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Kabul residents cry out as water crisis worsens, wells run dry in Afghanistan

By The South Asia Times

KABUL - A severe water shortage is gripping Afghanistan's capital, with residents across Kabul reporting that wells have dried up and families are struggling to secure enough drinking water for daily survival.

Locals in multiple neighborhoods told Amu TV that access to water has become one of the most urgent challenges facing households, forcing many to spend large portions of their meager incomes on private water suppliers.

"The water problem is very serious," said Wahidullah, a Kabul resident. "There is very little water, and we are forced to buy it. We ask the authorities to help the people."

Mohammad Hamed, another resident, said underground wells that once supplied entire neighborhoods have now run dry.

"Because of unemployment and lack of work, instead of earning a living, we spend our time searching for water — carrying it by hand or by cart. We simply do not have water anymore," he said.

Residents have urged both the Taliban administration and international aid organizations to take immediate action, including drilling new wells and upgrading water infrastructure.

"Our request to the authorities and international organizations is to pay attention to this issue," said Ahmad Shah. "People need access to drinking water."

The crisis stems from years of drought, rapid urban expansion, climate change, and falling groundwater levels. Kabul, one of the fastest-growing cities in the region, has seen unregulated well drilling outpace natural replenishment for years.

United Nations agencies have repeatedly warned that Afghanistan is among the nations most vulnerable to climate change. Aid groups say groundwater levels in the capital have dropped sharply, threatening a deeper crisis without long-term infrastructure investment.