The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has said that 79 percent of recently surveyed households in Afghanistan have reported a lack of water. This comes amid of increasing concern over problems of lack of water caused by continued drought in the country.
Speaking in a news conference the other day, UNICEF Afghanistan spokesperson Salam Al-Janabi told reporters that the problem of lack of water was serious and UNICEF would help Afghanistan in addressing the problem, saying that the organization would bring clean, safe water to 9 million people the following year.
“The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has provided for 6m people with access to drinking water, and it will bring clean, safe water to 9 million people – by building new systems and repairing those that are damaged,” Al-Janabi said, adding that their survey has shown that 79 percent of households in Afghanistan are facing with lack of water.
Meanwhile, Afghan households are also expressing their concern over the lack of water in the country. A number of residents of Kabul say most of wells have dried and people are facing with lack of water in their areas.
“We’ve been facing with lack of water for the past few years,” said Nadira, a resident of Kabul.
She said that potable water was distributed to households every four day, adding that such water distribution plan couldn’t solve their problems as they needed much water to use.
A number of Kabul residents believe that the crisis of lack of water will get worse if the current drought continues.
“Relevant organs particularly welfare national and international organizations should go for digging water wells in some areas so that the people get access to potable water.
“We are a family of ten members and it is difficult for us to purchase drinking water as we cannot afford to buy it regularly.
We use the water of our homes well for drinking, but it’s not hygiene as two members of our family got sick after drinking the well’s water,” said Wazir Mohammad, another resident of Kabul.
Meanwhile, most people living in remote areas or far from the city do not have access to even unhygienic water in their areas.
They mostly bring water from other areas in the neighborhood.
Health experts have warned of spreading various diseases among people particularly the children in remote areas if drinking water is not provided for the people.
Global warming and climate change have resulted in water shortages in most parts of Afghanistan particularly Kabul, the capital.
There are numerous factors that have helped lower the groundwater level in Kabul and other cities of Afghanistan.
It is said that lack of a proper potable water plan, unplanned development of the city, concrete structures, pavement of streets, damage to the natural cycle of water provision, establishment of plants, car washing and improper use of agriculture water are considered as local factors in lowering the groundwater level in Kabul and other big cities of the country.
Shukria KohistaniThe United Nations In
ternational Chil
dren’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has said that 79 percent of recently surveyed households in Afghanistan have reported a lack of water. This comes amid of increasing concern over problems of lack of water caused by continued drought in the country.
Speaking in a news conference the other day, UNICEF Afghanistan spokesperson Salam Al-Janabi told reporters that the problem of lack of water was serious and UNICEF would help Afghanistan in addressing the problem, saying that the organization would bring clean, safe water to 9 million people the following year.
“The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has provided for 6m people with access to drinking water, and it will bring clean, safe water to 9 million people – by building new systems and repairing those that are damaged,” Al-Janabi said, adding that their survey has shown that 79 percent of households in Afghanistan are facing with lack of water.
Meanwhile, Afghan households are also expressing their concern over the lack of water in the country. A number of residents of Kabul say most of wells have dried and people are facing with lack of water in their areas.
“We’ve been facing with lack of water for the past few years,” said Nadira, a resident of Kabul.
She said that potable water was distributed to households every four day, adding that such water distribution plan couldn’t solve their problems as they needed much water to use.
A number of Kabul residents believe that the crisis of lack of water will get worse if the current drought continues.
“Relevant organs particularly welfare national and international organizations should go for digging water wells in some areas so that the people get access to potable water.
“We are a family of ten members and it is difficult for us to purchase drinking water as we cannot afford to buy it regularly.
We use the water of our homes well for drinking, but it’s not hygiene as two members of our family got sick after drinking the well’s water,” said Wazir Mohammad, another resident of Kabul.
Meanwhile, most people living in remote areas or far from the city do not have access to even unhygienic water in their areas.
They mostly bring water from other areas in the neighborhood.
Health experts have warned of spreading various diseases among people particularly the children in remote areas if drinking water is not provided for the people.
Global warming and climate change have resulted in water shortages in most parts of Afghanistan particularly Kabul, the capital.
There are numerous factors that have helped lower the groundwater level in Kabul and other cities of Afghanistan.
It is said that lack of a proper potable water plan, unplanned development of the city, concrete structures, pavement of streets, damage to the natural cycle of water provision, establishment of plants, car washing and improper use of agriculture water are considered as local factors in lowering the groundwater level in Kabul and other big cities of the country.
Shukria Kohistani
Concerns over drought & lack of water in Afghanistan
