KABUL, Afghanistan — Residents of Kabul are struggling with an ongoing water shortage, with many recounting hardships in accessing drinking water as wells at their homes have dried up.
Some residents report walking for hours to find water, while others have had to divert money allocated for bread to buy water. Even wells as deep as 120 meters have run dry, forcing people to purchase water at inflated prices despite their deteriorating economic situation. A barrel of water, containing 16 liters, costs 20 Afghanis.
“We don’t have water. We buy a barrel of water for 20 Afghanis,” said one resident, who wished to remain unnamed. “It’s not enough for anything, not for drinking or anything else. We just make tea. Laundry is a big problem. It’s very hard for everyone.”
Another resident from the Dasht-e-Barchi area, particularly Pul-e-Sorkh, reported that the lack of access to water is severe. “People are suffering. There is no work or labor. They buy a barrel of water for 20 Afghanis. By 20 Afghanis, someone can buy two pieces of bread, but people are forgetting the bread because you can’t live without water,” he said.
For many, waiting in line for hours to buy water has become a daily routine. Those living in poor economic conditions are forced to spend their daily income on water. “Our area has no water. We dug wells at 100 to 120 meters, but all of them have dried up. We buy a barrel of water for 15 to 20 Afghanis. In this heat, people have no drinking water and are suffering greatly. Laundry has become impossible; we just can’t wash clothes,” another resident lamented.
Residents criticize the Water Supply Authority under the Taliban, claiming it has failed in distributing and managing water, leaving millions in a precarious situation. The Water Supply Department has refrained from commenting on the matter. However, it has previously cited deep well drilling by residents, a surge in water production companies, and the construction of high-rise buildings as causes of the water crisis in Kabul.
