UN Official Warns of Severe Crisis in Bamyan Amid Drought and Climate Change
Bruno Lemarquis, the new Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, announced during his visit to Bamyan province that residents are facing serious livelihood challenges due to persistent drought and the impacts of climate change. He emphasized that the level of infrastructure development is low and current facilities do not meet the needs of the people in the area.
According to him, water resource management is one of the most urgent challenges in Bamyan, a mountainous province in central Afghanistan whose economy mainly relies on agriculture and livestock. Reduced rainfall and water shortages have increased pressure on families and escalated economic risks.
Lemarquis also highlighted limited access to education for girls and boys, as well as restricted access to healthcare services as other fundamental issues. This comes amid widespread domestic and international concern following the Taliban’s return to power and the imposed educational restrictions, especially on girls, casting uncertainty over the future of the younger generation.
He further referred to the return of Afghan migrants from Pakistan and Iran, noting that accommodating and supporting returnees amid scarce resources places additional strain on Bamyan’s limited resources.
The UN Deputy Special Representative praised the resilience of Bamyan’s residents facing these hardships and urged the international community not to forget Afghanistan. He called for sustained cooperation and aid to strengthen infrastructure and implement fundamental programs in Bamyan and other provinces across the country.
