Key points
- Kabul’s groundwater is rapidly depleting
- Up to 80pc of the city’s groundwater is unsafe
- Some households spend up to 30pc of their income on water
ISLAMABAD: A report from Mercy Corps has sounded the alarm over a rapidly worsening water crisis in Afghanistan’s capital, outlining escalating threats to water access, health, and stability.
With aquifers nearing depletion, widespread contamination, and funding for WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) programming at historic lows, the report highlights urgent priorities for humanitarian actors and donors.
Kabul’s water crisis is nearing a tipping point: Groundwater extraction dramatically exceeds natural recharge and nearly half of the city’s boreholes are already dry.
At risk of running dry
The report warns that without urgent, coordinated investment, Kabul risks becoming the first modern capital to run dry.
Water access is collapsing, and affordability is worsening, the report adds.
Some households spend up to 30 per cent of their income on water, with over two-thirds incurring water-related debt.
As clean water becomes more difficult and expensive to access, the city’s most vulnerable communities are suffering the most.
Widespread contamination
Mercy Corps also points to widespread contamination of existing water supplies, noting that up to 80 per cent of groundwater is unsafe, with high levels of sewage, arsenic, and salinity—posing urgent public health risks.
The humanitarian response is being hampered by systemic issues.
Outdated assessments, fragmented programming, and lack of data sharing reduce the efficiency and impact of aid efforts, the report states, calling for better coordination and transparency.
To avert a large-scale urban water collapse, the report outlines practical, coordinated solutions—including improved water governance and regulation, and renewed investment in strategic infrastructure.
It concludes by identifying a crucial opportunity: engaging the private sector to help address Kabul’s water crisis and build long-term resilience.
