Kunar is a mountainous province in the east of Afghanistan well endowed with water resources, but lacking infrastructure and management structures to ensure proper access to potable water for the population.

On November 6, 2010, the USAID-funded Afghan Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation (SWSS) project started the construction work of 27 bore wells in the Noorgal District of Kunar Province. The highest need for the population in this area is access to safe drinking water, which has been without hand pumps and has only had open wells in bad condition. The new wells which are now under construction in the communities of Mia and Patan will benefit an estimated 2,835 people. The construction of new wells commenced with an inauguration ceremony in which provincial Rural Rehabilitation and Development (RRD) representatives and community members were present.

At the ceremony, Ahmad Shah, a district RRD department representative thanked USAID/SWSS, saying, “We are really happy for the assistance of USAID to these communities and would like to request for more projects to be initiated and implemented.” Among the attendees at the ceremony was Ahmadullah, who is responsible for collecting water several times a day for his family. He stated, “I am very happy for this valued step, as we are really having problems due to lack of potable water and by getting a new well my time will be saved for other important life activities.” According to community elders, until now the lack of drinking water has created disease and affected the lives of many children under the age of five.