KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Climate change and rapid urban expansion are threatening Afghanistan’s rich cultural and architectural heritage, the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) warned on Saturday.
In a post on social media, the UN agency emphasized that preserving historical sites and neighborhoods is critical for maintaining the identity, pride, and social fabric of Afghanistan’s cities.
Decades of conflict, poverty, and slow development have driven many rural families to migrate to urban areas in search of better living conditions. Many now live in informal settlements on city outskirts, where infrastructure and essential services are scarce.
UN-Habitat has repeatedly warned over the past months about unregulated urban growth in multiple cities in Afghanistan, including Kabul, Herat, and Firozkoh. In October, the agency highlighted Firozkoh, the capital of central Ghor province, noting that its rapid, unplanned expansion could have serious social, environmental, and cultural consequences.
According to UN-Habitat, about 25% of Afghanistan’s population currently resides in urban areas, a figure projected to rise to 50% by 2060 due to ongoing population growth and migration. The agency warned that without proper planning, the rapid urbanization could exacerbate existing economic, social, and environmental challenges, including insufficient housing, inadequate public services, and strain on historical sites.
Kabul, which hosts more than 40% of the country’s urban population, is particularly vulnerable. UN-Habitat said groundwater levels in the capital have dropped sharply, threatening more than six million residents. Experts have warned that if current trends continue, Kabul could face severe water shortages within the next five years.
