Central Asia’s Water Woes
Central Asia faces a severe water crisis threatening regional tensions and development.
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Welcome to IWPR’s Frontline Update, your go-to source to hear from journalists and local voices at the front lines of conflict.
THE BIG PICTURE
Water is life, everywhere. But in Central Asia, a severe water crisis risks fuelling tensions between volatile neighbouring countries as well as harming the whole region’s social and economic development.
The Aral Sea has shrunk by 90 per cent, while the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers – the region’s primary water sources – are also hugely depleted. Crops are dying, fish stocks shrinking and taps running dry as government grapple with the consequences of climate change and resource mismanagement. The topic remains underreported, despite its critical importance to sustainability, regional collaboration and stability.
VOICES FROM THE FRONTLINE
“There is a lot of land in our village. But we can't use it because there is no water.”
Uzbek farmer Sobirov Karim told Abror Kurbonmuratov, whose frontline report looked at how the construction of the Qosh Tepa Canal in Afghanistan was diverting water from the Amu Darya River and causing severe water shortages in southern Uzbekistan.
“If there was water in our village, people would not go to work in Russia,” Karim continued. “They would stay here and engage in agriculture.”
Kurbonmuratov was trained under a new IWPR Central Asia project to create a cadre of dedicated environmental reporters, with nearly 60 stories published so far on our CABAR.asia website and widely shared.
“As someone who is originally from this region, I share the deep concerns that many residents have about the Koshtepa channel,” Kurbonmuratov said. “This issue is close to my heart because it directly affects my community, our environment, and our way of life. That's why I decided to cover this topic.”
From the plight of environmental migrants in Tajikistan to innovative projects such Kyrgystan’s creation of “artificial glaciers” to transform life for farming communities, these stories are driving the conversation around sustainable environmental practices and regional cooperation.
WHY IT MATTERS
Regional cooperation and responsible water management are key to meeting Central Asia’s environmental challenges, but both foreign and domestic actors often weaponise the issue to sow instability through disinformation. By harnessing the power of accurate information, independent media can play a pivotal role in countering these harmful narratives.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Water has long been a conflict trigger in Central Asia, but local journalists can play a pivotal role not only in raising awareness of key environmental issues but also promoting shared regional solutions.
