In Kabul, Afghanistan, the escalating water shortage is forcing children to leave school to help their families collect water. Eight-year-old Noorullah and his twin brother, Sanaullah, now spend their days carrying yellow jerrycans through the city’s dusty streets, a responsibility that has replaced their education. Their family’s well went dry four years ago, leaving them reliant on communal taps or expensive water tankers. Climate change has worsened droughts and irregular rainfall, making Kabul one of Asia’s most water-stressed cities. Experts warn that the city’s groundwater could be exhausted by 2030, with poorer households spending up to 30% of their income on water, while wealthier families dig private deep wells.
The scarcity of water in Kabul is compounded by quality concerns. Many residents depend on shallow wells that are vulnerable to both pollution and drought. Studies have shown that about a quarter of shallow wells had already dried up between 2005 and 2007, and nearly 40% of the remaining wells face seasonal or permanent depletion due to overuse. This critical situation highlights the urgent need for sustainable water management, infrastructure investment, and long-term solutions to prevent a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Afghan capital. More