Water Crisis in Afghanistan: OCHA warns 16 million people (about one in three) need clean water and sanitation in 2026 as drought, weak infrastructure, and climate change drive disease risk and food insecurity, with residents in Bamyan saying life is “becoming impossible” without drinking water. Humanitarian Funding Gap: OCHA also says Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation is worsening, with nearly 22 million people needing help and the UN’s $1.7bn appeal only 14% funded, leaving remote areas “becoming impossible.” Regional Water Cooperation: Kazakhstan and Kabul sign an agreement to set up a water resources management and irrigation center at Kabul University, aiming at water security, sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, and environmental monitoring. Climate Pressure on Food Security: UNICEF highlights worsening climate risks for children’s food vulnerability in Afghanistan. Agriculture Under Threat: Experts warn soil erosion is growing and threatens Afghanistan’s agricultural land. Health & Resilience: Rotary’s president-elect points to Afghanistan’s use of needle-free jet injectors to vaccinate children in hard-to-reach communities, as polio funding pressures rise. Local Industry Boost: Bamyan reports 32 production facilities operating since 2021, creating jobs in carpets, handicrafts, detergents, and dairy. Mining for Infrastructure: Afghanistan signs a milestone mining lease for the Aybak Cement project in Samangan, targeting local cement minerals to cut imports and support infrastructure.