Afghanistan: Creating a village from scratch [Photo Share]
Posted by Wynne Boelt on June 25th, 2008
 Photo: Aaron Rippenkroeger/The IRC |
| Aaron Rippenkroeger, International Rescue Committee program officer for Asia & Caucasus, snapped this picture while visiting IRC programs in Afghanistan earlier this year. Below Aaron describes the photo and more:
“I took this photo while visiting the village Sheikh Misri in Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan. This village has been newly created by the Government of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation to assist Afghan refugees who are returning to Afghanistan from Pakistan or Iran after living abroad, some for more than 20 years, but no longer have a plot of land or home to which they can return. The area where the village now exists was carved up into hundreds of plots that are awarded to landless returnees who apply. An incredible challenge for those who move there is that this village is being created from scratch in a place where no one has lived before and resources are scarce. The IRC and other NGOs are working with the government to try to make the area more hospitable but there is still a long way to go. The children in this photo were hanging around these IRC water pumps during my visit. It was January and the temperatures and weather conditions were harsh. Nonetheless, they seemed to be enjoying themselves, and our presence, as they filled jerrycans with water from the pumps to take home to their newly constructed shelters nearby. Some of them were returning from a newly constructed school in the village. Their joy and warmth, amidst such challenging surroundings, is a shining example of the resilience of the Afghan people and why, despite all the difficulties facing Afghanistan today, we must remain optimistic and do all we can to support this country’s recovery from a long and terrible conflict.” Aaron adds that Afghamistan is ”such an incredibly photogenic place, as are the people.” |
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July 6th, 2008 at 2:09 am
Dear Mr. Rippenkroeger
Hope you had a good and enjoyable trip to Afghanistan. you are right that afghans are photogenic. as far as i know Some NGO’s and some National Aid Organization have operation in the Sheikh Mesri LAS icluding IRC, but I think it would be better that you mentioned some of those IRC Contribution for this deprived Location,would not you?
it is because for those audience who are not familier with IRC will provide a wide imagination.
How ever good Job
thanks.
July 6th, 2008 at 2:19 am
The photo which has taken is really amazing that reveal hopes and gladness of those afghans which return to thier countries and also the happienes that looks on thier innocent faces are the hopes which they had from NGOs such as IRC,that IRC meet thier hopes and working for them to meet thier hopes which is living in peaceful and comfortable life and I wish to see such a nice smile in the face of every afghan.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:04 am
It is great to see these smiling children’s faces. My husband who has been deployed in Afghanistan now for months has sent me pictures of the orphanage that his unit has adopted. It is to my dismay that adoption is not an option for these children. Many military families want to reach out to these children. My hopes are that the good will of your organization and others will soon break down these barriors.