Afghanistan is fighting with a dire water crisis that leaves approximately 79% of its population without adequate access to this essential resource, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said on World Water Day Friday.
UNDP said that the water crisis is not an individual issue but the culmination of several interlinked factors.
“Severe drought conditions, economic instability, and the devastating effects of prolonged conflicts have significantly impaired the country’s water infrastructure,” it said in a report.
“The situation is further aggravated by the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events, which have led to the destruction of vital water sources and facilities,” it added.
UNDP said that the crisis disproportionately affects female-headed households, which face additional barriers in accessing public water facilities, thereby exacerbating their vulnerability.
According to the report, 67 percent of households in Afghanistan are affected by drought-related hardships, and an additional 16 percent impacted by floods.
Meanwhile, UK Embassy for Afghanistan said on X that rising water stress threatens the food security and health of millions of Afghans.