UNICEF Afghanistan and the Government of the Republic of Korea have concluded a project to expand climate-resilient water access in some of Afghanistan's most climate-vulnerable communities, UNICEF said in a press release dated 22 October 2026. The work included 19 boreholes, solar-powered pumping systems, water reservoirs and distribution networks, which UNICEF said help protect more than 39,000 children and their families from droughts, floods and other climate-related shocks by providing more reliable safe water for households, schools and communities.

UNICEF said Afghanistan ranks highest in South Asia for child vulnerability, with millions of children exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards, including droughts, floods, heatwaves, fires and sand and dust storms. In Ghor Province, it cited Jonobe Badrah village, where a solar-powered borehole pumps water into an 80,000-litre storage tank above the village. UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale said safe water is among the most urgent ways to protect children's health, dignity and future.

The project also covered drilling new wells, rehabilitating existing systems, building reservoirs and pipe networks, household connections and water quality testing. The figures and conditions described are as reported by UNICEF on 22 October 2026.