Bolstering Water Security and Supply in Afghanistan
When disaster strikes, the most urgent task for emergency responders is to restore access to safe drinking water to stave off waterborne disease outbreaks that often follow. Afghanistan is extremely prone to disasters, both natural and man-made. In April and May of 2014, 17 provinces in northern Afghanistan experienced the worst seasonal flooding in 100 years. The floods killed more than 200 people, wiped out homes, and destroyed or contaminated wells and other sources of water. In 2015, the humanitarian disaster was compounded by heavy rain and snowfall that caused avalanches, landslides, flash floods, and almost 300 additional fatalities. Making matters worse, the ongoing armed conflict in Afghanistan has created a growing population of internally displaced persons — civilians who have fled their homes to escape the violence.
To help those who live in these vulnerable conditions, USAID in partnership with three international aid organizations — UNICEF, the French NGO ACTED, and the Dutch relief organization ZOA — launched a multipronged relief initiative to provide emergency water, hygiene, and sanitation in the areas hit hardest.
These partners have been rehabilitating wells damaged by floods, constructing new wells where necessary, erecting latrines, providing instruction on proper hygiene, and prepositioning emergency supplies in areas where future emergencies are anticipated. In addition, the partners have organized local water committees to oversee maintenance of wells.
The activities are saving lives, preventing disease from spreading, and helping communities to prepare for future disasters. All three partners continue to reach out to those in need, to finish the construction of water and hygiene facilities, and to stockpile emergency aid supplies. USAID and its partners are now considering how to address the growing need of the many Afghan refugees streaming across the border from Pakistan.
Abdul (name changed for security purposes), a 37-year-old farmer who lives in Balkh province in northern Afghanistan, expressed his appreciation for the lifesaving assistance. He says he and his neighbors did not have access to safe drinking water after severe floods in the region. “My children were getting sick frequently because they had to drink contaminated water and lacked a latrine,” he said. Thanks to USAID’s assistance, Abdul says, his family now has a toilet, the rate of diarrhea in the village has been reduced, and people practice better hygiene.
Water is a resource that many people around the world take for granted, but not the people of Afghanistan. As an old Afghan proverb says, “A little water is a sea to an ant.” On World Water Day 2017, that is worth remembering.
By Victoria O’Hara, Development Outreach and Communications Officer, USAID/Afghanistan
To subscribe to Global Waters magazine, click here, and follow us on Twitter @USAIDWater. This article appears in Global Waters, Vol. 8, Issue 2; for past issues of the magazine, visit Global Waters’ homepage on the USAID website. For more information about USAID/Afghanistan, click here.
