Challenges in Rebuilding Afghanistan
Soorgul Wardak (1)
Abstract
After more than two decades of conflict, Afghanistan currently faces enormous challenges. This shattered country has left most of the country's infrastructure either damaged or destroyed, and also lacking in the proper resources and capacity to carry out its own maintenance. Obviously, the needs and expectations for this nation to get back on its feet are tremendous.
This paper will reflect upon three main discussion points. First, we will introduce a brief review of the infrastructure of Afghanistan that existed before the Soviet invasion. Second, we will try to convey the human and physical devastation that was inflicted on the Afghan people during these last two decades of war and turmoil. Lastly, we will address the obstacles that face Afghanistan at this time.
During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, it is believed that more than 80 to 90 percent of the infrastructure was destroyed. These included major highways, power lines, telecommunication systems, irrigation projects, dams, schools, universities, and health centers. The revival of Afghanistan's economy and resumption of growth depends crucially on rebuilding key infrastructure, which can create jobs, boost incomes, accelerate the rehabilitation of displaced populations, and promote greater stability and unity in the country.
Furthermore, in order to improve existing infrastructure and plan construction of new development projects, a well-documented GIS (Geographic Information System) database needs to be prepared. This database will provide planners, who work in different sectors, an excellent tool for implementation. The database will also be an extremely valuable tool in future planning for many years to come.
Moreover, in order to rebuild their shattered country, Afghans need to actively participate as well. Afghans need the opportunity to participate in processes that allow for the emergence of credible leaders, who will then be responsible for enabling a process of recovery at both the local and national levels. Also, after years of experiencing cruelty, peoples’ psyches are so scarred that we need to create an atmosphere of hope and rehabilitation.
It is widely believed that a long-term commitment of resources to Afghanistan is an investment that will yield fiscal savings to the international community in years to come. Without international help, the country may once again return to a lawless state. Currently, the World Bank has an important role in supporting the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund. This fund is being used to cover government recurring costs and salaries.
Kabul, in its prime, was a place roughly modeled on modern western cities of the time. Western trends in fashion and lifestyles found their way into the city through the countless diplomats and foreign nationals who came to the region for its natural beauty and authentic customs. We hope to once again have Kabul stand at the forefront of prominence with the steady and long-term attention from the international community. This commitment is critical for Afghanistan’s road to success.
(1) Soorgul Wardak is a senior engineer at Psomas, a consulting engineering firm in Orange County, California; located 3187 Red Hill, Suite 250, Costa Mesa, CA 92604; Tel (714) 751-7373, Fax (714) 545-8883, e-mail: . He was also a former Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at Kabul University, Afghanistan. He received his Ph.D. from North Carolina State University at Raleigh, NC. He further pursued a Post Doctoral fellowship at the Department of Biological-Agricultural Engineering in the Division of Soil and Water from 1976-1978 at North Carolina State University.
Introduction
Afghanistan is a landlocked country that has been in several major wars since achieving statehood in 1747. Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth century, the kingdom of Afghanistan has survived between British and Russian rivalries. The first and second Anglo-Afghan War started in 1838 and 1848 respectively. The third Anglo-Afghan War was in 1919. During December of 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and occupied Afghanistan until 1989. It has been reported that during this period nearly two million Afghans were killed and more than six million became refugees in neighboring Pakistan and Iran. Unfortunately, from 1978 through 2001, major damage was inflicted to the infrastructure of Afghanistan and its people.
From 1930 through 1978, Afghanistan was relatively at peace. However, there was not much infrastructure constructed during this period. Although the infrastructure of Afghanistan improved after the 1930’s, it consisted primarily of major roads between provincial capitals, which were unpaved until the early 1960’s. Elementary schools and high schools were built throughout the country during this period and education was available to nearly all school age children by the late 1970’s. The College of Medicine was the first college established in Kabul upon which the foundation of Kabul University was built. Eventually, the first university hospital, named Ali-Abad Hospital, was built in Kabul.
