Some shelters in Qarabagh already inhabited
| 16. 09. 2009 |
«Back
From Marek Soos, project manager in Afghanistan:
Since we provided material for roofing and thus finished distribution of material for houses one month ago, field extension team has been mostly focusing on monitoring the construction progress. Last week we joined the team and visited eleven houses in the villages of Qarabagh Bazar, Mejanjoi Bala, Mejanjoi Paian, Sardar Big, Bitani Bala a Shinwari. Community where these villages belong to is situated northeast from district capital Qarah Bagh. Altogether eight villages with 26 beneficiaries are located in this community.
The shelters we found in the different stage of construction - from the finishing of walls to upper level of windows and doors till the completing of houses - including plastering the walls and levelling the floor - to those which ready for moving in. The progress of construction is impacted by month of Ramadan. Beneficiaries are now working just in the morning if they do not have more important breadwinning activities. Despite this fact and with the regard on the amount of work done so far compare to remaining one, we can assume completing of all construction and decoration works by the end of September. In many cases the beneficiaries are using their own materials to improve or enlarge their houses. The investment of land, time and own material gives to project component of sustainability. Also the construction works are not merely on the shoulders of beneficiary's family and in lot of cases the beneficiaries' relatives or friends are involved in work as well.
In the case of Neiaz Mohammed's widow, whose four children are not old enough to manage the construction, the shelter has been built and is decorating by her neighbours. Although we did not reach Mrs Neiaz at home, the boys which were plastering the walls showed us shelter from inside as well. However the plasters and floor in the smaller room have not been finished, the family has already moved in their few belongings which they posses - one cupboard and two chests. Large room is finished. On the floor instead of carpet they have just tarpaulin, but mattresses with the folded covers in the corner and clothes showed that this shelter already had inhabitants. Also glimpse into the "tashnab" (bathroom in Dari) with the mirror, comb and tooth brush indicate it as well. There is not doubt, that in the case the help was provided to "the poorest of the poorest".
In the course of our monitoring visit the majority of beneficiaries were not presented at home - they went either to work, or to market. At home we could just find two of them: Naseer Ahmad and Raz Mohammed of the Qarabagh Bazar village. Taking a break they guided us through their houses, showed us all details of theirs works, expressed appreciation that the beams are made of metal and not of wood (which have to be changed every five years because of woodworms and rot) and shared with their stories. They life experience are not different from those which we had already heard from others.
In the nineties a civil war between different fractions striving for the political power erupted and threw the country into chaos. After seizing power by Taliban, the security situation for citizens did not change, and often they became a target of their revenge or repressive action. Crushing last traces of civil resistance followed by destroying of whole villages, burning down the houses emitted people to flee to Pakistan. In Pakistan they just experienced the hard life of fugitives, where as the "non-citizens" did not have such rights regarding of accommodation, work opportunity, education and health care as Pakistanis did. Following the fall of Taliban and calming situation down they decided to return back to Afghanistan. Ravaged villages, destroyed houses and desolate fields was what they did find after arrival. Years spent in ruined houses, temporary shelter or confined rooms of their wealthier relatives or friends, waiting for promises of help given by new government - that was their life back home. But the help finally came although from unexpected side. Thanks to assistance of Slovak Republic they can build their own houses and soon they will move in. They fully realize how lucky are they, compares to another 700 families which are still waiting for similar opportunity. Besides words their work indicates their appreciation.
In the next step we are planning to launch last distribution - material for pit latrines, which is comprised of metal beams and wooden planks for floor and roof and PVC exhausting pipe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
