Amid freezing temperatures, UN report shows majority of Afghan families have no electricity

The United Nations Development Program announced in its new report that Afghanistan is facing a major electricity crisis, adding that only 40% of the country’s population has access to electricity.

The report emphasized that the lack of electricity has negative effects on the provision of essential services such as health services, education, humanitarian aid, development and economic improvement.

It pointed out that provincial hospitals connected to the electricity grid have five to six daily hours and even some days do not have electricity for 12 hours.

The UN report added that imported electricity covers only 40% of the consumption demand in Afghanistan, noting that electricity supply decreases during times of increased demand, including winter.

It explained that Afghanistan is heavily dependent on imported electricity from neighboring countries such as Central Asia and Iran, which provide more than 75% of its electricity.

It should be mentioned that since Taliban returned to power in August 2021, Afghanistan has continued to experience a deteriorating economic, security and health circumstances, amid ongoing education ban on girls.