Unsafe Water Kills 60,000 Afghan Children Annually

Officials in the Ministry of Public Health say more than 60,000 children die of unsafe water use each year

The Ministry has expressed concern over the contaminated drinking water in some parts of the country, and adds that more than 70 percent of Afghans lack safe drinking water.

The Ministry has warned of dangerous consequences if the present situation continues.

Lack of awareness about public health, short distances between sewage tanks and water sources and also lack of proper canalisation systems in most cities in Afghanistan, especially in the capital Kabul are among the main reasons that the Ministry of Public Health cites for water pollution.

The Ministry adds that the increase of population and the old drinking water distribution pipes in Kabul are among other causes that have contaminated the underground water.

"Around 50 to 65 thousand infants only die of diarrhoea annually, the main reason for which is a lack of clean drinking water," Ghulam Sakhi Oghli, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Heath told TOLOnews.

Kabul residents complain of a lack of safe drinking water, and warn that if the government does not care about public health, the situation will deteriorate in Kabul.

"The water in our area is totally unsafe and makes the kids sick," said a Kabul resident.

After 2001, millions of dollars have been spent on safe drinking water projects in Kabul that has a population of around 4.5 million, but still the city lacks a complete water supply system.