While the climate change and global warming have affected the whole world causing long droughts in different parts of the world, these phenomena have strangled the agriculture-driven country, Afghanistan more than any other country. These natural disasters can eventually be a main cause of instability, poverty, famine and conflicts in the region, which will impact the global face of economy and migration.
According to some experts, the drought not only brings the above mentioned adversaries, but also causes decrease in food and water, contagious diseases, reduction in natural resources and a range of other natural disasters. In this regard, the forecasts show that a number of regional countries including Afghanistan as, an agricultural country, will face various problems such as drought and un hygienic water. According to experts’ the population of the country has increased in the last two decades, even more than its natural rate. Also, due to the current unfair use of water resources by the people, these resources will no longer be available and will cease to provide enough water.
Afghanistan, blessed with a wide range of natural resources, has practiced such a way of water usage that has badly impacted the non-renewable resources, and has not invested in renewable natural resources.
According to the weather forecast reports of the country’s meteorological center, the annual rate of rainfall is 25 mm, showing 3.7 percent decrease in the rate. Since the main water resources of Afghanistan are rain and snow, the forecast annual rainfall is 163 billion cubic meters, in which 57 billion cubic meters makes the surface water and about 18 billion cubic meters is groundwater. The rest of the water evaporates or seeps underground to become groundwater, or circulates in living organisms.
About 31.2 billion cubic meters of the above water flows to the neighboring countries enriching their water resources.
On the other hand, the agricultural industry of the country consumes 80 to 85 percent of the country’s water, more than 85 percent of which is wasted due to the lacking of modern technology of irrigation. The water disaster would be an incomparable problem and millions of people will be forced to leave their main residences provided that the water is not managed properly and not used fairly.
According to the national water authority reports, the water has decreased by 12 meters in the past year. Meanwhile, improper use of the water and people rush towards major cities are also concerning.
The annual water consumption rate of Kabul, the capital of the country is estimated about 100 million cubic meters. It worth mentioning to add that the population of Afghanistan will hit 46 million in 2030; thus, increasing the demand for more water. Consequently, if the levels of water hit lower than necessity, the people will face a serious threat. As when these areas lack water for living, large areas will no longer be usable for living. Therefore, it is important that the way of water consumption and water management should be paid a new eye, even avoiding treating it as a free and unending natural resource.
On the other, according to historical records, climate change and variation in timing and rate of rainfall can cause reduction in production level of wheat and cotton.
According to environment experts, there are different ways of avoiding the threats of drought and famine, and that the government should pay serious attention to such measures. It has been experienced that whenever any part of the country faces climate problems such as floods, droughts and storms or increase in these phenomena, those areas have also faced the threat to their water resources, even causing danger to human and living beings. Amiri
Climate change and rising drought in Afghanistan
