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Water crisis deepens in Afghanistan as families struggle for access
Traditional sources such as wells and karezes—underground channels that have sustained communities for generations—are now under severe strain.
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.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), met on Thursday with Johannes Bruwer, the newly appointed head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and received a copy of his credentials.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that during the meeting, Muttaqi described relations between Afghanistan and the ICRC as historic, congratulated Bruwer on the start of his mission in Afghanistan, wished him success, and assured him of full cooperation in advancing humanitarian efforts.
Muttaqi also praised the services of Katharina Ritz, the outgoing head of the organization, and commended the activities carried out during her mission in Afghanistan. He also wished her success in her future responsibilities.
For his part, Bruwer expressed pleasure over the beginning of his mission in Afghanistan and pledged to continue providing humanitarian services in close coordination with the relevant institutions of the Islamic Emirate during his tenure.
Meanwhile, Ritz thanked the institutions of the Islamic Emirate for their cooperation and support throughout her mission and described her tenure as full of achievements and positive memories.
At the end of the meeting, both sides emphasized the expansion of bilateral cooperation in humanitarian affairs and the strengthening of mutual engagement.
China’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, has met with Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, Qatar’s Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his visit to Qatar, where the two sides discussed the latest developments in Afghanistan.
According to Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting focused on ways to strengthen joint international efforts aimed at promoting security and stability in Afghanistan.
During the talks, Al Khulaifi reiterated Qatar’s support for initiatives seeking peaceful solutions to conflicts and efforts to reinforce peace and stability at both regional and international levels.
Qatar has played an active diplomatic role in Afghan affairs in recent years, including hosting talks involving the Afghan authorities and international representatives.
Russia is moving to establish what it calls a “full-fledged partnership” with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) and is urging other regional countries to expand cooperation with Kabul, a senior Russian security official said.
Sergei Shoigu, who is secretary of Russia’s Security Council, was quoted by Interfax as saying that Moscow considers cooperation with Kabul important for regional security and development.
Shoigu said Russia is developing a “pragmatic dialogue” with the IEA authorities that covers security, trade, cultural exchange and humanitarian assistance.
He made the remarks during a meeting with counterparts from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a 10-member regional bloc that includes China, India, Iran, Pakistan and several Central Asian states.
He also suggested reviving the SCO’s contact group on Afghanistan to improve regional coordination on Afghan-related issues.
Shioigu said that Russia considers the return of third-country military infrastructure to Afghanistan or the deployment of new military facilities in neighboring states unacceptable.
“Our fundamental approach is that the United States and its allies must acknowledge full responsibility for their 20-year presence in Afghanistan and assume the main burden of its post-conflict reconstruction,” he said. “We consider the return of third-country military infrastructure to Afghanistan or the deployment of new military facilities in neighboring states unacceptable.”
Russia formally lifted its ban on the IEA in April 2025, removing the group from its list of terrorist organizations after previously outlawing it in 2003.
Moscow has increasingly engaged with the IEA since its takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, following the withdrawal of US-led forces after two decades of war.
Russian officials argue that closer cooperation is necessary due to shared security concerns, including the threat of militant groups operating across a wide region from Afghanistan to the Middle East.
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