Residents across Kabul say a worsening water shortage is making daily life increasingly difficult, with many families struggling to secure enough drinking water as wells dry up across the city.
People in several neighborhoods told Amu TV that access to water has become one of the most urgent challenges facing households in Afghanistan’s capital, forcing many residents to spend large portions of their income purchasing water from private suppliers.
“The water problem is very serious,” said Wahidullah, a resident of Kabul. “There is very little water, and we are forced to buy it. We ask the authorities to help the people.”
Others said underground wells that once supplied homes and neighborhoods have dried up, leaving residents with few alternatives.
“We need water, but the wells have dried up,” said Mohammad Hamed, another resident. “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.”
Residents called on the Taliban and international organizations to take urgent measures to address the growing crisis, including drilling wells and improving water infrastructure.
“Our request to the authorities and international organizations is to pay attention to this issue,” said Ahmad Shah, a Kabul resident. “People need access to drinking water.”
The complaints reflect broader concerns about water scarcity in Afghanistan, where years of drought, rapid urban growth, climate change and declining groundwater levels have intensified pressure on already fragile water systems.
Kabul, one of the fastest-growing cities in the region, has faced mounting water shortages for years as population growth and unregulated well drilling outpaced natural groundwater replenishment.
United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that Afghanistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with recurring droughts and water scarcity threatening agriculture, livelihoods and public health.
Aid agencies say Kabul’s groundwater levels have declined sharply in recent years, raising fears of a deeper urban water crisis if long-term infrastructure projects and water management reforms are not implemented.
Many residents say the rising cost of purchased water has become an additional burden at a time when Afghanistan is already grappling with widespread poverty, unemployment and economic hardship.
Despite repeated warnings from residents and international organizations, Kabul residents say there has so far been little visible progress in addressing the city’s growing water crisis.
