The Ministry for Energy and Water (MEW) has presented the FAO Representation in Afghanistan with an award for its “excellent work in developing and managing the water sector in Afghanistan.”

The award was presented to the FAO Representation this week by the Acting MEW Minister, Mohammad Gul Khulmi, and Deputy Minister Khan Mohammad Takal, on the second day of the National Water Conference on Water Resources Development and Management. The conference examined recent achievements by the government and other stakeholders associated with the management of surface and sub-surface water resources.

The aim of the conference was to provide a platform and bring all major stakeholders, scientists, professionals, engineering science disciplines, civil society, Islamic scholars and social scientists involved with the water and its sustainable development and management.

Upon receiving the award, FAO Representative in Afghanistan, Rajendra Aryal, thanked the Ministry. He acknowledged that improved water resources management and water storage capacity continue to play a central role in the economic growth of the country and eradication of poverty. “Today, due to climate change in Afghanistan, the water sector needs a lot of attention – more than at any other time,” Aryal said. “FAO will continue to expand its work in this area in the future as well as in close collaboration with the Government of Afghanistan, donors and other relevant stakeholders.”

Afghanistan’s continuing severe drought – forcing people to migrate

Many provinces in Afghanistan suffered from severe drought last year.

The drought has taken its toll in various forms, such as land degradation, loss of vegetation, and internal displacement and migration.  In 2018, rainfall was as much as 70 percent below the long-term average in nearly 22 provinces of Afghanistan, severely affecting millions of people dependent on crop farming and livestock.

In Herat and Badghis provinces, there has been an influx of people numbering in the tens of thousands to the provincial capitals from different districts – many of whom migrated from their places of origin due to direct impacts of the drought.

FAO in collaboration with the government, other international organizations and donor agencies has been largely contributing to the development and management of water sector in the country.