Afghanistan is facing a dire water crisis, with over 21 million people in urgent need of clean water and sanitation. Humanitarian organizations are sounding the alarm, urging immediate action as underground water reserves dry up and the country’s already fragile infrastructure risks collapse.
Afghanistan’s water shortage has reached alarming proportions, with millions of citizens lacking access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation. Humanitarian organizations are sounding the alarm, calling for immediate action to prevent further catastrophe.
UN-Habitat reports that approximately 21 million Afghans—over half the population—urgently require clean water, sanitation, and healthcare services. In major cities such as Kabul, Kandahar, and Herat, underground water reserves are drying up at an alarming rate, threatening long-term water security.
Stephanie Loose, a senior UN-Habitat official, warns that Afghanistan’s crumbling water infrastructure needs urgent upgrades. Without significant investment and intervention, she says, the country’s already dire humanitarian situation could spiral further out of control.
The severity of the crisis was highlighted by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on World Water Day (March 22). Their findings reveal that a shocking 80% of Afghanistan’s population, about 33 million people, now faces acute water scarcity. The repercussions are severe, worsening health risks, crippling agriculture, and destabilizing livelihoods.
Despite these alarming warnings, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Water and Energy has pushed back against the ICRC’s findings.
Officials claim the government has launched several projects to combat drought, including the construction of new water dams.
Yet as conditions deteriorate, doubts remain over whether these measures will be sufficient. Aid groups urge faster, more comprehensive action, before Afghanistan’s water crisis becomes irreversible.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 30th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed while fighting for Russia against Ukraine, according to South Korean lawmakers citing information from the country’s intelligence agency. The total number of North Korean troops deployed to fight alongside Russia is reported to be 15,000.
The Trump administration is reviewing possible changes to a Biden-era rule that restricts global access to advanced AI chips, including potentially scrapping the current system that divides countries into three tiers, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to end the war in Ukraine, even as missile strikes continue across the country.
President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree renaming Volgograd International Airport as Stalingrad, invoking Soviet wartime memory as Russia continues its war in Ukraine.
Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has approved a coalition agreement with the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), securing the final step needed to form a new government under Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz.
Political directors from France, Britain, and Germany are scheduled to meet with Iranian officials in Rome on Friday, according to two diplomatic sources who confirmed the meeting to Reuters.
Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili expressed hope that Armenia and Azerbaijan will sign a peace agreement in the near future, contributing to the positive development dynamics of the South Caucasus region.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, unveiled a free standalone artificial intelligence (AI) app for its Meta AI assistant on Tuesday, marking a significant move as part of the growing wave of new AI apps in the tech industry.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree renaming Volgograd International Airport to its historical name of Stalingrad, a move made official late Tuesday.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
In an expansive interview marking his first 100 days back in office, President Donald Trump sketched out an agenda that touches everything from punitive tariffs and China policy to cease-fire hopes in Ukraine and an overhaul of domestic programmes. Below are the highlights.
A deadly explosion at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port has left at least 40 dead, with more than 1,200 people injured, state media reported on Sunday, halting operations at one of the country’s most vital trade hubs.
For three generations, the Liebigs built railcars in Görlitz. Now, the factory that shaped their lives will produce parts for battle tanks.
A powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Istanbul's Silivri district on Wednesday, according to Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has approved a coalition agreement with the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), securing the final step needed to form a new government under Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz.
Political directors from France, Britain, and Germany are scheduled to meet with Iranian officials in Rome on Friday, according to two diplomatic sources who confirmed the meeting to Reuters.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, unveiled a free standalone artificial intelligence (AI) app for its Meta AI assistant on Tuesday, marking a significant move as part of the growing wave of new AI apps in the tech industry.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree renaming Volgograd International Airport to its historical name of Stalingrad, a move made official late Tuesday.
Singapore’s parliamentary election, set for May 3, will see 11 political parties competing for the 2.76 million registered voters in the city-state, with a population of 6 million. Here are the key parties and their platforms:
Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has approved a coalition agreement with the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), securing the final step needed to form a new government under Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz.
Political directors from France, Britain, and Germany are scheduled to meet with Iranian officials in Rome on Friday, according to two diplomatic sources who confirmed the meeting to Reuters.
Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili expressed hope that Armenia and Azerbaijan will sign a peace agreement in the near future, contributing to the positive development dynamics of the South Caucasus region.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, unveiled a free standalone artificial intelligence (AI) app for its Meta AI assistant on Tuesday, marking a significant move as part of the growing wave of new AI apps in the tech industry.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree renaming Volgograd International Airport to its historical name of Stalingrad, a move made official late Tuesday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment