Kabul is on the brink of an acute water crisis of cataclysmic dimensions. This would be an unprecedented move for any contemporary capital city. The Afghan capital, Kabul, is currently experiencing a severe water emergency. Groundwater withdrawal far exceeds the rate at which it’s replenished — by a full 44 million cubic meters annually. Climate change is rapidly exacerbating this crisis. Almost half of Kabul’s boreholes have become dry, with as much as 80% of its groundwater being polluted.
The city relies almost exclusively on groundwater that is replenished by snowmelt from the adjacent Hindu Kush mountains. This essential source of freshwater is continually replenished by melting snow and glaciers. Decades of drought and years of mismanagement have exhausted our groundwater supply. In fact, due to relentless over-extraction, they have dropped by as much as 100 feet in just the last 10 years. The impacts of this crisis go well beyond its environmental effects, endangering our economy and public health.
Compounding Factors of the Crisis
Population growth, ongoing climate challenges, and unsustainable water management practices have all contributed to the depletion of groundwater in Kabul. The more water we extract, the more trees die and the hotter it gets, causing more over-extraction. This is particularly urgent because more than two million people now lack access to safe drinking water. Sadly, many of those same residents are now having to drill deeper wells to access this vital resource.
As families search for deeper aquifers, they’re finding themselves under greater financial strain and health risks stemming from having to use contaminated water. Raheela, another resident, expressed her despair over the situation:
“That was holding us back from our work and was affecting our income. Since we spent all our money on the well, we cannot afford to buy a water filter or purified water. Hence, we boil the well water for extended periods of time, let it cool and then drink it.”
For families, these increasing costs have led to heartbreaking choices. Many are now forgoing food and other necessities because they no longer can afford water in order to maintain basic hygiene or get safe drinking water at home.
“We don’t have access to (drinking) water at all. Water shortage is a huge problem affecting our daily life.”
The water crisis has had a significant impact on the quality of life for Kabul’s residents. Climate change impacts Children who used to walk 15 minutes to school now spend four hours collecting water for their families. The burden of collecting water falls largely on women and girls—which can lead to tragic journeys outside the home. A 22-year-old Kabul resident highlighted these difficulties:
The Human Impact
Reducing access to education and new jobs would have potential lasting impacts for some of Kabul’s most vulnerable or marginalized youth. Just when families are facing the fallout of having their water cut off, an economic collapse is on the horizon. According to recent assessments conducted by Mercy Corps, without immediate action, Kabul is on the verge of one of the worst humanitarian disasters seen.
“It is not easy for a woman to go out, especially under the current circumstances where women need to have male company from her family to be able to go out. There are numerous difficulties for every woman or girl to go out alone to get water. They could be harassed or bothered on the way.”
The international community’s backing is all the more critical in helping them tackle this spiraling crisis. By early 2025, funding for water and sanitation projects was woefully inadequate. At that time, only $8 million of the $264 million needed had been provided. Stalled U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funding hangs in the balance. This standstill has brought the progress we’ve made in fighting the crisis to a crawl.
Urgent Need for Action
Marianna Von Zahn from Mercy Corps emphasized the severity of the situation:
As conditions deteriorate, families like Raheela’s remain hopeful yet anxious about the future:
“It’s a health crisis, an economic crisis, and a humanitarian emergency all in one.”
As conditions deteriorate, families like Raheela’s remain hopeful yet anxious about the future:
“We hope for more rain, but if things get worse, I don’t know how we’ll survive. We won’t have any other choice but to be displaced again. Where will we go from here? I don’t know.”
