Climate change has also adversely affected the health sector in Afghanistan and has led to an increase in some diseases. Analysts say that people should be made aware of this issue and the government and the international community should take necessary measures.

The Earth’s climate is undergoing rapid transformation. Global warming causes droughts in some regions and triggers severe storms, heavy rainfall and floods in others. Glaciers are melting at alarming rates, resulting in rising river water levels.

Research indicates that climate change, particularly the increase in rainfall and glacier melt, may even amplify underground hazards such as earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Although Afghanistan contributes very little (0.19 percent) to global greenhouse gas emissions, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) ranks the country fourth among nations most affected by climate change.

Impacts of climate change on health

Dr. Wahdat Alkhozi, Head of Therapeutic Medicine at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), explains that climate change has directly contributed to the rise of infectious diseases, as these infections thrive under certain environmental conditions and temperature ranges.