Afghanistan Special Report

Humanitarian Work and Insecurity

Recent elections mark the last formal step towards democracy in Afghanistan. Yet the past year has seen a steady increase in political violence throughout the country — with as many as 1,200 politically related deaths in the last six months.

Much progress has been made in Afghanistan, but the need is still tremendous. (© 2003 CARE/Thomas Morely)

Violence against humanitarian workers in Afghanistan has risen alarmingly, as well. To address this issue, CARE has released a report examining the causes behind a progressive weakening of security in Afghanistan. Among the reasons cited are the public’s misperception of the role of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), the blurring of the lines between a humanitarian presence and a military presence and the growing concern of the poppy/opium industry.

Beyond the safety of staff, insecurity threatens the ability of organizations to implement vital reconstruction and relief projects, gain access to beneficiaries and deliver humanitarian aid to populations affected by natural and man-made disasters.

Despite these constraints, CARE continues to work in remote areas where the need is greatest, and we believe that our greatest assets are the relationships we build with the communities we serve. These relationships are the key to mitigating potential security threats through mutual understanding and collaboration. Over the past year, violence against humanitarian workers in Afghanistan has risen alarmingly. So much is at stake in Afghanistan. Won't you please help today?

CARE's Work in Afghanistan

Most Afghans feel optimistic about the elections. (© 2004 CARE/Jack Hill)

CARE has worked to alleviate poverty in Afghanistan since 1961. Presently, almost 900 staff members (of which over 99% are Afghans) work in the central, southern and southeastern portions of the country on projects focusing on:

• Community-based education for over 50,000 girls and boys in remote areas
• Water and sanitations projects which have provided 55,000 households with potable water
• Nutrition support and skills training for 10,000 widows in Kabul
• Emergency response programs to assist populations affected by disasters such as floods
• Agricultural and vocational training for former soldiers to assist in their transition to civilian life
• Income generation programs to help build infrastructure while providing livelihoods to vulnerable groups

See a complete list of CARE projects in Afghanistan.

• Read CARE's latest paper on the 2005 Elections
• Read a report about the state of security for NGOs working in Afghanistan
• Read CARE's latest policy brief on the counter-narcotics policy in Afghanistan

Advocacy

Afghanistan produces over 70 percent of the world’s opium. And profits from drugs create a tax base for insecurity, funding everyone from warlords to drug barons to the Taliban. Any drug control policy must focus on law enforcement — and on providing alternative livelihoods to poor farmers who grow opium in order to survive.

Eager voters wait in line to participate in Afghanistan's first free elections since Taliban rule. (© 2004 CARE/Alina Labrada)

At the same time, Afghanistan is still awash in weapons — the legacy of over two decades of near constant warfare. Disarmament is critical in order to break the power of warlords and restore security to the country. According to Take the Guns Away, almost two-thirds of Afghans believe that disarmament is the single most important factor to improve security in Afghanistan.

With so much at stake, more must be done to ensure Afghanistan’s future. We need your help. With so much at stake, more must be done to ensure peace throughout the country.

Since the fall of the Taliban, CARE has advocated intensely to promote and ensure the basic rights of all Afghans, especially the most vulnerable. Through public advocacy in the media and meetings with leaders in Afghanistan, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere, CARE aims to inform and influence key policy makers and constituents on how to protect the rights of all Afghans.

A central focus of CARE’s advocacy efforts moving forward will be to work with civil society organizations to ensure protection of basic human rights. We will also concentrate our advocacy on the rights of women, and the importance of confronting the drug economy through approaches that include both law enforcement and alternative livelihoods for opium farmers.

Your generous gifts help support CARE's projects and advocacy efforts in areas like Afghanistan.