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Rebuilding Afghanistan
Weekly Activity Update for November 12 to December 1, 2004
Issue #68
STRENGTHENING THE GOVERNMENT
Program Goals
 | | Food distribution in Herat Province. |
- Support the Bonn process: the Constitutional, Human Rights and Judicial Commissions; the 2004 elections; and a free and independent media.
- Strengthen government budgeting, revenue generation (e.g., customs), monetary management, private-sector related legal and regulatory frameworks, and promote private enterprises.
- Build capacity to carry out other legitimate government functions and support reconstruction of health, judicial, education, economic, agricultural and transportation infrastructure.
Alternative Livelihoods: A Response to the Poppy Problem -
Alternative livelihoods are another means of living for those whose income currently depends on poppy cultivation. A livelihood comprises all the capabilities, assets (including both material and social resources) and activities required for a means of living. A broad, sustainable approach to improving people’s livelihoods is a critical component of the larger counter-narcotics strategy. Over the past six weeks, an Alternative Livelihoods Program has been designed and launched for three high-priority provinces: Helmand, Badakhshan, and Nangarhar. Activities will include immediate cash-for-work programs aimed at rebuilding rural infrastructure, and will provide a social safety net in communities hard-hit by the counter-narcotics program.
In addition to this immediate response, in early 2005 contracts will be signed for a three-year, accelerated rural development program will be launched. This integrated effort will focus on providing farmers and communities with viable commercial alternatives to poppy. The program will closely coordinate with provincial and community leaders, helping the GOA honor its commitment to help farmers and communities switch from poppy to legitimate economic activities.
Assistance to Meet Projected Food Shortage – An estimated 6.4 million Afghanis are dependent to some degree on food aid. Afghanistan’s food insecurity is worsened by the severity of this year’s drought, which is, in most areas, the continuation of a six-year drought. As a consequence, the World Food Program issued a Donor Alert seeking immediate assistance to avoid a projected food shortage which would coincide with the “hungry season.” In response, USAID’s Food for Peace Office diverted 8,000 MT of bulk wheat from Mozambique to Afghanistan and contributed additional commodities to mitigate the expected food shortfall.
 | | Opium Poppy Cultivation 2004 - Immediate ALPs have been launched for critical provinces noted in dark red. Taken from UNODC Afghanistan Opium Survey 2004. (Annex 1 of this document contains actual data for opium poppy cultivation).
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Expanding Educational Opportunity
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| Photo of the Madan-e-Toor School before improvements were made.
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 | | Photo of the Madan-e-Toor School after improvements were made.
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Program Goals:
- 274 schools and 14 provincial women’s centers rehabilitated or constructed.
- 16 million textbooks printed & distributed for 2004 school year.
- 30,000 classroom teachers trained.
- 170,000 students enrolled in accelerated learning programs to reach their appropriate grade level.
Recent Progress:
Significant progress was made constructing and refurbishing schools. Since September, the number of new schools built has nearly tripled. Local labor and skills have been utilized, contributing to the local economy. These before and after pictures show improvements in the Madan-e-Toor school.
Security Incidents Directly Affecting USAID Reconstruction Programs:
Note: Hostile attacks are reported through USAID's security contractors and the Associated Press.
- Decreased Number of Hostile Attacks: In November 2004, there were 10 hostile attacks, a decrease from 21 in October. Four people were killed and six injured during this reporting period, a decline from the seven deaths and 13 injuries reported last month.
- USAID Related: Of the 10 attacks during this reporting period, two directly affected USAID activities. One of the direct attacks resulted in the death of an Afghan man who was assisting on road reconstruction.
- Latest Attack: At approximately 0415 hours on November 28th, five unidentified vehicles parked at the river near the US Protection and Investigations (USPI) compound in the district of Delaram. Approximately 20 to 30 assailants approached, on foot, to within 10 meters of the USPI compound and opened fire. The USPI security force returned fire and a 15 minute “fire fight”ensued. Subsequently, the assailants boarded their vehicles and departed in a southerly direction toward Shir District, Helmand Province. The USPI security force suffered one death and four injuries due to gunfire and fragmentation wounds. Two additional fatalities were staff from VARA, an NGO that distributes wheat and fertilizer to Afghan farmers.
 | | This graph shows the number of hostile attacks against aid programs. From August 2003 to November 2004, attacks that have affected USAID indirectly have gone from 0 to approximately 145 incidents. During the same time period, attacks affecting USAID directly have risen from zero to approximately 75 incidents.
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| | View pdf version of this report |
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