SMU Area Reports: Badakhshan

SMU Area Reports BADAKHSHAN Strategic Monitoring Unit, Afghanistan May 2001 Printed in Pakistan The Army Press, Islamabad Contents 1. Executive Summary....................................i Quality........................................................35 Women and GirlsÕ Education .....................35 2. Introduction................................................1 Health ........................................................36 The Strategic Monitoring Unit ......................1 The Area-based Studies ..............................1 Facilities and Service Utilisation ................36 Methodology ................................................1 Health Problems ........................................37 Badakhshan.................................................2 Health Interventions...................................40 Human Resources .....................................41 3. Social and Political Profile........................4 Environmental Health Issues .....................41 The Broader Picture.....................................4 6. The Assistance Programme ...................42 Current Political Situation ............................4 Social Structures..........................................4 Agency Activity ..........................................42 Legitimacy and Governance ........................6 Co-ordination .............................................42 Impact ........................................................43 Keeping Going .............................................8 Constraints.................................................46 Support Systems .........................................8 7. Key Recommendations ...........................47 Conflict Resolution.......................................8 Culture .........................................................9 Overall .......................................................47 Hopes ..........................................................9 Livelihoods.................................................47 Education...................................................47 Violence and Security ................................10 Health ........................................................47 The Security Situation................................10 Donors .......................................................47 Freedom of Speech ...................................11 8. Appendices ..............................................48 Conscription...............................................11 A. Population ...........................................48 Situation of Women ...................................12 B. District Profiles ....................................50 C. Agency Profiles ...................................58 Economic Issues, Education and Social D. Health Facilities...................................60 Changes ....................................................12 E. Average Land Size..............................61 The Affect of the Assistance Effort ............17 F. Village Questionnaire ..........................62 G. Exchange Rates..................................65 4. Livelihoods and Food Security ..............18 9. Tables .......................................................66 Historical Context.......................................18 1. Livelihoods ..........................................66 The Rural Economy ...................................19 2. Land Patterns......................................68 Land and Agriculture..................................19 3. Yields...................................................70 Livestock....................................................22 4. Livestock Patterns...............................72 Poppies......................................................23 5. Livestock Prices ..................................74 Lapis ..........................................................24 6. Labour Rates.......................................76 Casual Labour and Migration.....................25 7. Assets..................................................77 8. Wealth and Poverty.............................79 The City .....................................................26 9. Environment ........................................81 Faizabad ....................................................26 10. Population Movements........................83 11. Literacy and Education........................85 Pressing Issues .........................................28 12. Water and Sanitation...........................87 13. Pupils at School...................................89 Environmental Issues ................................28 14. Summary of Schools ...........................90 The Impact of the Drought .........................29 5. Education and Health ..............................32 10. Maps..........................................................91 Education...................................................32 Access to Health Facilities.........................91 Importance and Access .............................32 Acronyms and Abbreviations .....................92 School Attendance.....................................33 Glossary.....................................................93 Higher Education .......................................34 Bibliography ...............................................94 Executive Summary Introduction parts of Afghanistan. However, an increased conservatism can clearly be seen and this most Badakhshan is the only province in Afghanistan still affects urban women. Educated women were proud fully in control of the United Front. Pockets of of their heritage, the fact that women worked at all insecurity caused by inter-factional fighting are a levels and could even be elected to Parliament, and problem in some areas and have inhibited agency they were aware of loss. The loss has come from activity. Further instability has arisen as the frontline the gradual deterioration in opportunity brought has neared Faizabad. The Taliban capture of Taloqan about by a worsening economic situation and an caused a wave of IDPs and increased the difficulty increasingly conservative environment. Women of getting supplies into the region, with consequent dislike having to wear the burqa, but it is not seen shortages and a steep rise in prices. Faizabad, the as an essential issue. What is far more important is capital, sees some of the highest prices in the county that war has brought poverty and women have Ð a product of its geographical and political isolation. suffered greatly from it, their lives reduced to an endless quest to find enough food for their children. Social and Community Structures Women worry too about the lack of education and what this will mean for their children and for the The population is comprised mainly of Sunni Tajiks future. Yet for a few women the situation has also but with a substantial minority of Ismaelis, mostly delivered the right to work and with it an increased concentrated in particular areas - Shegnan and self-esteem and greater rights within the family. Eshkeshem are almost entirely Ismaeli and Wakhan and Zebak more than 90% so. There are also other For rural women there has been little change. small minorities. Relations between groups are Education opportunities are few because there simply generally good. are not schools to go to. Health care in many areas is non-existent. Life is basic and it is hard. The social relations of villages are rooted in the old order and to a large extent the traditions have Security survived the upheavals brought about by the communist government, though traditional leaders The key factors to affect security in Badakhshan are have less power than they once had. With the rise the nearness to the frontline and the relationship of a military leadership, the old separation of military between the local commanders - where major and civil affairs has broken down. Taxes are no commanders have good relations security is good. longer systematically collected, and the government Inter-factional fighting was often greatly resented structures that do still exist function at a very minimal by the community, yet it did not seem to make a level and have almost no budget. Faced with a lack great difference to their daily lives. In general people of provision from the government, communities rely felt they could travel safely and that the problems on village-based traditional systems of support to only affected those connected with the factions. make sure that at least peopleÕs most basic needs The area around Keshem (which is close to the are met. Yet despite the strength of these support frontline) was where people spoke most strongly mechanisms, there are fears that the drought of 2000 about security problems. People greatly resented has in some places stretched them to breaking point. the fact that one of the schools was occupied by Villages try to solve conflicts at a local level, and soldiers and that the town was full of weapons. The then if this fails they invoke higher authorities. biggest issue, however, was the conscription of young men to fight on the frontlines and many fled Much of the areaÕs cultural heritage is under threat. the area to escape this fate. For those who had to People spoke of how music and culture had stopped, fight, mines were a major hazard and the greatest stories were not taught to children like they used to source of injury. be and Faizabad library no longer existed. Livelihoods and Food Security Situation of Women Even in the 70s the economic situation in The situation of women

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