KABUL, Afghanistan — Roza Otunbayeva, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), has emphasized the importance of Afghanistan’s participation in global climate change discussions. Speaking at a Kabul event titled “Impact of Climate Change on Afghanistan,” Otunbayeva highlighted the country’s vulnerability to climate-related challenges.
“Given the level of Afghanistan’s vulnerability, we cannot go another year without Afghan voices in this critical global conversation on climate change,” Otunbayeva said.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) echoed her concerns, noting that climate change has led to water shortages and declining groundwater levels across Afghanistan. UNICEF also reported the recent construction of a solar-powered water system in a western Afghan village, capable of delivering water up to 26 kilometers.
The project, benefiting 7,000 households, was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
