🔧 DIY Rooftop Coolers: Afghan Taxi Drivers Battle Extreme Heat With Ingenuity
Daily Radar | July 12, 2025 | Kandahar, Afghanistan
In the blistering heat of Kandahar, where temperatures often soar past 40°C (104°F), taxi drivers are turning to an unconventional solution to keep themselves—and their passengers—cool.
Spotted weaving through the dusty streets of Afghanistan’s southern city are taxis with homemade air coolers mounted on their rooftops—scrubby barrels fitted with fans, water tanks, and exhaust tubes, taped or welded onto aging vehicles.
“This works better than AC,” says Abdul Bari, one of many drivers who have given up on their car’s traditional air-conditioning systems. “ACs only cool the front. This cooler spreads air throughout the car.”
A video from AFP news agency shows Bari fixing an exhaust vent onto a window with sticky tape while a helper climbs atop the taxi to install the cooler itself. Though rudimentary, it’s a practical fix—and one that reflects both the resourcefulness and economic strain faced by many Afghans.
The biggest drawback? Manual labor. Bari says he has to refill the cooler’s water tank twice daily, but insists:
“It works well for me.”
🧊 From Innovation to Necessity
Another driver, Gul Mohammad, said he paid around 3,000 Afghanis ($43) for his custom rooftop cooler—far less than the cost of repairing a factory-installed AC.
“These cars' AC systems didn't work, and repairs were too expensive. So I went to a technician and had a custom cooler made,” said the 32-year-old.
💊 Heat-Related Health Crisis
Passengers welcome the innovation.
“When there's no cooler, it becomes very difficult. I even carry anti-heat medicine,” said 19-year-old Norullah, who once required an IV drip for heat-related illness.
Afghanistan recorded its hottest spring on record from April to June this year, and a worsening drought is sweeping across the nation, devastating crops and deepening the humanitarian crisis, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
Experts warn that Afghanistan is among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world—yet it has been excluded from global climate talks since the Taliban regained power in 2021.
Despite lacking international support and modern infrastructure, Afghan citizens continue to show a remarkable capacity for resilience and innovation. The rooftop air cooler might not be high-tech, but for drivers in Kandahar, it’s proving to be a lifesaving invention on wheels.