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WATER
“The overall findings of UNHCR’s 2008 needs assessment
emphasize that one of the main needs, as expressed by
returning Afghans themselves, is water” (UNHCR 2008 Needs
Assessment)
With water in short supply, the control over this
resource becomes a constant source of tension
between the communities, hampering a smooth
reintegration of returnees.
BACKGROUND
Since UNHCR started its voluntary repatriation
programme in 2002, UNHCR has assisted more than
4,3 million Afghans, returning from asylum mainly
Pakistan and Iran. Majority of the returnees have been
settling in the Central, Eastern and Northern regions.
In co-operation with the Afghan government and its
partners, UNHCR assists the returnees in the initial
phase of reintegration and helps to sustain the
absorption capacity of the receiving communities with
activities in basic sectors such as shelter, small-scale
income generation and water/sanitation.
Afghan children collecting fresh water from a pump in Laghman
province in Eastern Afghanistan
WATER IN AFGHANISTAN
One of the most urgent needs that returnees face
upon their arrival in Afghanistan is access to safe
drinking water. It is estimated that out of a rural
population of 18 million people, approximately 14
million do not have access to safe drinking water.
Water-born diseases are still the leading cause of
death and the lack of safe drinking water contributes
to high mortality rate in Afghanistan.
UNHCR uses a standard of daily water consumption
of 20 litres per person, excluding water needs for
animals and crops in Afghanistan the water is mainly
collected at communal wells.
Afghanistan is an arid country and water supply varies
in the different regions. In the northern and central
regions, the high snow capped mountains feed rivers
all year round, whereas people in the South depend
on the two rainy seasons to fill dams and basins. This
being said, from the late 1990s until 2003,
Afghanistan experienced one of the worst droughts in
recent history. Dams and rivers dried up and the
underground water table was depleted. The prolonged
drought uprooted people and made raising crops
impossible in some areas. Followed by a few seasons
where normal rain and snow has fallen, 2008
witnessed drought in particular in the Northern and
western regions. The effects of the droughts and the
overall climate changes in the region will have longterm effects on the availability of water in Afghanistan.
This shortage is aggravated by the lack of major water
infrastructure for collection and distribution. Twentyfive years of conflict, low maintenance capacity and
limited availability of spare parts have left many of the
wells damaged and unusable.
UNHCR’S WATER ACTIVITIES
Recognizing the enormous challenge the country is
facing, UNHCR has made the construction of water
points one of the priorities in its returnee reintegration
programme. Substantial direct interventions were
conducted in 2002 and 2003. In an effort to support
the government capacities, since 2004 UNHCR has
implemented its water programme through the Water
Supply and Sanitation Programme of the Ministry of
Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD). The
construction of water points follows the Water
Guidelines developed by MRRD, largely based on
existing international standards.
There are three types of water supply schemes
constructed, depending on the hydro-geological
conditions of the area. Dug wells can reach a
maximum depth of 30 meters with a 1.5 meters
diameter. They are normally constructed by the
community itself, with the materials and supervision
provided by UNHCR and its partners. The second
type is a deep well, which is mechanically drilled to a
depth of 40 to 70 meters. Both types of schemes are
equipped and managed with hand pumps. This
technology was chosen by the Government of
Afghanistan because they are the most manageable;
children are often the ones collecting the water for
their families. On average, such wells serve 175
persons. A third type of scheme is the pipe scheme,
which takes water from the spring by means of a
gravity system.
UNHCR relies on partner organizations for the
implementation of water and sanitation programmes.
Since 2004 MRRD, UNHCR and UNDP have formed
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WATER
joint technical monitoring teams (JTMT) to monitor the
implementation both at the central and regional levels.
Water engineers ensure that wells are constructed
according to technical standards and at appropriate
sites.
In the course of the implementation, training sessions
on operation and maintenance of water points are
conducted. In most instances, Water Committees are
established in communities. These committees
participate in the construction process, ensure
maintenance of the wells and set up a spare part
supply scheme. Similarly, basic hygiene education is
provided to keep the minimum sanitation standard and
to avoid water-born diseases. Women are consulted
to the extent possible in the selection of sites for wells
as they and the children are traditionally the ones who
collect water.
The access to potable water will enhance the physical
protection and safety of returnees and the local
communities through easy access to water sources, in
healthy and hygiene conditions. The Reintegration
Unit of MRRD will strive for the inclusion of returnees
and IDPs in the national development programmes.
Government’s National Area Based Development
Programme, according to a framework of intervention
jointly agreed by UNHCR, MRRD and UNDP. In 2008,
positive achievements were recorded through
cooperation with the Community Development
Councils (CDCs) established under the Government’s
National Solidarity Programme (NSP).
Since 2002 until 2009 a total of 9,364 water points
have been completed under UNHCR’s water
programme - jointly or in co-operation with MRRD. It is
estimated that these interventions have benefited
more than 1.4 million Afghans.
Region
Central
Central Highlands
East
North
South
South East
West
Total
Water Points
2,671
152
1,806
1,303
932
1,104
1,396
9,364
Water points completed until 2009
EVALUATION OF THE WATER PROGRAMME
WHO BENEFITS FROM THE WATER ASSISTANCE
UNHCR’s water activities are community based and
benefit all Afghans, returnees as well as the local
population. Complementing the Government’s efforts
in the water sector, UNHCR targets provinces of high
or potential return, as well as the drought-affected
areas.
In the first half of 2007, UNHCR undertook an
evaluation of MRRD implemented water projects
supported by UNHCR since 2004. Most of the
examined water points (83%) were found functioning
and providing services to the beneficiaries. The
impact assessment highlighted that important benefits
have been brought to the targeted beneficiaries, such
as reduction of water born diseases, decrease of work
load on women and children, and improvement on
children’s school reporting time.
2009 WATER PLANS
In 2009, UNHCR has planned to implement water
points through MRRD. In connection with water
points, water supply scheme caretakers and district
mechanics are planned to be trained. In addition,
latrines will be constructed and functional by end
2009. The number and allocation of water points for
2009 will be decided based on UNHCR’s needs
assessment that was carried out in the end of 2008.
Afghan man providing water
WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED
During 2002 and 2003, the construction of water
points was carried out directly by UNHCR and its
partners. In an effort to include its initial reintegration
assistance into the major National Development
Programmes, since 2004 UNHCR began to channel
its funds under the water sector through the Afghan
UNHCR continues to focus on water, as one of its
prime programmes, in order to address the difficulties
Afghans have accessing water at the new land
allocation sites.
Additional information on the UNHCR’s water projects can
be found on our website www.unhcr.org. Other relevant
websites:
www.aihrc.org.af,
www.areu.org.af
and
www.unama-afg.org.
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