The objective of this paper is to first introduce a brief overview of the infrastructure that existed in Afghanistan prior to the Soviet invasion. Second, we will attempt to convey the human and physical devastation that was inflicted upon the Afghan people. Lastly, we will concentrate on the obstacles that the international community faces in Afghanistan and recommendations for improvements.
The Infrastructure of Afghanistan Prior to the Soviet Invasion
Afghanistan’s network of transports, power generating facilities, major experimental agricultural projects, and institutions of higher learning were mostly built after World War II. As mentioned earlier, the College of Medicine was the first college established. Various colleges and technical schools were established from the 1930’s through 1978. The College of Agriculture was established in the late 1950’s and in the early 1960’s, the College of Engineering was independently established within Kabul University. In addition, Kabul Polytechnic Institute was established in 1968 with technical assistance from the former Soviet Union (B. Baha, 2003).
Under the United States educational assistance to Afghanistan, the College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture were among the best-equipped departments in the region. The textbooks and the medium of instruction were all in English. In fact, several students from Middle Eastern countries were attending the College of Engineering during the late 1960’s. This shows that the engineering school was once one of the finest seats of learning in Asia.
(Re-printed from Afghanistan Studies Journal, Vol. 1, No. 2)
By 1975, nearly all major highways that connected major provincial capitals and border points with Pakistan, Iran and former Soviet Union were paved and in good condition. However, secondary roads in rural areas and other remote roads were unpaved. The Kabul-Kandahar road was gradually damaged from 1978 through 2001 and the travel time between these two cities was about 20 hours. (This road has recently been improved and the travel time after the improvements was estimated to be about 7 to 8 hours.)
Furthermore, there were a total of 41 airports throughout the country for domestic and international travel. The largest and most important of these was Kabul International Airport.
Several hydroelectric plants were also built throughout the country with the help of the United States, the former Soviet Union, and Germany. The total generating capacity was about 318 Mega Watts by 1978 (Rechard F. Nyrop, 1986).
Communication, Agriculture and Health Sector
Modern communication in Afghanistan did not exist until 1978. Telephone lines existed only between major provincial capitals. Fewer than 10 percent of households had phone lines in the capital city of Kabul. However, during the1970’s, efforts were being made toward modernizing Afghanistan.
Agriculture was a dominant economy through the 1960’s and 1970’s, but modern agriculture mechanisms and methodologies had not been introduced yet. The traditional farming methods in place were 400 years old. Nonetheless, efforts were being made to implement modern agriculture techniques.
There were several health clinics and hospitals in Kabul and probably one or two below-average health treatment centers or hospitals located in provincial capitals. The health centers in Kabul and in the provincial capitals were not well equipped or staffed by qualified medical personnel.
Brief Overview of Infrastructure Damage (1978- 2001)
From 1978 through 1989, Afghanistan was a major battleground between the former Soviet Union and the West. The country was engulfed in a Civil War soon after between 1989 and 2001. In this section, a brief overview of the damage inflicted to the infrastructure of Afghanistan and its people during this period will be presented.
During this period, nearly two million Afghans were killed and more than six million became refugees in neighboring Pakistan and Iran. As many as two million people migrated from rural areas to cities. The tribal, family and social structures were all affected by the war.
Higher learning facilities remained, but without any utilization by the Afghan people. The majority of teaching staff at Kabul University had either been killed, put in jail or had left the country. University dormitories were a staging ground for fighting among different factions during the early 1990’s. Classrooms, laboratories, high-tech equipments and textbooks had either been damaged or looted. As a result, the educational system was left in shambles.
Nearly all major paved highways connecting provincial capitals were severely damaged by approximately 90 percent. Dams, bridges, and underground irrigation canals that took centuries to build were destroyed. Telephone lines, communication centers, and health centers were either damaged or not functioning due to the lack of proper maintenance. Several years of drought, massive internal displacement of people and the movement of refugees to neighboring countries such as Pakistan and Iran left the economy of Afghanistan in a state of chaos.
War not only damaged the health sector infrastructure, such as health clinics and hospitals, but it also affected Afghans psychologically. As a result of the war, most Afghan men and women suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome, major depression or severe anxiety. It is obvious that psychological scars will have long-term effects and need to be addressed by healthcare agencies working in Afghanistan.
