My Actifit Report Card: October 13 2025

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The Afghan capital, Kabul, is facing a severe water crisis that could make it the world’s first modern capital to run out of water. Climate change, poor water resource management, rapid urbanization, and the growing pressure of 5-6 million people are all putting a strain on the city’s water supply. A recent report by the humanitarian organization Mercy Corps found that Kabul is extracting about 44 million cubic meters more water from the ground each year than it can naturally replenish. As a result, the water table has dropped by about 30 meters, or 100 feet, in the past decade, and about half of the wells in Kabul province have already dried up.

The situation is so dire that many families are spending up to 30% of their income on water alone. The United Nations predicts that Kabul’s groundwater could run out completely by 2030. Experts warn that this is not only an environmental crisis, but also a major threat to public health, food security, the economy, and the potential for large-scale human displacement. This is not an isolated incident. Many cities around the world in North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia face similar dangers. Overexploitation of groundwater, changing rainfall patterns due to climate change, and increasing drought intensity are exacerbating these crises. Cape Town, South Africa, and Chennai, India, faced severe water shortages in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Experts say that unless sustainable water management, strong infrastructure, and effective governance are put in place now, Kabul’s situation will be a dire warning to the world. This water shortage could have severe social and economic impacts that would undermine agriculture and food security, increase the cost of living, and in extreme cases, lead to mass migration and displacement. Many believe that they now need greater investment in sustainable water management, strong water infrastructure, and improved governance to address this water crisis.
This report was published via Actifit app (Android | iOS). Check out the original version here on actifit.io

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