Afghanistan Watch: Fighting hunger in Afghanistan

November 15, 2007

Fighting hunger in Afghanistan

Rick Corsino, Country Director of the World Food Programme in Afghanistan, argues today in the National Post that citizens and the media tend to overlook humanitarian work in Afghanistan. "Most journalists," he notes "are more interested in going on 'embeds' with military forces than hanging out with -- superficially at least -- the less fascinating humanitarians. If journalists were to embed with the World Food Programme in Afghanistan, they would find another, less dramatic Afghan war -- the war on hunger -- and the large and innovative international effort that is fighting it."

Afghanistan Watch is guilty of this "security bias," as are the various media outlets. I know we'd like to feature more stories and analysis on humanitarian and development work, but it tends to be harder to learn of new developments in these fields. If you see some good pieces, or have ideas for what you'd like to see, please send them along...

Fighting Afghanistan's other war by Rick Corsino: I was recently in Kandahar City, where the news bulletins will tell you the heart of the Afghan insurgency lies. Certainly, security is a major issue, but I was most struck by the literacy projects I visited, where I spent time with some of the poorest women in Afghanistan -- and that means the poorest in the world. MORE

With nearly three decades of war behind them, most have lost husbands, fathers and sons to fighting. The mix of unending conflict, poverty and strict cultural mores governing the role of women in society has meant they have led extraordinarily difficult lives.

Through the hard work of local Afghan government officials, who build trust within the community about the content of the curriculum taught in the learning centres and thanks to the funding to buy food which acts as a powerful incentive, these women are now being allowed out of home. It may be only for a few hours each day, but they are finally getting a break.

Those I met talked about the confidence they have in being able to read signs in the street. They can also understand directions written on boxes of prescription pills and other things. But most significantly, they said, they had more respect in their family and community as they now had some education and were contributing food.

As military forces from many countries challenge insurgents opposed to the fledgling Afghan government, aid agencies from the same countries are contributing to security in a far quieter, but just as critical way. They are helping alleviate hunger in Afghanistan. I can think of no greater vulnerability in life than not knowing where your next meal is coming from. Unfortunately, there are more than three million Afghans living with such fear today.
Helping people become "food secure" is a desperate and complex business in this country. In addition to the war, Afghanistan suffers from unrelenting poverty, persistent drought and harsh winters, with heavy snowfalls leaving large parts of the country inaccessible for months at a time. With a diet that consists largely of tea and bread from cradle to grave, it is not surprising that one in five Afghans is undernourished, and over 40 percent of children under five are malnourished.

Few people know there is a hunger problem in Afghanistan. Part of it may be attributed to the stereotype that to be really hungry means to have a swollen belly, as seen all too frequently in images from Africa. But the more invidious forms of chronic hunger -- small and weak children at risk from the most common illnesses and diminished capacity to learn, cannot be dismissed.

But I believe a larger part is because most journalists are more interested in going on "embeds" with military forces than hanging out with-- superficially at least -- the less fascinating humanitarians. If journalists were to embed with the World Food Programme in Afghanistan, they would find another, less dramatic Afghan war -- the war on hunger -- and the large and innovative international effort that is fighting it.

Governments know well that military action is just part of the Afghan solution, and not even the largest part. Canadian funding is helping people in the south, including those women on literacy projects in Kandahar; German money is buying food for school feeding projects in northern Afghanistan, particularly those targeting girls.

A recent Italian donation was used to assist the poor in Herat. Contributions from the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland and others are used to help poor people rebuild after fighting that damaged their communities has moved on, and for tuberculosis patients, by providing an incentive for them to stick to their eight month treatment, which is crucial considering 15,000 Afghans die each year from the disease.

Despite the worsening security, which has made our operations far more difficult to deliver, most donor countries have realised the benefits in supporting food assistance. In the short term, we are supporting the chronically poor, as well as those displaced by fighting. But in the long term we are coaxing well over a million kids back to school with daily rations.

