KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – On World Water Day, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned of Afghanistan’s worsening water crisis, saying an estimated 80% of the population lacks adequate access to this essential resource.
In a statement released on Saturday, March 22, the ICRC highlighted that 33 million people in the country are facing critical water shortages, which have severely impacted public health, food security, and the country’s economic stability.
“For millions of Afghans, who are already struggling with many challenges and facing a dire humanitarian situation, vital activities such as getting water to drink or cook and providing irrigation for crops are often impossible,” said Martin De Boer, the ICRC’s head of programs in Afghanistan.
“This has a devastating impact on people’s health and access to food, and hampers the country’s potential for economic development,” he added.
Veronique Weber Oviedo Pinto, head of the ICRC’s water and habitat program in Afghanistan, stressed the importance of water resource management to protect freshwater sources and help communities adapt to increasing climate shocks.
The ICRC is calling for urgent action, including sustained investment, international assistance, and robust governance. Without these measures, the ICRC warns, millions of Afghans will continue to struggle with water shortages that threaten their health and food security.
Afghanistan is facing one of the worst droughts, along with food and water shortages, in decades, amidst an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe that threatens millions of people across the country.
The situation in Kabul and many other major cities has become increasingly concerning with the rising population. Many residents, without proper plans or monitoring from the municipality or government, have resorted to digging hundreds or even thousands of wells.
The water crisis in Afghanistan has worsened amidst the country’s most severe humanitarian crisis in decades. According to the UN, nearly 23 million people, over half of its population, require urgent humanitarian aid this year, with women and children comprising the majority of this figure.
