Residents of Zabul province say they are struggling to access sufficient water, despite drilling wells hundreds of meters deep. Many report that even drinking water has become increasingly difficult to obtain.
Zabul is facing one of its most severe groundwater shortages in recent years, a crisis that has alarmed orchard owners and pushed farmland to the brink of collapse. Locals say their orchards have run dry, and accessing drinking water is harder than ever before.
Officials from the province’s Water and Energy Department say groundwater levels across Zabul have dropped between two and 5.5 meters this year.
“On average, in Qalat city and surrounding districts, groundwater levels have decreased by about two to 5.5 meters,” said Lutfullah, an adviser with Zabul’s Water and Energy Department. “There are various causes, but the main reasons are low rainfall, rising temperatures and climate change.”
Some residents say that despite digging deeper wells, they still cannot meet their basic water needs.
“The water has dried up. Our well now goes past 150 meters — previously, water was found at just 40 meters,” said Jumaduddin, a Zabul resident.
Other residents report that even wells drilled hundreds of meters deep are no longer sufficient for irrigation.
“Water used to be much closer to the surface, but now there’s severe drought,” said Sayedullah, another resident. “We’ve dug a 251-meter-deep well, but it only produces enough for drinking. Our orchards are completely dried out.”
The United Nations has repeatedly warned that Afghanistan faces an escalating drought crisis. Water scarcity and prolonged dry conditions are threatening the livelihoods of farmers and communities across many provinces.
