Afghanistan: our action in Water, Hygiene and Sanitation through an interview in the field

In Afghanistan, Première Urgence Internationale responded to several emergencies (epidemics, floods, storms, conflicts, Covid-19) thanks to the rapid mobilization of its teams. In coordination with the authorities, the United Nations and NGOs present, we assessed needs, mapped risks and deployed WaSH solutions (Water supply/distribution of chlorinated water, Emergency latrine installation, installation of shelters, hygiene kits, community awareness-raising). In the event of an acute emergency, our teams are committed to support populations within 72 hours.

Première Urgence Internationale continues its efforts beyond the acute phase by supporting communities with long-term initiatives aimed at preventing future emergencies and enhancing the resilience of the population.

During 3 years, I am glad to have supported about 60 000 people through the rehabilitation or construction of 61 water networks and provided safe water, sanitation and waste management to 83 health care facilities so our medical staff could deliver health services in proper hygiene conditions to nearly 550 000 people per year.

In Afghanistan, access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene is an essential lever for improving public health and combating malnutrition. In some rural areas, water-borne diseases exacerbate child malnutrition.

In response, Première Urgence Internationale has rehabilitated water sources, strengthened quality control and promoted good hygiene practices in the worst-affected areas. These interventions have helped to reduce disease and, consequently, malnutrition rates, underlining the crucial impact of WASH actions on community health.

In Afghanistan, droughts and floods linked to climate change are exacerbating food insecurity, poverty and forced migration. To guarantee sustainable access to water and strengthen community resilience, it is essential to combine traditional knowledge (such as the karez* underground irrigation system) with modern solutions (solar pumps, rainwater harvesting).

Women, who are on the front line when it comes to impacts, must be fully integrated into local water management and resilience committees. Finally, targeted international financial support at local level is essential to strengthen adaptation on the ground and build genuine climate justice.

With a degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters in Engineering Management, my commitment to the WaSH sector is deeply rooted in my life experience: having grown up in an Afghan refugee camp in Pakistan, I saw the direct consequences of the lack of water and sanitation infrastructure on public health. This experience nourished my vocation.

For over ten years, I have been working to improve access to drinking water and decent sanitation facilities, in particular with PUI. Thanks to constant advocacy work, we have managed to increase Première Urgence Internationale’s WaSH budget from $20,000 in 2015 to $1.7 million by 2022-2023, enabling a much wider impact in vulnerable areas.

My career with Première Urgence Internationale has enabled me to develop solid technical expertise and a strategic vision of the sector. Today, as a doctoral student, I aspire to bridge the gap between research and the field in order to propose concrete, sustainable solutions focused on the needs of vulnerable populations.

When it comes to the future of WaSH in Afghanistan, I believe in combining technological innovation, community involvement and local leadership to meet the growing challenges of access to water, hygiene and sanitation.