At a ceremony on 15 February 2004, a new
field office was opened in the underserved town of Gardez, Paktia Province,
southeastern Afghanistan by UMCOR's regional director for Europe and Asia,
Guy Hovey.
Following prayers by the local Mullah
and in front of a packed audience consisting of the Provincial Governor,
the Mayor, Shura leaders and inhabitants of the surrounding region (see
photo left), Mr Hovey thanked everyone for their invaluable support for
UMCOR and its efforts to assist the region. He reiterated the NGO's commitment
to Afghanistan and the people of Paktia province. Mr Hovey, currently in
Afghanistan as part of a regional visit to the Caucasus and Central Asia
regions, also announced that UMCOR hopes to initiate a project to bring
in over 500 cattle to the province as well as seek funding for further
large scale assistance programmes. The agriculture minister for the region,
Engineer Nurin, welcomed UMCOR's initiative and stressed the need for local
farmers and returning families to have opportunities for income generation
other than the production of hashish and opium.
UMCOR began work in Afghanistan in 2002 reconstructing houses, digging wells and supporting sustainability efforts in the Shomali plain and Pansheer regions. Exceeding expectations in 2003, more than 8,000 families returned Gardez and the surrounding area from Pakistan, Iran and other countries of refuge. Many of these families had spent up to twenty years and more as refugees and they have returned to an area in which security is not guaranteed. In virtually all cases, they have returned to destroyed homes and livelihoods. In response to these returns, UMCOR was requested by national and local authorities and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Gardez to assist in the humanitarian effort to make these returns sustainable.
Since returns began, UMCOR has been working to alleviate the appalling living conditions in which most families have been living. Utilising its institutional experience, UMCOR has been cooperating with partner organisation, Norwegian Project Office / Rural Rehabilitation Association of Afghanistan (NPO/RRAA), in Paktia province to provide livestock and agricultural inputs for income generation assistance. This assistance may take the form of pregnant cattle with the condition that the first-born calf is passed on to other vulnerable families in the area. Other inputs include seeds, seedlings and fertilizers.
By opening the new office in Gardez, UMCOR has made a strategic commitment to both the region and the country. UMCOR is committed to coordinating with the local authorities in meeting the needs of the people of Afghanistan. UMCOR anticipates opening further field offices as its successful and innovative community and rights-based Afghanistan programme grows.
UMCOR is the not-for-profit humanitarian agency of The United Methodist Church. Since 1940 UMCOR's mission-- providing relief in disaster areas, aiding refugees and confronting the challenge of world hunger and poverty-- has helped to heal the hurts of humanity in nearly 100 countries.
United Methodist Committee on Relief
General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church
Room 330, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115.
Voice Phone: 212-870-3816; FAX: 212-870-3624.
Email: umcor@gbgm-umc.org;
Web: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/