KABUL – The European Union office in Afghanistan has raised renewed concerns over the country’s growing water crisis, describing it as a “critical concern” as World Water Week concluded on Thursday.
In a post on X, the EU said that water scarcity is particularly acute in Kabul, where it affects everything from food security to public health.
The EU office reaffirmed its commitment to working with partners across Afghanistan on climate adaptation, agriculture, health, food security, and support for returnees and internally displaced people.
The warning comes as Afghanistan faces one of the world’s most severe water shortages, driven by consecutive years of drought, poor infrastructure, rapid urban growth, and the worsening impacts of climate change.
Experts warn that Kabul, a city of more than five million, could become the first modern capital to run out of water by 2030. The city’s underground aquifers have dropped by around 30 meters in the past decade, with extraction far outpacing natural replenishment.
Nearly half of the city’s wells have already run dry, while studies show that up to 80 percent of groundwater is contaminated with sewage, arsenic, and salinity, leaving residents increasingly dependent on costly private water deliveries. Many households are now forced to spend as much as 30 percent of their income on water, pushing thousands into debt.
Across Afghanistan, the lack of clean and safe water has become a major driver of disease outbreaks and food insecurity. Decades of conflict and weak governance have left water infrastructure in ruins, while climate change is intensifying droughts and reducing snowfall in the mountains that feed the country’s rivers.
Humanitarian groups warn that millions of Afghans, particularly children and rural families, face heightened risks of hunger, displacement, and illness. In 2022, severe drought combined with floods triggered by erratic rainfall caused widespread crop failure, economic losses, and mass displacement, underscoring the link between climate stress and humanitarian crisis.
Kabul’s looming water collapse also has wider political and regional implications. The Taliban authorities have pushed forward major dam and canal projects, including the Qosh Tepa Canal in northern Afghanistan, to assert control over shared water resources.
These efforts have raised tensions with neighboring Iran and Pakistan, which depend on rivers flowing from Afghanistan for irrigation and drinking water.
Analysts warn that unresolved disputes could exacerbate instability in the region if Afghanistan’s water crisis deepens.
Despite Afghanistan’s minimal contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, the country ranks among the most vulnerable to climate change.
International aid agencies have called for the country to be included in global climate talks to ensure that its worsening water and climate crisis is not ignored.
The EU, in its statement, emphasized the need for shared responsibility and collective action, urging dialogue on how to use water more efficiently and build a sustainable future for the next generation.
