Rahman described water shortages as the most pressing challenge in his area, noting that even deep boreholes are failing to produce sufficient supply. He added that the crisis is disrupting education and livelihoods, as children are often forced to spend hours fetching water instead of attending school.

In response, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in partnership with the Urban Water Supply and Sewage State-Owned Corporation, launched a water infrastructure project in Kandahar in 2025. The initiative aims to improve access for more than 100,000 residents through expanded pipelines, new household connections and solar-powered pumping systems.

The ICRC has also upgraded a major water pumping station in Herat, now supplying water to more than 400,000 people through tens of thousands of household connections.

Beyond urban areas, water scarcity is also affecting agriculture, the backbone of many rural livelihoods. Reduced irrigation has led to lower crop yields and increased risks of food insecurity and malnutrition.

To support affected communities, the ICRC has rehabilitated irrigation canals, karezes and flood protection systems in several provinces, including projects in Parwan Province.

Despite these efforts, humanitarian organisations warn that aid alone will not be enough. Long-term investment in infrastructure, improved water management and stronger policies will be essential to address the crisis.

Without sustained and coordinated action, experts caution that water shortages could continue to threaten public health, food security and stability across Afghanistan.