With parliaments across the world debating the presence of troops in Afghanistan, it is crucial that this other war -- the war on hunger --is not drowned out by gunfire.

The writer is WFP Country Director in Afghanistan.

Posted by Carl Robichaud on November 15, 2007 at 03:40 PM in Education, Health, Reconstruction, Women | Permalink

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341d843653ef00e5508171608834

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Fighting hunger in Afghanistan:

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

Posted by: |

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Your comment could not be posted. Error type:

Your comment has been posted. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Post a comment

Comments

Crazy about running warhammer gold? Yup, it is so crucial indeed for us in Warhammer Online. Without it, we can even do nothing, without money to buy items, weapons and so on. So enough warhammer gold is substantial. Then is warhammer power leveling essential, too? Yes, you are right, you can level your char faster by warhammer power leveling service.And you should buy enough aoc gold in Age of Conan, because aoc gold is the important currency which would help you to enjoy your game life better. As the currency in the Final Fantasy XI, enough FFXI Gil is very important. Compared with other FFXI service offering stores, Gamevive.com have lots of cheap Final Fantasy XI Gil in stock, so come here to get your cheapest Final Fantasy XI Gil now. Ok, we have lots of EVE ISK mining guide. Good luck and enjoy collecting your EVE Online ISK. Stop looking around for atlantica gold (atlantica online gold) now. Get the gold from GMbar is a short cut to enjoy more fun in the game! Just buy cheap atlantica gold with fast delivery here!

Posted by: wow gold | June 11, 2009 at 05:20 AM

Hunting to buy wow gold and wow power leveling service?I know there are still masses of gamers are looking around for more WoW Gold, the essential currency in the game. As we know sometimes the process of gaining wow gold is tedious, let alone when you are busy. Of course it is also fit for WoW Power Leveling. Then how to get it? Don’t worry, there is another way to get cheap wow gold, you don’t need to spend too much energy and time on obtaining cheapest wow gold. Yup, Buy WoW Gold from those gold sellers online. What you need is just to find one professional and reliable shop and cost a little money, then you can buy cheap wow gold as soon as possible. It is really a good way, right? Ok, then why do you hesitate? Go to have a try and get your Cheap WoW Goldand wow power leveling service now.

a href=http://webthink.jugem.jp />http://webthink.jugem.jp

http://community.fox2now.com
http://iblog99.edublogs.org/
http://iblog99.blog126.fc2.com/
http://iblog99.blogsome.com/

Posted by: wsty | June 16, 2009 at 11:55 AM

nike shoes,men's nike shoes,women's nike shoes,
nike football shoes,nike shox shoes, men's nike shox, women's nike shox, nike airmax shoes, nike airmax 180, nike airmax 2003, nike airmax 2009, nike airmax 360, nike airmax 87, nike airmax 88, nike airmax 89, nike airmax 90, nike airmax 91, nike airmax 90, nike airmax 95, nike airmax 97, nike airmax tn, nike air stab shoes, nike air yeezy shoes, nike airmax ltd, Air Jordan 1 , Air Jordan 10 , Air Jordan 11 , Air Jordan 11.5, Air Jordan 12 , Air Jordan 13, Air Jordan 14 , Air Jordan 15.5, Air Jordan 16, Air Jordan 17, Air Jordan 18, Air Jordan 19, Air Jordan 2.5, Air Jordan 20+AF1, Air Jordan 23, Air Jordan 24,Air Jordan 25, Air Jordan 3, Air Jordan 4, Air Jordan 4.5+13 Fusion,Air Jordan 5, Air Jordan 6, Air Jordan 6+AF1 Fusion, Air Jordan 7 , Air Jordan 8 , Air Jordan 9, Air Jordan Embroidery 4.5, Air Jordan Fusion 11+23, Air Jordan Fusion 12, Air Jordan Fusion 23, Air Jordan Fusion 5, Air Jordan Gold, Air Jordan Fusion 9, Air Jordan Six Mixed One, Air Jordan Three Mixed One, Air Jordan+Obama 11.5, Jordan Six Rings+Obama, Air Jordan Six Rings 11, Jordan True Flight

