Hopes evaporate along with water in thirsty Afghanistan

GALLERY Images from the drought in southern Afghanistan     WEB EXCLUSIVE On the scene with Nic Robertson in Islamabad, Pakistan

Tens of thousands flee southern region as drought wears on

DALA DAM, Afghanistan (CNN)-- The lake behind southern Afghanistan's Dala Dam, which provided water and a livelihood for more than a million people, has been dry for more than four months.

Before three years of inadequate rainfall dried up all but one of the region's nine rivers, the Dala lake, once 40 meters (131 feet) deep, fed a valley fabled for its fine fruit.

Now villagers search relentlessly for drinking water as well after well goes dry.

"The water keeps receding," said one villager, Haji. Another, Mohammed, agrees and adds, "It's got worms."

One such well has dropped 4.5 meters (15 feet) from two weeks ago.

The villagers fear they will have to leave their homes if the water finally does run out. Already, they say, most of their 10,000 animals -- their village's livelihood -- have either died or been sold because there is no food.

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Farther down the valley, the fruit farmers face a similar plight, worrying that the lack of water will kill their trees.

Drought is only one hardship facing Afghans. An additional 60,000 people have been driven from their homes by the latest round of fighting between the Taliban and forces loyal to ousted President Burhanuddin Rabbani.

The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates there are now about 10,000 families -- about 60,000 people -- displaced across northern Afghanistan. The Rabbani government says the number is closer to 12,000 families.

In response to the fighting and the drought, the WFP has ordered has ordered additional supplies to feed refugees from the fighting, and others in the province of Badakhshan, where chronic hunger was widespread before the latest fighting.

For Afghans suffering from hunger, malnutrition is not yet a problem. Although more than 5 million people are threatened, the failing water has so far cost them only their means of survival.

But tens of thousands have fled, searching for food and water in Afghan cities that aid officials fear won't be able to keep up with the demand.

"It's very, very severe," said Leslie Oquist, the United Nations' southern Afghanistan coordinator. "Unless rain falls in the coming rainy season, probably we will see Africa-like pictures in this region."

No rain is expected, leaving southern Afghanistan to suffer what is likely a very dry future.

CNN Correspondent Nic Robertson and Reuters contributed to this report.

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