Following repeated droughts in Afghanistan, particularly in the western region, residents of Herat Province report that most hand-dug wells have dried up. They believe that the drought crisis and the desertification of areas and villages across the country contribute to the rising number of internally displaced persons and intensifying migration waves. Residents from most districts of Herat state that groundwater levels in their areas may have dropped by 10 to 30 meters this year.
Some residents of Herat voice their concerns about the drying up of their hand-dug wells, which heightens fears of a looming drought crisis. They indicate that many people relied on these wells for drinking water, and now face significant shortages.
Juma Gul, a resident of the Pashtun Zarghun district, states that the wells previously used for drinking water have dried up in the past two years. He mentions that most hand-dug wells in his district are now dry and that groundwater levels have dropped.
In an interview with the Hasht-e Subh Daily, Juma Gul explains, “The well we dug ourselves has been used by dozens of families for about 15 to 16 years, but two years ago, the water level decreased, and this year it has completely dried up.” He adds, “This creates a serious problem for us, which unfortunately indicates a drought. Previously, the wells we dug by hand reached water at depths of six to ten meters, but now we are forced to dig 15 to 20 meters and sometimes deeper to find the necessary drinking water. In Pashtun Zarghun, most hand-dug wells have dried up, and the water level has dropped by approximately 15 to 25 meters in this area.”
Several residents of the Zabul district of Herat also express concern about the drying up of their hand-dug wells, viewing the drought as a serious threat to their livelihoods.
Esmatullah, a resident of Zabul, tells the Hasht-e Subh Daily, “In our district, the wells that were previously dug to supply water for the people have now completely dried up, and residents rely entirely on deep wells. In recent years, the hand-dug wells have dried up completely; they used to be dug to depths of 10 to 15 meters, but now they require digging to 30 to 40 meters, and everyone is using deep wells that go down to 60 or 80 meters. Using hand-dug wells is no longer feasible.”
Meanwhile, residents of the Farsi district of Herat have also expressed their concerns about the drying of hand-dug wells, stating that these wells can no longer meet their water needs. They report that groundwater levels have dropped by at least 15 to 25 meters, and they can only secure water through deep wells.
Shujauddin, a resident of the Farsi district, notes, “Our district was known for its abundant water supply, but now we feel we are facing a troubling drought. The water we used for drinking and even for irrigating farmland came from hand-dug wells, but now there isn’t enough water available, and these wells have completely dried up.”
This resident from Farsi adds, “We used to dig our wells to four meters and reach water, and then we would dig about four more meters to ensure we had enough water for farming, but now those wells have completely dried up. If a well is meant for drinking water, it needs to be dug to 20 to 25 meters, and if it’s for agriculture, it should be dug to 40, 60, or even 70 meters, indicating that the water level in our district has dropped by 15 to 30 meters.”
At the same time, residents from the districts of Shindand, Adraskan, Guzara, Injil, Karukh, and several other areas of Herat also confirm that their hand-dug wells have dried up and that groundwater levels have decreased alarmingly.
The drought crisis in Afghanistan presents a serious challenge that has intensified in recent years. This crisis is influenced by various factors, including climate change, poor water resource management, and political instability. The ongoing droughts have resulted in reduced snowfall, drying up of water resources, decreased agricultural production, food insecurity, and increased migration and displacement. This situation requires systematic and scientific efforts, yet the Taliban have demonstrated over the past three years their inability to manage water resources effectively and lack the necessary expertise for this task.
You can read the Persian version of this daily report here:
بحران خشکسالی در افغانستان؛ اکثر چاههای دستی آب در هرات خشک شدهاند