Posted by: ANY | June 26, 2009 at 01:08 AM

buy wow gold
cheap wow power leveling
my wow gold
cheapest wow power leveling
BUY wow gold
cheap wow power leveling
CHEAP rs gold
good wow power leveling
MY lotro gold
CHEAPEST aion gold
buy wow gold
cheap wow gold
CHEAPEST wow gold

Posted by: wow gold | July 07, 2009 at 10:17 PM

Thank you for your article, the contents of the following which you will like.Cheap Jordan shoes,UGG Boots, Nike SB,Tiffany Rings, Nike Dunk,Tiffany Jewelry for Sale.Who is also a useful information: Nike Dunk SB,Nike SB for Sale ,Gucci Shoes,Christian Louboutin,Bose headphones.

Posted by: cheap jordan shoes | July 23, 2009 at 05:35 AM

Posted by: cheap jordan shoes | July 23, 2009 at 05:48 AM

Yes,great.I love the article, I have the same belief with you,so let me introduce the area to you.Now vivienne Jewellery become more and more popular within all kind of people. Juicy couture is a kind of juicy jewelry . It won a good reputation. Vivienne westwood Jewellery often held its regular discount activities,such as vivienne Jewellery ,fashion juicy jewelry and fashion vivienne westwood jewellery earrings so on.In these activities vivienne westwood sale got great success. juicy couture consists of four main aspects, vivienne westwood necklaces and vivienne westwood bracelets,fashion vivienne westwood ,vivienne westwood jewellery.

vivienne westwood series are worthwhile than other fashion jewelry coutures. They have a lot of fashion vivienne jewellery,for example fashion vivienne westwood necklaces, fashion vivienne earrings, fashion vivienne bracelets , vivienne westwood rings and vivienne westwood on sale. Vivienne jewellery is a new jewellery brand,it include all fashion jewellery ,such as westwood jewellery , vivienne westwood necklaces, vivienne westwood jewellery ,vivienne westwood and fashion vivienne westwood and vivienne westwood sale so on .We assure you of our best services at all times.

Posted by: vivienne | July 24, 2009 at 03:39 AM

Laptop accessories
Gateway AC Adapter
Toshiba AC Adapter
Dell Laptop Keyboard
HP Laptop Keyboard
HP Laptop Battery
Toshiba Laptop Battery
Dell laptop keyboard
Gateway laptop keyboard
HP Compaq Business NX9010 AC Adapter
HP 317443-001 Keyboard
Dell Inspiron B120 AC Adapter
Dell ADP-90FB (Rev. B) AC Adapter
Acer ADP-65DB (REV.B) AC Adapter
Dell Inspiron E1405 Series keyboard
Dell Inspiron 700m AC Adapter
Dell Inspiron 600m AC Adapter
Original Gateway M320 AC Adapter
Liteon PA-1600-07 AC Adapter

Posted by: lynn | July 28, 2009 at 11:35 PM

That you say is useful,thank you !if you have time ,please visit my site:

LV M40057

LV M45252

LV M40119

LV M41433

LV M41434

LV M60019

LV M61726

LV M95532

LV N61727

LV N61732

Posted by: luyisifdfdfwe | August 03, 2009 at 09:55 PM

designer handbags In online designer handbags store, many handbags for sale and sale discount bags. There the customers can purchase chanel 2.55 , prada canvas and Louis Vuitton Monogram Speedy 30.Because these handbags are the best ones there. Except for these, bagsvendor.com is a handbags sale online retail. For Chanel designer handbags, there are chanel a29500, chanel a31505, chanel logo tote, chanel a26710, chanel 2.55 pink and special one(black chanel bag with white logo). As we know chanel is a famous brand, so bagsvendor.com has many item for this chanel designer handbags. For Gucci designer handbags, we can find gucci sacking, gucci 209600 and pink chanel logo. Oh, sorry, this pink chanel logo is for chanel. And also we find other brands designer handbags, such as coach(coach 10125, prada jacquard canvas, coach 10619); fendi(fendi 2237). Thanks for everyone purchasing designer handbags from bagsvendor.com. And remember that we offer free shipping service. Thanks...

