Afghanistan's Water Crisis Disproportionately Burdens Women and Girls

Afghanistan’s worsening water crisis is hitting women and girls the hardest, the United Nations has warned. With rivers drying up and safe drinking water becoming scarce, families across the country are struggling to cope. The alert comes just ahead of World Environment Day on 5 June, highlighting how environmental challenges deepen gender inequalities. Drought and water shortages now threaten over half of Afghanistan’s population. In provinces like Nangarhar, Kandahar, and Helmand, rivers are vanishing, rainfall has dropped, and families are forced to dig deeper wells just to find water. The lack of clean water is also pushing up cases of waterborne diseases, with women and children facing the greatest risks.

Agriculture is suffering too, as shrinking water supplies cut harvests and displace families. Nearly one in three Afghans already lacks access to safe drinking water, though aid efforts in 2025 reached 2.1 million people with basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services. The crisis mirrors a global pattern: women and girls spend around 250 million hours daily collecting water. In Afghanistan’s rural areas, women bear this burden in over 70% of households without running water. UNAMA’s report stresses that water scarcity is far from gender-neutral—it deepens existing inequalities and leaves women with even fewer resources.

The UN’s findings show how Afghanistan’s water emergency is reshaping daily life, particularly for women and girls. Without urgent action, declining water sources will keep driving displacement, poor health, and economic strain. Aid groups continue to push for solutions as the country’s environmental pressures grow.