KANDAHAR -- British aid organisation UK Aid Direct has implemented a project in Kandahar province as part of the Work for Food programme, which supports Afghan families in need.
The project, named "Recovery, Reintegration and Resilience", was implemented across Kandahar over the past year. It is continuing in Kandahar and other parts of the country.
Some 4,500 people in Kandahar city and the province's districts have participated in the project, according to UK Aid Direct.
Each participant receives flour, rice, oil, beans and salt in exchange for work. The provisions, which are distributed monthly, are worth $90.
![Dozens of Kandahar residents received food from UK Aid Direct on October 26 in Dand district, Kandahar province. [Rahimullah Khpelwak/Salaam Times]](/cnmi_st/images/2022/11/04/38470-k_2-739_416.webp)
Dozens of Kandahar residents received food from UK Aid Direct on October 26 in Dand district, Kandahar province. [Rahimullah Khpelwak/Salaam Times]
Participants work on building and cleaning canals, and paving and reconstructing roads in return for the monthly food package, the organisation said.
Unemployed individuals, including some refugees deported from neighbouring countries, participate in the project, said Fazel Ur Rahman Sherzad, an official at the Kandahar Department of Refugees and Repatriations.
"The Work for Food programme has been implemented in remote and deprived areas," he said.
"The objective of the programme is to fight poverty and hunger and prevent unemployment."
"Roads and canals had been destroyed in most areas of Kandahar, to the point that they were not even usable," he said. "With the support of the Work for Food programme, these roads and canals have been rehabilitated, improving facilities for locals."
At the peak of the economic challenges and crises, aid from international organisations has helped thousands of families to stay in Afghanistan rather than migrate to neighbouring countries in search of employment opportunities, he said.
Work and construction
In addition to creating jobs, "Recovery, Reintegration and Resilience" has helped reconstruct infrastructure in villages.
Mohammad Zaman, 27, a resident of Dand district in Kandahar, said he has been unemployed for more than a year and is delighted to be part of the Work for Food programme.
"We are very happy that we are able to earn a living and that the infrastructure in our village is being improved," he said.
"We used to wander around aimlessly in the markets and on the streets, but now we are working and have an income."
"Both the educated and uneducated were jobless," he said. "Most of our educated youth were working for the government in the past, but they are now jobless."
"We reconstructed roads and canals in our area with the assistance of UK Aid Direct, and that will improve mobility in the coming winter, as well as the flow of water to agricultural lands," Zaman said.
Habibullah Omar, 34, another Dand district resident, said since he started working on the UK Aid Direct project, he has not been worried about hunger.
"I have been working with the project for two months," he said on October 26. "The food package I get at the end of each month is enough to feed my family."
"I was tired of being unemployed and had lost hope. Now, I am very happy that I am able to work and provide for my family."
"We rebuilt the road to our area, which was in very bad shape," he said. "We also dug and cleaned the large canal in our area through which now water easily flows to the agricultural lands."
"Nobody had cleaned the canal in recent years, and water would flow into houses."
The project kept many young residents from migrating to Iran or Pakistan, Omar added.
Reducing poverty
Projects implemented by international organisations have saved residents from poverty and hunger, said tribal elders and other local leaders in Kandahar.
"International assistance saved the livelihood and economy of the Afghan people from collapse," said Nizamuddin Qyam, a civil activist in Kandahar city. "Most Afghans wouldn't have had anything to eat if it were not for this aid."
"In addition to the distribution of food, we see the implementation of development projects," he said. "Thousands of Afghans are busy working on those projects and have income, funded by international aid organisations."
Given last year's developments in the country that led to the economic and employment crises in Afghanistan, the international community must continue its assistance to Afghans, he said.
Thousands of families would have been forced to migrate to neighbouring countries had it not been for international aid, said Mohammad Musa Noorzai, a tribal elder in Kandahar city.
"International assistance has saved many lives," he said.
"A humanitarian crisis could have taken place due to hunger in those tough circumstances if it weren't for the global assistance," he said. "Afghans have lost their incomes and cannot feed themselves and their families."
"Drought and floods have destroyed most of the private agricultural lands in the last year," he added.
Meanwhile, Afghans "have lost income from unemployment and economic crises".
"International assistance that is distributed ... every month has reduced poverty," he said, adding that more support is needed during the winter.
It is true that whenever the government system of Afghanistan changes, the people of Afghanistan face a bad economic situation. Our neighboring countries, which are also Muslims, instead of helping us, oppress us. They block the roads for us. The do not let the poor people of Afghanistan to transfer their patients to these countries for treatment. Financial aid also comes from European and American countries. Our neighboring countries have always left Afghans alone in bad situations. Our neighboring countries played a role in destroying Afghanistan.
Reply4 Comment
In Kandahar province, the project of work for food by Great Britain is a great work. Most of the roads, canals and bridges of this province have been destroyed during the several years of war. And this program can rebuild and bring a piece of bread to the poor and unemployed people of this province. This work is not for 2,500 people, but for 2,500 families.
Reply4 Comment
Our people should take care of some things while making friendships and relations with the East and the West, that the East (Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Arabs...) has not given us a helping hand in our difficult times. Instead, the Russians invaded our country, and until today, the suffering and pain we are seeing are the consequences of the Russian invasion. On the other hand, even though we have defeated Britain three times, they howled like dogs and ran away, but they still helped our people. The Americans also invaded Afghanistan unjustly and cruelly, but they were punished for their arrogance. Their invasion embarrassed America and killed tens of thousands of Afghans. Both sides were to blame. 21 years ago, the Taliban were as stupid as donkeys. And Bush was as arrogant as a barking dog. He was so stupid that he ruined America's honor and glory and the Afghan's. I call the American invasion unjust because when their enemy Osama was recovered in Pakistan, the US did not even tell Pakistan why they kept him for six years. Now compare how did America or the so-called international community punish Afghanistan for keeping Osama and how did they punish Pakistan for keeping him? According to Trump's speech, they killed tens of thousands of Afghans but gave Pakistan $30 billion. In any case, if we look back, the United States has donated almost $1,200 million to Afghanistan in the last 15 months. Afghans welcome America's aid and want America to send its investors, engineers,
Reply4 Comment
Afghans are facing economic difficulties now more than ever. We appreciate the generous help of everyone helping us in this challenging time. Afghans have been facing various problems for the past several decades. Afghans are happy people, but for decades, droughts, wars, and government systems' collapse have seriously hurt the country. I think these three aspects have forced Afghans to leave their country and go illegally to Europe and other countries. Recently, Afghans have gathered well in their country, but the system's collapse has scattered them back. In every country where there is a war and system collapse, its citizens are forced to leave their country and go to other countries through legal and illegal ways. This is the reason why many Afghans try to seek refuge in Western countries. If the developed countries want to avoid the flow of refugees, it would be better to increase aid to war-torn countries so that their citizens can work in their own countries. Britain is also one of the advanced countries, Afghans are grateful for its support, but this aid will still not be enough. Hoping that Britain and other western countries will help Afghanistan, speed up efforts to bring peace, and make Afghans busy in their country.
Reply4 Comment