Afghanistan, June 6 -- Only one-third of Afghanistan's population has access to electricity, with coverage in rural areas falling below 20%, according to a new report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which warns that energy poverty remains a major obstacle to economic recovery and human development.
The UNDP said Afghanistan remains one of the world's least energy-secure countries after decades of conflict, underinvestment and infrastructure damage. Annual energy consumption stands at about 700 kilowatt-hours per person, roughly 30 times lower than the global average.
The agency said limited access to reliable electricity continues to affect millions of Afghans, restricting access to healthcare, education, economic oppo...