UN Warns of Worsening Air Pollution Crisis in Afghanistan

DID Press: United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has warned of a growing air pollution crisis in Afghanistan’s major cities as winter approaches, calling it a serious threat to public health.

In a post on X, the agency said pollution caused by vehicles, industrial activity, and the burning of coal and plastic is turning into a major urban emergency. It warned that the lack of effective oversight and widespread use of nonstandard fuels have put millions of Afghans at risk, with respiratory illnesses rising sharply, particularly in Kabul.

UN-Habitat urged Afghan authorities to promote clean energy, improve public transportation, and expand green urban spaces to mitigate the crisis.

Environmental experts noted that continued reliance on coal for heating is a key driver of toxic emissions, warning that air quality in Afghanistan could reach unprecedentedly hazardous levels in the coming winter months.