Nearly 21 million people, or half of the country’s population, face a lack of drinking water. Rainfall has decreased by 37 percent, NEPA Vice President Abdul Salam Haqani warned at a joint press conference with the Ministry of Higher Education.

He said that climate change has destroyed 1.5 percent of the country’s forests; and estimated that 20 billion dollars will be needed to address the problem.

Of that sum, 12 billion dollars would be dedicated to climate change adaptation, and 7.5 billion dollars to reduce the spread, Haqani said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Higher Education Lutfullah Khairkhwah informed about the organization of a world conference on climate change at the University of Nangarhar in the coming days.

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