- Title: Kabul mayor says water supply a problem, city could "dry up"
- Date: 28th September 2021
- Summary: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (SEPTEMBER 27, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CHILDREN WAITING TO GET WATER FROM WELL IN A MOSQUE, SITTING ON PLASTIC CONTAINERS NEXT TO WHEELBARROWS (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) KABUL MAYOR, HAMDULLAH NOMANI , SAYING: "Yes, there is an issue with water supply but that is not a problem for Afghanistan alone. It is a worldwide problem. We are well aware of the problems. There are companies that provide drinking water, and a few days back, we even talked about calling upon these companies because we have complaints from people that the drinking water has become scarce. Water (level) has generally decreased." WATER DRUM CONTAINERS BEING FILLED WITH WATER CHILDREN WAITING (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) KABUL MAYOR, HAMDULLAH NOMANI, SAYING: "When we saw water scarcity in the city we thought of having a joint meeting with the water supply department. What we can do, we are ready to do but what we can't do, and what we will tell them to do. Right now we are bringing water for water treatment facilities from far flung areas at a very heavy cost, because there is concern that the city could literally dry up if we do not do that." MAN PUMPING WATER TO FILL BOTTLE VARIOUS OF BOY FILLING CONTAINER FROM PIPE WATER FLOWING FROM PIPE PEOPLE GATHERED AND CARRYING AWAY CONTAINERS OF WATER (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) RESIDENT OF KABUL, MOHAMMAD SHER, SAYING: "Our problem is that we have a severe shortage of water. Someone has dug a well in the mosque from where they are giving water to the people. But the water is not enough. Look at all these children. They are all waiting for water." CHILDREN SITTING ON CONTAINERS AND WAITING FOR WATER (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) BOY WHO IS WAITING TO GET WATER, TAJ MOHIULLAH, SAYING: "My house is very far from here. I have to walk here from far away. Sometimes, we wait with our buckets but our turn does not come. On some days, we go home with filled buckets, but sometimes we go with empty buckets. It is very difficult." INTERIOR OF WATER TREATMENT PLANT VARIOUS OF BOY FILLING CONTAINER WITH WATER (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) KABUL MAYOR, HAMDULLAH NOMANI , SAYING "We have dug wells at two or three places, but we can't dig anymore because if we start digging a well, it will create problems for the public. If we continue digging, people will start complaining because it will have an adverse effect as water levels in their homes will drop. This is a difficult issue and we are trying to deal with it." CONTAINERS OF WATER ON BENCH VARIOUS OF BOY PUTTING CAP ONTO WATER TANK ON CART
- Embargoed: 12th October 2021 06:57
- Keywords: Afghanistan Hamdullah Nomani Kabul Taliban conflict crisis mayor shortage water
- Location: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
- City: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
- Country: Afghanistan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA001EWMTG07
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: PART AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
After decades of conflict, climate change and poor water management, Afghanistan's capital is facing a dire water shortage.
The shortage is becoming a bigger problem with every passing day, and has authorities worried.
"There is concern that the city could literally dry up," Kabul mayor Hamdullah Nomani told Reuters on Monday (September 27).
Nomani said the government was planning to speak to companies that supply drinking water to solve the shortage. Recently, authorities have had to ferry water to Kabul "from far flung areas at a very heavy cost".
Dozens of people, mostly children, could be seen waiting to fill up containers with water from a well at a local mosque in Kabul on Monday.
"Sometimes we wait with our buckets but our turn does not come. On some days, we go home with filled buckets, but sometimes we go with empty buckets. It is very difficult," said Taj Mohiullah, who walks long distances just to get a bucket of water.
According to USAID, just 42% of Afghans have access to safe drinking water and around 27% of the rural population have access to sanitation facilities.
According to the World Food Programme (WFP), if access to water is not taken seriously, the likelihood of a vast famine will increase with the passing of time.
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