KABUL: Afghanistan is facing a drinking water shortage, leading the European Union to release an official alert and raise concerns about escalating public health dangers.
Foreign news sources report, the European Union announced over 20 million individuals in Afghanistan do not have access to drinking water. The consumption of water has caused a swift rise in water-related illnesses throughout the nation.
In its alert, the EU stated that critical water shortages and inadequate sanitation facilities have led to risks to public health. The problem is worsened by infrastructure and ineffective administrative oversight.
The report revealed that than 80 percent of Afghanistan’s population must rely on contaminated water. Consequently, over 212,000 children have been impacted by illnesses stemming from water.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that a minimum of 9,548 instances of illnesses have been formally documented across the country, underscoring increasing strain on the delicate healthcare infrastructure.
The situation has been aggravated by the sanitation infrastructure and the policies of the Taliban-led administration. By May 2025, it was reported that no than 442 medical facilities had closed, further reducing the availability of healthcare services.
International organizations warn that continued neglect of water infrastructure and governance failures could push the country deeper into a humanitarian emergency, putting public health, food security, and social stability at serious risk.
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