The majority of the Afghan population depends on agriculture for their survival, yet the farming is dangerous due to the presence of land mines. It has been reported that more than 10 million mines existed in Afghanistan when the Soviet Union withdrew in 1989. Thus, it is no surprise that Afghanistan is one of the most densely mined countries in the world. As a result, de-mining is a major obstacle to be overcome in the future. By some estimates, this alone would cost over 500 million dollars.
The economic losses sustained by Afghanistan due to the Soviet War (1979-1989) are shown in Table 1.
Table 1
Economic Losses Sustained by AfghanistanDue to the Soviet War (1980-1990)(1)
Economic losses sustained by 1.5 million families of the deceased / $64.3 billion
Economic losses sustained by 6.2 million émigrés / $267.5 billion
Economic losses sustained by 2.2 million internal migrants / $25.1 billion
Economic losses sustained by 1.0 million disabled people / $149.5 billion
Economic losses sustain by the GNP (Gross National Product) / $34.6 billion
Economic losses sustained by structures and fixes assets / $103.8 billion
Grand Total / $644.8 billion
(1) Afghanistan Studies Journal, Vol. 2., 1990-1992
Rebuilding Afghanistan
The situation in Afghanistan is complicated by several factors—drug money, general lawlessness, land mines, lack of employment opportunities and the fact that suitable qualified education was not available to a generation of people during the years of 1979 through 2001. Well-educated Afghan professionals were either killed or fled the country, further complicating the chances of constructive recovery in Afghanistan
The most important step towards the recovery and achievement of success in Afghanistan is dependant upon how the international community disarms the warlords and the various fighting factions and also how the international community establishes security throughout the country. Unfortunately, lawlessness in the country, in some cases, is such that aid organizations no longer want to risk sending their international workers outside the capital. Security should be the top priority of the government of Afghanistan and the international community. In order to achieve security in Afghanistan, it is crucial that the international community extends its help to the Afghan people and makes this a reality. Reconstruction and national rebuilding success, nevertheless, greatly depends on how well the security structure functions in the future.
Recommendations
Education has been and continues to be one of the most important and essential factors in Afghanistan’s social and human capital. Training qualified teachers and professors in the short or long run and overhaul of the education system will be one of the most crucial avenues towards the recovery of the country. Qualified Afghan professionals who are living abroad should be encouraged to return on a short-term or long-term agreement and actively participate in the process of rebuilding Afghanistan.
In addition, investment in the transportation infrastructure will bring the people and the country together. Safer and better highways will reduce the travel time, bring less damage to goods and enhance the cost-effectiveness of the delivery of goods to and from neighboring countries.
A broad-based GIS (Geographic Information System) database would be an extremely essential component in the rebuilding process for current and future planning of the development of different sectors such as transportation, healthcare, agriculture, irrigation, education, mining, and foreign investment. This database should include: major population centers, age cohorts, educational level, local industry, occupation, surface and ground water resources, major rivers, existing reservoirs, natural resources (gas, oil, coal, copper mines, gems and diamonds), land use, soil data, precipitation, and temperature data. This database will provide planners with a very valuable and powerful tool that will be of utmost importance for future planning purposes for many years to come.
Moreover, in remote areas of the country, where it is not possible to establish technical or vocational schools at this time or due to the lack of qualified instructors, distant campuses should be established and connected via satellites that could be supervised by staff members from Kabul University. Appropriate technologies of neighboring countries should also be studied and implemented, if feasible and culturally accepted by the Afghans.
References
Baha, B, “Engineering Education in Afghanistan,” Proceedings of the 2003 ASEE/WFEO International Colloquium.
Center for Afghanistan Studies, The Afghanistan Studies Journal, Vol. 1, No.2, University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Kamrany, Nake, M., Professor USC, “Measuring Economics Damages in Afghanistan, The Afghanistan Studies Journal, Vol. 2, Center for Afghanistan Studies, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1990-1991.
Nyrop, Rechard F. and Seekin, Donald, M., Afghanistan, A Country Study, Area handbook studies, D.A. Pami, 550-65, research completed January 1986.
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