KABUL, April 25 (Xinhua) -- A total of 44 water supply networks have been constructed in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province, improving access to clean drinking water for thousands of residents, the provincial government said on Saturday.
The projects, with a cost of 148 million afghanis (about 2 million U.S. dollars) in total, have been implemented across 18 districts over the past year. The newly built systems aim to address long-standing shortages of safe drinking water in rural communities, the statement said.
Officials said efforts to expand access will continue, with more than 20 additional water supply projects planned for implementation this year.
Across Afghanistan, access to safe drinking water has become an increasingly serious challenge, forcing many households to purchase water at high prices amid worsening economic conditions. ■
