WFP creates short-term employment for almost 5,000 Herat residents

HERAT -- The World Food Programme (WFP) has created jobs for more than 4,900 individuals on a development project launched in Kohsan district of Herat province.

The project, which began on March 1 and will take six months to complete, aims to build canals and clean streams in 72 villages in the district.

Thousands of residents of Kohsan district will benefit from the WFP project, directly through jobs and indirectly through improved access to irrigation water for their farms.

The WFP launched the project at the request of the local residents, said Bismillah Mohammadi, 54, a labourer on the project.

"For years, irrigation water could not reach agricultural lands since canals were partly destroyed or filled in Kohsan district and farmers could not cultivate their land."

"But this year, the cleaning of these canals in the wheat cultivating season will help us grow wheat on thousands of hectares of land," he said.

"The WFP's assistance is in return for work, which is very effective," Mohammadi said. "On the one hand, it helps develop the villages, and on the other, it saves thousands ... from poverty and unemployment."

The project has given residents hope, he said.

'Great support' for families

Everyone working for the WFP in Kohsan district had been unemployed for a long time and was suffering from economic problems, participants told Salaam Times.

Imammuddin, 42, a resident of Qodus Abad village, said he earns about 300 AFN ($3.40) a day working on the project, which to an extent covers his household expenses.

The project has spared him from unemployment and enabled him to provide for his family of eight, he said.

"I am a farmer, but I could not cultivate my land last year because of drought," he said. "Our economic challenges have been compounded by unemployment. I could not even provide dry bread for my kids."

"Unemployment and poverty stressed me out very much and damaged my mental health," Imammuddin said. "I am very happy that I got a job with this project."

"All of the residents of our community have work now, and from now on they can save their families from poverty," he added.

Saadullah, 35, the breadwinner of a family of six, used to work as a janitor at Herat's Customs Office but was laid off more than a year ago.

Now he works for the WFP's canal and stream cleaning project.

"I am happy that after a long period of unemployment, I found a job in my village," he said. "This project is a great support to us through which I can provide for my family for a couple of months."

"Most residents of Kohsan district suffer from unemployment and economic problems," Saadullah said. "Poverty would be eliminated if we had long-term projects that could provide employment."

"I request that international aid agencies launch more projects in villages and districts," he added.

Amanullah, 29, who is also working for the WFP project, said such projects help develop the infrastructure in villages and districts, which benefits all Afghans.

"Like me, thousands of residents of Kohsan district were suffering from unemployment, but now we are happy that we are able to work during the day and have an income," he said.

"Economically, this project is very effective for us," Amanullah said. "The salary we receive in return for our work for the project covers our household expenses."

"The implementation of such projects helps reduce the heavy burden on Afghans," he said.

Rescued from illegal migration

Kohsan district shares a border with Iran, and most of the youth in the district illegally migrate to Iran because of unemployment, according to Ahmadullah, 38, a tribal elder in Kohsan district.

"Most of the young men from our district who have gone to Iran for work are now drug addicts. They are now a burden on society and their families," he said, adding that others have been killed by Iranian border forces.

"But with the launch of the development project in the district, the youth are rescued from migration," Ahmadullah said.

"With the start of the WFP's development project in Kohsan district, thousands of locals are busy working and contributing to the development of their villages. All of them receive a salary for their work on the project, which has helped ease their economic problems."

Cleaning of canals and streams that were not operational for years enables water to reach farmland, leading to the growth and expansion of agriculture in the area, Ahmadullah said.

"We want such long-term projects so that [Afghans] will no longer have to go to Iran for work," he added.

Nazir Ahmad, 26, a resident of Kohsan district who graduated with a degree in education from Herat University three years ago, had been unemployed before starting work on the project.

He said he had decided to go to Iran in search of work, but with the start of the project, he decided not to go.

"There is no work in Afghanistan. Most who had jobs in the past are now jobless," he said. "Unemployment and poverty are difficult, and they make life tough."

"I had no option except illegal migration to Iran, and I was ready for it," Ahmad said. "But I am very happy that this project started and that I don't have to take a risky trip to Iran in search of work."

"In the absence of international aid, [Afghans] would have been forced to migrate to the neighbouring countries," he said. "The aid has helped most [residents] not to migrate."