Posted by: designer handbags | August 08, 2009 at 02:09 PM

I can not aggree more with you more, I like your article, so I think you may be have the some favorite with me. I would like to introduce my favorite juicy couture jewelry to you! juicy couture is a famous jewelry brand, however, juicy jewelry is not too expensive, there are many cheap juicy or juicy jewelry sale, for instance, juicy couture charms is popular in the teenagers which are like fashion juicy charms, juicy bracelets and so on.In my mind, if you wear the juicy couture necklace and juicy couture earings, you may be seem as a noble man!

It is my honor that you would be fond of my recommendation, and I believe that you will enjoy in the juicy jewelry sale or juicy sale. Good Luck to you!

Posted by: juicy couture charms | August 11, 2009 at 10:33 AM

Wij bieden replica breitling horloges, imitatie die dicht bij perfectie van het hebben van authentieke wordt gemaakt aan. Iedereen houdt van hun eigen luxetimepiece te hebben, maar de kosten zijn hoog en met de economiecrisis, is het werkelijk niet wijs.Wir bieten die replica Breitling Uhr der Replik zu einem erschwinglichen Preis an und der Blick und das Gefühl des Habens er mögen die Vorlage.

Posted by: watch | September 16, 2009 at 03:24 AM

Bezoekend Thailand tijdens de maand van Juli en November zou u kunnen maken wegens het vochtige weer een weinig ongemakkelijk voelen, hoewel het onder de gebieden is die door vrij goede weersomstandigheden om het jaar worden gezegend. Les agr�ments aiment la t�l�communication, phuket packages le transport et les op�rations bancaires dans de nombreux touristes de cette aide de pays se d�clencher m�me des r�gions inaccessibles sans l'ennui.

Posted by: girlteam | September 21, 2009 at 02:30 PM

I'm a little late finding this article, but I loved it.
Do you love sports, do you feel like to look cool, i got a very awesome website here introduced by one of my friends. Very good website where you can find the Authentic nike shoes with latest and huge style of nike air max shoes and dunk sb shoes. I have bought from them for so many times, and very satisfied with the their goods and service.Such as Air max 1, air max 2, air max 90, nike air max 2009+, air max 2010 new, nike air max TN, nike air ltd trainers, air max 95.Air max 360 running shoes, nike shox shoes. Though their price are low, don't worry about it's quality.

Christmas is coming, go there to find presents for your friends or family. They are on sale, limited time!

Posted by: groupshoes | November 02, 2009 at 09:46 PM

one day i went shopping outside,and in an links-of-london jewellery store,I found some kinds of links-of-london jewellery i love most they are: links of london links of london links london links london links of london charms links of london charms links of london charm links of london charm links of london Sweetie Bracelets links of london Sweetie Bracelets links london Sweetie Bracelet links of london Sweetie Bracelet links of london Bracelets links of london Bracelets links london Bracelet links of london Bracelet links of london Necklaces links of london Necklaces links london Necklace links of london Necklace links of london jewellery links of london jewellery links london jewelry links london jewelry links of london friendship bracelets links of london friendship bracelets links london friendship bracelet links london friendship bracelet ed hardy ed hardy Gucci shoes Gucci shoes buy wow gold buy wow gold cheap wow gold cheap wow gold ed hardy ed hardy Thanks of your infomation i have read it is very help full for me.