Climate change: Afghanistan is “the region of most concern”

Afghanistan is “the region of most concern,” according to the researchers, for reasons including a lack of resources, steep projected population growth and the potential for “far more extreme heat waves than experienced” so far.

The dependence on agricultural livelihoods, poor socio-economic development and decades of war have contributed to making Afghanistan highly vulnerable to climate change, which could have a severe impact on food insecurity, according to the United Nations. Poverty and hunger have risen since the Taliban took over in 2021 and the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal upended the economy and the flow of aid.

Officials at the State Ministry of Disasters Management say that with the warming of the weather this year, strong winds and floods may occur in some residential areas of the country.

The spokesman of this ministry, Shafiullah Rahimi, told Salam Watandar that last year, around 3,000 people died and tens of thousands of animals were killed due to climatic changes in the country. “With the warming of the weather, some areas of the country may become empty, and on the contrary, some other areas will face heavy rain and floods.”

Farid Farhang, spokesperson of the Environmental Protection Agency, referring to the delay in climate-related projects in the country, wants the international community to cooperate with Afghanistan to reduce the level of damage caused by climate change. “Afghanistan is very effective in terms of climate change and countries should cooperate in the field of climate change in Afghanistan and now 32 climate change and environmental protection projects in Afghanistan with a value of 892 million dollars have been delayed. We want them not to politicize their aid.”

ENDS