Wheat and<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-opium-producers-hit-hard-by-drought-in-2018-178299"> opium farmer</a> Murad Khan Ishaqzai, 80, has never seen a drought as bad as the one ravaging western Afghanistan where more than 250,000 people have been<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-farmers-fleeing-drought-face-more-hardship-in-camps-170839"> forced to abandon</a> their homes.

After his crops dried up in Gormach district of Badghis province earlier this year, Ishaqzai rented a truck and drove his family hundreds of kilometres through Taliban-infested areas to the neighbouring province of Herat. &nbsp; &nbsp;

There, he and his family of seven took refuge in a squalid camp on the rocky outskirts of the provincial capital where aid agencies are struggling to meet growing demand for food, shelter and sanitation.

"The farms were destroyed, our livestock perished, and we left our donkeys in the desert because we couldn't feed them any more," said Ishaqzai, his face weather-beaten by a lifetime of working in his field.

It was only the second time in his life that drought had forced him to leave his land.&nbsp;

But with Afghanistan ranked as one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, it may not be the last.&nbsp;

"It's the worst drought I have seen," Ishaqzai told AFP in August. &nbsp;

"We had a lot of opium and wheat -- we lost them.&nbsp;

"The land dried up and we didn't have enough to eat."

The United Nations warned in October that at least <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/three-million-afghans-in-urgent-need-of-food-united-nations-171620">three million people were in "urgent" need of food </a>due to the dry spell mainly across northern and western Afghanistan, and could face famine if they do not get help.&nbsp;

The UN is spearheading international efforts to reach 2.5 million of the three million most in need of food by mid-December, UN humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan Toby Lanzer told AFP previously.

Conditions are miserable in the camps where families displaced by the drought have settled as temperatures drop across the country.&nbsp;

Ishaqzai is relatively lucky. He and his family have a canvas tent provided by an international humanitarian group. Others are living in pitiful, makeshift tents that offer little or no protection against the cold and rain.&nbsp;

Ishaqzai, whose health is failing, wants to go home.

"You can see that my life is almost over in this world," he said.

"If I could have stayed there (in Badghis) I wouldn't have come here, even if you gave me all of Herat city."

Wheat and opium farmer Murad Khan Ishaqzai, 80, has never seen a drought as bad as the one ravaging western Afghanistan where more than 250,000 people have been forced to abandon their homes.

Wheat and opium farmer Murad Khan Ishaqzai, 80, has never seen a drought as bad as the one ravaging western Afghanistan where more than 250,000 people have been forced to abandon their homes. After his crops dried up in Gormach district of Badghis province earlier this year, Ishaqzai rented a truck and drove his family hundreds of kilometres through Taliban-infested areas to the neighbouring province of Herat. There, he and his family of seven took refuge in a squalid camp on the rocky outskirts of the provincial capital where aid agencies are struggling to meet growing demand for food, shelter and sanitation. "The farms were destroyed, our livestock perished, and we left our donkeys in the desert because we couldn't feed them any more," said Ishaqzai, his face weather-beaten by a lifetime of working in his field. It was only the second time in his life that drought had forced him to leave his land. But with Afghanistan ranked as one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, it may not be the last. "It's the worst drought I have seen," Ishaqzai told AFP in August. "We had a lot of opium and wheat -- we lost them. "The land dried up and we didn't have enough to eat." The United Nations warned in October that at least three million people were in "urgent" need of food due to the dry spell mainly across northern and western Afghanistan, and could face famine if they do not get help. The UN is spearheading international efforts to reach 2.5 million of the three million most in need of food by mid-December, UN humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan Toby Lanzer told AFP previously. Conditions are miserable in the camps where families displaced by the drought have settled as temperatures drop across the country. Ishaqzai is relatively lucky. He and his family have a canvas tent provided by an international humanitarian group. Others are living in pitiful, makeshift tents that offer little or no protection against the cold and rain. Ishaqzai, whose health is failing, wants to go home. "You can see that my life is almost over in this world," he said. "If I could have stayed there (in Badghis) I wouldn't have come here, even if you gave me all of Herat city."

'Worst drought I have seen': Afghan farmers forced to flee

Parts of Afghanistan provinces are facing a serious threat of severe drought that could affect the lives of almost one million people living in the area said a recent statement released by United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.

The statement reads, "the extremely dry winter has affected 22 provinces across Afghanistan and now threatens to negatively impact the lives of one million people, with an additional two million who could feel its effects over the coming months".

According to the statement 23-30 per cent of water sources have gone dry. Food insecurity and reduced access to safe water are beginning to take their toll in the 10 worst affected provinces, where 20 to 30 percent of water sources are reportedly dry. The impact on children could be devastating, as these areas have pre-existing high rates of malnutrition. Without adequate nutritious food and safe water for drinking, as well as for hygiene and sanitation, children’s health will only worsen.&nbsp;

Afghanistan reportedly received lowest snowfall and rain in years this winter.

According to reports, at least 20 to 34 provinces are already suffering severely and the situation is expected to worsen even further.

Hashamnt Khan Bahaduri spokesperson for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority in Kabul was quoted by Reuters saying that "this year drought has reached a level that we will have to announce an emergency in several parts of the country."

He further informed that the country might need to import or receive donations to overcome food shortages.

Afghanistan has been experiencing frequent seasons in recent decades.&nbsp;

Inadequate rains and snowfall during 2008 to 2010 in parts of Afghanistan caused significant failure of the rain-fed crops in the six provinces: Herat, Jawzjan, Balkh, Badghis, Faryab and Sar-e-Pul. The situation affected the most vulnerable populations and their access to food and water, reducing communities' health and nutrition status.&nbsp;

However, following the heavy snow in 2012 long drought ended.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The extremely dry winter has affected 22 provinces across Afghanistan and now threatens to negatively impact the lives of one million people, with an additional two million who could feel its effects over the coming months

Parts of Afghanistan provinces are facing a serious threat of severe drought that could affect the lives of almost one million people living in the area said a recent statement released by United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. The statement reads, "the extremely dry winter has affected 22 provinces across Afghanistan and now threatens to negatively impact the lives of one million people, with an additional two million who could feel its effects over the coming months". According to the statement 23-30 per cent of water sources have gone dry. Food insecurity and reduced access to safe water are beginning to take their toll in the 10 worst affected provinces, where 20 to 30 percent of water sources are reportedly dry. The impact on children could be devastating, as these areas have pre-existing high rates of malnutrition. Without adequate nutritious food and safe water for drinking, as well as for hygiene and sanitation, children’s health will only worsen. Afghanistan reportedly received lowest snowfall and rain in years this winter. According to reports, at least 20 to 34 provinces are already suffering severely and the situation is expected to worsen even further. Hashamnt Khan Bahaduri spokesperson for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority in Kabul was quoted by Reuters saying that "this year drought has reached a level that we will have to announce an emergency in several parts of the country." He further informed that the country might need to import or receive donations to overcome food shortages. Afghanistan has been experiencing frequent seasons in recent decades. Inadequate rains and snowfall during 2008 to 2010 in parts of Afghanistan caused significant failure of the rain-fed crops in the six provinces: Herat, Jawzjan, Balkh, Badghis, Faryab and Sar-e-Pul. The situation affected the most vulnerable populations and their access to food and water, reducing communities' health and nutrition status. However, following the heavy snow in 2012 long drought ended. (With inputs from Reuters)

One million lives at stake as Afghanistan is hit by drought

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'Worst drought I have seen': Afghan farmers forced to flee

One million lives at stake as Afghanistan is hit by drought