UN: Unprecedented Expansion of Herat Over Four Decades and Warning of Urban Crisis in Afghanistan

Kokcha News Agency: The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) today (Monday, September 3) announced on its X page that the city of Herat in western Afghanistan has experienced unprecedented growth over the past four decades, completely altering its appearance.

The agency emphasized that while Herat’s skyline continues to expand, urban challenges are also rapidly increasing.

According to the report, from 1985 to 2025, Herat has undergone extensive urban changes. If proper urban planning is not implemented, rapid urbanization could lead to problems such as overcrowding, unsafe housing, and a shortage of essential services. The agency has warned that now is the time to shape Herat’s future in a proper and targeted manner.

Herat is Afghanistan’s second-largest city after Kabul and is recognized as one of the country’s most important cultural and economic centers.

However, the pace of urbanization has been challenging not only in Herat but across Afghanistan. The lack of housing and urban services, especially drinking water, is one of the most pressing issues facing cities today.

According to UN-Habitat statistics, over 40% of Afghanistan’s urban population is concentrated in Kabul. The city is currently facing the most severe environmental and water crisis.

Experts have also warned of the rapid depletion of groundwater in Kabul, suggesting that within the next five years, the city could become the first capital in the world to completely lose its water resources.