MAMANA (SW) – The ongoing drought for the fourth consecutive year in Afghanistan has caused citizens in different provinces to face a shortage of drinking water.
Residents of the Damqul village in Maimana city, capital of Faryab, say that lack of access to drinking water has made them face problems in daily life. They say that they get the water they need from the city of Maimana by using a tricycle, a motorcycle or a combination car in exchange of 200 afghanis for the fare.
Mohammad Amin, a resident of Damgoul village, told Salam Watandar: “There are many problems. Especially because of water, people are in a lot of trouble. Everyone you see is running behind the water with a can in his hand. A bucket of water is brought from the city for 150 to 200 afghanis. Most of the people have economic problems.”
Nisar Ahmad, another resident of the village, said that a large number of residents of this village have contracted various diseases due to lack of access to drinking water. He said: “There is no water, all the people are facing drinking water problems. We live one kilometer from the city, but we don’t have water to drink, children and adults are suffering from diseases due to the lack of safe drinking water.”
Abdul Hakim, the head of the local council of the village, said that the residents of this village suffer from the lack of access to drinking water, as well as the lack of a medical center, school, and proper streets. He added that in order to solve the problem of access to drinking water for the residents of this village, he has repeatedly requested help from the department of rural development and rehabilitation and supporting institutions, but their problem has not been addressed yet. “It’s been about eight months that we don’t have water, we have wells, we have storage, pipes are laid in the streets, but we have a pump problem that poor people can’t afford. The officials had promised to sort it out.”
Meanwhile, Turjan Ahmadi, the head of Faryab countryside revival and development department, told Salam Watandar that after the return of the Islamic Emirate, dozens of water supply projects in different parts of Faryab, which were prioritized, have been completed and people’s problems have been partially resolved. Mr. Ahmadi added: “Work has been done in the water sector in almost all districts, some of them are in the plan, some of them have been completed and some of them are being worked on. We promise the people that attention will be paid to the water sector and secondary roads, both with the coordination of the Ministry of Rural Development and partner institutions.”
ENDS
