What is the current situation? | Security | Food and Health | Women | Action

In September 1996, life for women living in Afghanistan came to a virtual halt when the Taliban militia took over the Afghan capital of Kabul. For five years their plight remained largely ignored by the international community. This blind eye to the Taliban atrocities and general state of affairs within Afghanistan created an environment that allowed the Al-Qeada organization to plan the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States. In October 2001, the Taliban were pushed out of their position of power by Afghan opposition forces aided by the United States. Now Afghanistan must try to rebuild after 22 years of war and instability.

What is the current situation?

With an interim government in place, Afghanistan has begun to build the foundations of an infrastructure. The international community has responded to staggering degree of instability and destruction in Afghanistan with a pledge of monetary funds to aid in the rebuilding of this crucial country. However, the government has yet to receive much of these funds and is currently struggling with the most basic of tasks.

Security

There is no security for the people of Afghanistan, especially outside of Kabul where the 4,500 member International Security Assistance Forces are stationed. The government police forces are unpaid, resulting in unreliability. With no money coming from their government, the temptation is great to work in the interests of warlords who hope to undermine the current government, seize power for themselves, or perhaps reinstate the Taliban and their Al-Qeada allies.

Food and Health

Compounding the problem of security is the overall lack of food availability. The ability of the people to farm their land in hindered by the fact that so much of the land in Afghanistan is plagued by landmines and unexploded ordinance. In addition to the man-made obstacles, nature has been harsh to the region. Suffering from a severe drought, much of the land cannot sustain plant life. The government and aid groups are struggling to rebuild irrigation canals but are constantly hampered by a lack of funds. The lack of food has left a large part of the population malnourished. The infant and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world. This, combined with the lack of functioning hospitals and skilled medical personnel has left Afghanistan with a health crisis. Everyday people suffer from preventable diseases such as cholera and polio. Without support for the Ministry of Health, Afghanistan will never see a healthy, stable, independent and fully functional society.

Women

The Taliban stripped so many of their freedom during their reign for so long, we are just starting to see the beginnings of those freedoms reclaimed. There are still many women who are unsure of their place in this Afghanistan. Wary that some of the same forces who abused members of the population in the past are now a part of the government, women have been hesitant to discard the burqa and enter into more visible spheres of society. Nonetheless, when the university in Kabul reopened the response from the female population was overwhelming. So many applicants turned up for the entrance exam, the school officials had to extend the exams another day. Interim President Hamid Karzai signed a declaration of equality for the women of Afghanistan shortly after coming into power. His cabinet includes two women: Suhaila Seddiqi heads the Ministry of Health and Dr. Sima Samar heads the Ministry of Women's Affairs. However, to effectively serve the women of Afghanistan these ministries must have funding. Despite the extensive planning that has been done very little can actually be realized with no money to buy supplies or pay salaries.

Action

There are things that YOU can do to help. Be proactive! In helping Afghanistan, you are helping to destroy the environments where terrorists can organize. Don't let this globally important issue fall on the back burner of our consciousness!

  WAPHA PO BOX 77057 WASHINGTON, DC 20013-7057 DONATE  | CONTACT US