October 2011
Afghanistan has some of the worst social indicators in the world. Decades of war, coupled with corruption and a government that is barely accountable to its people, means that less than a third of the population has access to clean water, and up to seven million Afghans are still dependent on food aid.
Najibullah, his wife Amine and family are just some of the many people affected by fighting between Taliban and government forces in north west of Afghanistan. Originally from Badghis, a province in the Western Region of Afghanistan, Najibullah and his family fled to Herat province to avoid the fighting.
As Najibullah explains, ‘We fled Badghis and arrived with nothing. We left because of the fighting. My cousin was killed and we were in the middle of conflict. Our house was completely destroyed by the fighting.’
During a bombing raid Najibullah’s family escaped to the mountains where they sheltered for 10 days. They then travelled to Herat, to safety, arriving in only the clothes they were standing in. Thankfully, the village they came to welcomed and accepted the family and found them a place to stay.
Since then, Christian Aid partner, Agency for Humanitarian and Development Assistance Afghanistan, AHDAA*, who run animal husbandry, agriculture and water projects, provided the family with seeds to grow vegetables and advice on how to earn an income from farming.
‘AHDAA helped us establish a greenhouse, gave us seeds and guidance’, Najibullah explains ‘I was already a farmer, but now I know much more about greenhouse cultivation and marketing.’
Najibullah now earns 5,000 Afghani (US$1,000) every month, and so can spend this on food, education and clothes for his children.
‘AHDAA has really changed our lives. We have a good life now and no one could have expected the kind of support.’
Najibullah and his family hope to return to Badghis when the situation is less dangerous.
* AHDAA’s livelihoods work on agriculture is funded by the European Commission as part of the Food Facility Programme.
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