Taliban Officials Discuss Water Shortages in Returnee Settlements
Amid water shortages in several special returnee settlements, Taliban authorities have announced plans to address water supply in these areas.
On Monday, July 19, the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Returnees issued a statement reporting that Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, acting head of the ministry, held talks with Engineer Mujib-ur-Rahman Omar Akhundzadeh, deputy minister of the Taliban’s Ministry of Water and Energy, regarding how to secure water supplies for the returnee settlements and the extent of their needs.
According to the ministry, the meeting also raised the issue of water shortages in Kabul and several provinces, a problem that has created significant challenges for returnee families settled in newly constructed towns.
Engineer Mujib-ur-Rahman Omar Akhundzadeh claimed that necessary measures are underway to manage existing resources and reduce water scarcity. He added that a short-term water management plan is in the final stages of approval. Furthermore, he stated that water transfer programs to needy areas are being implemented, with allocated budgets for water transfer to certain regions as well as for the construction of a dam in Kabul.
Mawlawi Abdul Kabir also pointed to climate change and what he described as “mismanagement of water resources over past decades,” emphasizing that the Taliban administration is focused on managing water resources and accelerating water provision to returnee settlements.
The shortage of drinking water in Kabul and several provinces has become a serious urban challenge in recent years, with various organizations previously warning about declining groundwater levels.
