The expansion of solar-powered pump use in Nangarhar has reduced farmers’ irrigation costs and helped increase crop yields. However, declining rainfall and excessive use of groundwater have raised concerns about falling water levels and the possibility of a water crisis in the coming years.
A number of youth with disabilities in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh, say that a lack of educational facilities and economic difficulties have made it difficult for them to continue their education. They also face more restrictions when looking for jobs. They add that, in some cases, employers pay attention to their disabilities rather than their abilities and skills when hiring.
As the Islamic Emirate completes five years in power, a number of youth are concerned about the lack of sufficient educational and job opportunities. They are calling for more opportunities for education, skills training, and employment. Salam Watandar’s interviews with 28 youth, including 16 girls and 12 boys from 13 provinces, show that they face challenges in accessing education, skills training, and job opportunities.
Chronic sleep deprivation is a common sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep more than three nights a week for several months. It can cause chronic fatigue, reduced concentration and cognitive performance, a weakened immune system, and an increased risk of some mental health problems. Common causes include stress, disruptions to the sleep cycle, and poor sleep hygiene.
In the mountainous areas of Ghor, where climate change, increased seasonal floods, soil erosion, and declining water resources are posing serious challenges to people’s lives, residents in some parts of the province are using a simple approach to protect natural resources and reduce the damage caused by these problems. They are conserving lands (qoroq) covered with natural shrubs and preventing the destruction of vegetation to help restore nature and protect natural resources.
An idea grew out of a need—an idea that today provides children with a safe place to learn and play while giving families new hope. In Badakhshan province, a young woman has established a private kindergarten, taking a step toward children’s education while also showing how initiative and small investments can help respond to the needs of society.
It is seven in the morning, and youth who work as drivers are standing beside their cars at Shahrak Terminal in Nili, the capital of Daikundi province. Some are drinking tea, while others silently stare at the road that runs through the mountains of Daikundi toward Kandahar and Kabul. Only occasionally does a passenger enter the terminal, ask about the fare, and leave again. Waiting has become a major part of these drivers’ daily lives—a difficult wait that sometimes lasts for days.
The recent devastating floods in Parun, the capital of Nuristan, have killed at least 25 people and injured 119 others, while damaging homes, markets, agricultural land, and irrigation infrastructure. Despite Nuristan having more than 231,000 hectares of natural forests, the disaster raises a question: To what extent can forests reduce the severity of sudden floods in mountainous areas?
Although many Afghan youth face limited educational opportunities, economic difficulties, and restrictions on employment, 16 young people told Salam Watandar that, despite their failures, limited resources, and a lack of adequate support, they have been able to succeed in sports, medical technology, healthcare, scientific competitions, and entrepreneurship, and proudly raise Afghanistan’s name at the international level.
A number of obstetricians and gynecologists say that improper breastfeeding practices and misconceptions about the diets of breastfeeding mothers can put infants’ health at risk. According to them, some families still hold beliefs about breastfeeding mothers’ diets, causing women to avoid eating foods that are beneficial to them or rely on traditional remedies to treat illnesses. In some cases, these issues can reduce the amount of breast milk mothers produce and lead to nutritional problems for infants.
A number of women in Sar-e-Pol say that economic difficulties and certain family problems sometimes delay their visits to health centers and their treatment. Social and health experts emphasize that paying attention to the health of all family members and seeking timely medical care can help prevent illnesses from worsening and contribute to maintaining family health.
As Afghanistan needs domestic energy sources more than ever to meet its energy needs, gas fields in Jawzjan produce about 650,000 cubic meters of natural gas each day. The gas helps meet part of the country’s electricity, fertilizer, and other energy needs. Officials say the gas is extracted in accordance with technical and environmental standards. However, experts warn that without close monitoring of water resources, soil, and pollutants, continued extraction could have serious environmental consequences.
