INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has released an alerting about the aggravating water crisis in
Afghanistan, citing below-average rainfall throughout much of the country.In a current report, OCHA noted that while some areas of
Afghanistan have seen rains approaching typical levels, general precipitation remains significantly below normal.Snowmelt volumes in the
majority of river basins are also lower than average and continuing to decline—-- further aggravating the water shortage.OCHA highlighted
that information from the Agricultural Stress Index (ASI) shows markedly reduced plants growth in numerous regions, signaling the onset of
dry spell conditions.The agency also reported that soil wetness at root depth is critically low in most parts of the nation, with the
exception of some northern and northeastern provinces.This positions major issues for farming productivity.OCHA included that land surface
temperatures throughout Afghanistan are above average, apart from restricted areas in the northeastern provinces.Forecasts recommend that
above-average temperature levels and below-normal rains are likely to persist in the coming months.These conditions, the report cautions,
are expected to heighten the water crisis, resulting in more decreases in crop yields and harmful pasturelands essential for livestock.As of
March, this year, the provinces of Faryab and Jawzjan in northern Afghanistan have actually been identified as the most severely affected by
decreased precipitation and increasing temperatures
Other locations at vital danger include Helmand in the south, Herat in the west, Kunduz in the northeast, and Nangarhar in the
east.Afghanistan has been coming to grips with serious drought and decreasing rainfall for several consecutive years.The prolonged droughts
have diminished water materials across the nation, consisting of in major urban centers, leaving many communities with minimal access to
safe drinking water.The nation is likewise increasingly susceptible to severe weather events, including flash floods, and stays among the
most climate-vulnerable countries worldwide—-- despite contributing minimally to worldwide greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.The
post OCHA alerts of intensifying water crisis in Afghanistan first appeared on TINS News|Afghanistan News.
