When the mountain will no longer provide: Inside Afghanistan’s climate change crisis

For centuries, Afghans have looked to the mountains as “the provider.” The Hindu Kush, stretching across central and eastern Afghanistan, has been a lifeline. Snowmelt from these towering peaks flowed into valleys, nurturing crops and ensuring a steady supply of water. It fed rivers, replenished aquifers, and sustained farming communities.  

In a country where around 70% of people live in rural areas and rely on agriculture for their livelihoods, the mountains are a critical source of security. 

Hindu Kush still feeds the country’s rivers and underground aquifers. These support qanats, which are underground channels that distribute water to farms.  

Agriculture is the backbone of Afghanistan’s economy. An estimated 80% of livelihoods depend on farming and herding. 

These systems are intertwined. The mountain provides water, the water nourishes crops, and the crops keep families fed. This balance has been the cornerstone of Afghan life for generations. 

But climate change has shattered this fragile equilibrium, where poets once spoke of gushing streams and rivers, there is now silence. The mountain, once a provider, has now become a catalyst for natural disasters.  

Global warming has triggered rapid glacial melt in high-altitude regions. Less snowfall and faster glacial melt mean less water for agriculture. Less precipitation and hotter temperatures have made the land drier, contributing to desertification – the transformation of fertile land into desert – further decreasing soil productivity. 

In 2024, floods wreaked havoc, killing 525 people, thousands of livestock, and damaging over 13,000 homes. More than 6,000 houses were destroyed. Thousands of hectares of farmland were lost. These numbers speak to an alarming truth. 

More than 50% of Afghanistan’s population is affected by severe drought conditions, with five out of 34 provinces experiencing catastrophic droughts. “All the provinces in the country noted a reduction in water quantity, as evidenced by drying springs and diminishing groundwater in wells,” says Judith Amollo, World Vision’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector lead in the country.  

Annual flooding is another too-common reality in Afghanistan.  

The destruction of crops wipes out livelihoods and forces mass displacement. Entire villages have been abandoned. “In 2024, floods wreaked havoc, killing 525 people, thousands of livestock, and damaging over 13,000 homes. More than 6,000 houses were destroyed. Thousands of hectares of farmland were lost. These numbers speak to an alarming truth,” shares Amollo.  

Floods also destroy key water supply networks, leaving communities with contaminated water and exposing them to diseases like cholera, acute watery diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid and polio.   

What can be done to mitigate and preserve Afghanistan’s water sources?  

The answer lies in climate adaptation policies, sustainable water management, and community awareness.  

Promoting renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydropower, can reduce carbon emissions and slow the rate of glacial melt. Transitioning away from fossil fuels will help reduce greenhouse gases.  

Building water reservoirs and implementing rainwater harvesting systems are crucial steps in mitigating the effects of melting glaciers. By capturing rainwater and storing it for later use, communities can reduce their dependency on increasingly unreliable mountain runoff. 

Groundwater recharge is another crucial strategy for mitigating the effects of climate change and supporting soil health and agriculture. By directing rainwater, river water, or treated water into the soil, underground water reserves are replenished, preventing land degradation. This process, achieved through recharge wells, infiltration basins, and small dams that allow slow water seepage, helps prevent soil erosion, improves its fertility, and ensures a steady water supply for crops. 

At the local level, raising awareness about climate change, promoting environmental conservation, and ensuring disaster preparedness through anticipatory action, community-based disaster risk mechanisms and early warning systems can make a significant difference. Training communities to understand and adapt to the changing environment will help them build resilience against future shocks. 

World Vision’s response to climate change and water scarcity  

World Vision is actively working in Afghanistan to mitigate the effects of climate change and tackle water scarcity. One key initiative is the construction of solar-powered water systems, which replace diesel pumps and help reduce carbon emissions.  

We’re also safeguarding underground water sources by curbing excessive well drilling. “Too many wells can drain groundwater too quickly, leading to shortages,” explains Amollo. “Instead, we focus on using groundwater efficiently, ensuring it lasts for future generations.”  

To improve water quality, World Vision applies the Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology to remove dissolved salts and impurities, making water safer for drinking, cooking, and irrigation. This filtration process reduces contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, and certain chemicals.  

We are cleaning and repairing canals and qanats through cash-for-work programs, which provide more options to communities while also generating employment and income.  

World Vision is also helping communities adapt to climate change by using technologies to save water and protect the land through check dams, surface water catchment, and climate-smart agriculture. 

The check dams are small barriers built across streams to slow down water flow, prevent floods, and store water for dry seasons. The surface water catchments collect and store rainwater in reservoirs or ponds so it can be ‪used later for drinking, farming, or animals. 

We are helping communities adapt to climate change by using technologies to save water and protect the land through check dams, surface water catchment and climate-smart agriculture.   

The check dams are small barriers built across streams to slow down water flow, prevent floods, and store water for dry seasons. The surface water catchments collect and store rainwater in reservoirs or ponds so it can be used later for drinking, farming, or animals.   

In 2024, World Vision provided safe water and sanitation to over 134,000 people in Afghanistan. This includes 15,901 people who gained access to clean drinking water and over 26,000 families who benefited from household water connections.  

As Afghanistan faces the continuous shocks of climate change, preserving its mountain water systems is more urgent than ever. Without action, the mountain will no longer provide.  

Story by Laurentia Jora, Communications Strategic Manager I Photos by Azizullah Hayat, Creative Content Coordinator