A SOUTHSIDER has recalled a recent trip to war torn Afghanistan where he was working with Irish charity Concern Worldwide.
Peter Doyle, from Ballinteer, is a desk officer for Pakistan, Cambodia and Afghanistan where he spent three weeks reviewing Concern’s work there and helping plan for the future.
Concern has been working in Afghanistan since 1998 when it responded to a devastating earthquake in the north eastern provinces of Takhar and Badakhshan. Approximately 4,500 people were killed and another 45,000 people became homeless.
“Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world and we work in one of the poorest areas of the country,
? Peter explained.
“We are the only Irish non-governmental organisation (NGO) in that particular area and we have a very good relationship with the people and the local authorities. They’d like us to do even more but naturally we are limited because of budget restraints.
“I visited four districts in the two provinces of Badakhshan and Takhar, which are in the north east of the country. Each district has a population of approximately 32,000 people. I was in very rural areas. Concern has built small micro-hydro power stations, which supply electricity to people’s homes.
“We work on building water systems for domestic and also for irrigation purposes. We are engaged in agricultural projects as deforestation has led to erosion, landslides and flooding. So for instance we are helping to build gabion walls to protect the land and prevent erosion.
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He added:
“We are also developing communities and helping people set up community development councils. This is part of the National Solidarity Programme, which is being implemented on a national basis.
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Interestingly, Peter saw no foreign troops while he was in the country. All International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) combat troops are due to leave Afghanistan by 2014. Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen when the troops leave. In the areas where Concern is working the Taliban never had full control and certainly the people in those areas don’t want them back.
Peter’s visit coincided with the harvest season and this year’s harvest has been good, which is naturally an added bonus for the people. Afghanistan regularly experiences severe winters, draughts and flooding.
“I saw the first snow of the year on the mountain tops. It really is spectacular scenery,
? he revealed.
“The villages I visited are around 2,500 metres above sea level. It’s mountain terrain and difficult to move about, you certainly need to be fit. During winter the people use donkeys to get about and carry goods.
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Concern employs 260 people in the country, all of whom but five are Afghan.