Historic Drought: Why a Major Global Capital Faces Its Biggest Water Crisis Ever | CNN

As the sun rises, families in Kabul begin a daily struggle: finding water. Raheela, a 42-year-old mother, rushes to fill her buckets from passing water tankers. Each liter is costly, squeezing their already tight budget.

“We don’t have access to drinking water at all,” Raheela says. “Water shortage is a huge problem affecting our daily life.”

Experts warn that Kabul could become the first capital in modern history to run completely dry. A recent report by Mercy Corps highlights a looming economic collapse due to the escalating crisis. Overpopulation, climate change, and excessive groundwater extraction have left nearly half of the city’s boreholes empty.

Raheela’s family pays for every drop, making sacrifices in food and other essentials just to have enough to drink and bathe. “We hope for more rain, but I don’t know how we’ll survive if things get worse,” she adds.

This isn’t just a water issue; it’s a health crisis. Marianna Von Zahn, Mercy Corps’ Afghanistan program director, states that the crisis intertwines with health, economy, and humanitarian emergencies.

Just thirty years ago, Kabul’s population was under 2 million. The fall of the Taliban in 2001 attracted many, raising both the population and the demand for water. Now, the city depends heavily on groundwater, primarily replenished by snowmelt from the Hindu Kush mountains. However, mismanagement has caused groundwater levels to drop by 30 meters in the last decade. Currently, Kabul extracts 44 million cubic meters of groundwater more than nature can replace, a staggering imbalance threatening the city and its residents.

Many families, like Ahmad Yasin’s, are digging deeper wells to secure more water. Yasin, who lives with ten relatives, spends hours queuing at a mosque with access to a larger well. To dig a well in his backyard, his family saved for six months, sacrificing meals to raise $550. After digging 120 meters, they found water, but it’s not safe for drinking. “We boil the well water, let it cool, and then drink it,” he explains.

Mercy Corps reports that 80% of Kabul’s groundwater is contaminated, resulting in frequent illnesses like diarrhea. “We often get sick due to contaminated water,” says Sayed Hamed, who lives with his family in Taimani district.

The crisis worsened by climate change is evident. Najibullah Sadid, a water resource management researcher, notes the decreasing snow levels that affect groundwater recharge. If left unaddressed, UNICEF predicts Kabul could run out of groundwater by 2030.

Families struggling to dig their own wells rely on private water suppliers, spending up to 30% of their income on water. For those who cannot afford it, long treks to mosques for water become necessary. During these trips, children often skip school to carry heavy buckets.

“Hours that children should be in school are now spent fetching water,” Von Zahn says. This puts children at risk, amplifying poverty and vulnerability in families.

Women bear significant burdens, often facing risks when they venture out alone. “It is not easy for a woman to go out, especially without a male family member,” shares a local resident.

Political turmoil exacerbates Kabul’s water crisis. After the Taliban seized control in August 2021, foreign aid dried up, leading to severe local mismanagement. Von Zahn highlights that only a fraction of necessary funds for water and sanitation has been delivered since early 2025.

Many like Raheela feel trapped. Years ago, they could afford rent and found water as needed. Now, uncertainty looms. “If things don’t change, we may have to be displaced again,” she admits, “and I don’t know where we would go.”

This ongoing crisis serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between climate issues, population growth, and political stability. How these elements play out will significantly impact the future of Kabul and its residents.

For further reading on the water crisis and its implications, you may visit Mercy Corps and UNICEF.

Source link