Afghanistan Peace CampaignOCHA added that 30 out of 34 provinces are grappling with severe or extremely poor water quality.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in a report said Afghanistan endured its worst drought in 30 years last year.
According to the report, the repercussions of climate change in Afghanistan extend far beyond rising temperatures. Agriculture, water, energy, health, forestation, biodiversity, ecosystems, livelihoods, and the economy are all affected.
The report said: “Afghanistan endured its worst drought in 30 years last year, compounding the challenges it now faces in its third consecutive year of drought-like conditions, something which has kept levels of food insecurity in Afghanistan among the highest in the world.”
As stated in the report, Afghanistan’s vulnerability is starkly illustrated by the rise in its mean annual temperature, which surged by 1.8° between 1951 and 2010—nearly twice the global average.
OCHA added that 30 out of 34 provinces are grappling with severe or extremely poor water quality.
According to OCHA, desertification has affected over 75% of the land in northern, western, and southern regions. Rain-fed agriculture, upon which 60% of the population depends, is threatened due to changes in precipitation patterns.
This agency expressed that natural disasters are on the rise in intensity, and severity, making Afghanistan the fourth most at-risk country and the eighth most vulnerable and least prepared to adapt to climate change.
Earlier, a number of farmers and citizens of the country said that due to the lack of water, they have suffered huge losses and their agricultural lands have been destroyed due to the lack of water.