Poverty 'fuelling Afghanistan fighting'
Poverty 'fuelling Afghanistan fighting'
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Wednesday, 18, Nov 2009 11:37
By Richard James.
The vast majority of Afghans blame poverty and unemployment for the ongoing conflict in their country, new research has found.
A survey by Oxfam found 70 per cent of those questioned blamed the economic situation for the fighting, with government weakness and corruption the second most important factor behind the conflict.
Surprisingly, the actions of the Taliban were only third in the list of reasons for the current fighting, with the interference of neighbouring countries one place back.
The survey of over 700 Afghans on the fighting that has blighted the country for the last three decades found one in six are now considering leaving Afghanistan.
Of more concern were the results which showed one in five Afghans claim to have been tortured since the wars began in 1979.
Commenting on the findings, Barbara Stocking, Oxfam chief executive, said "The people of Afghanistan have suffered 30 years of unrelenting horror. In that time millions have been killed and millions more have fled their homes.
"Those who have committed the most terrible abuses have enjoyed impunity rather than faced justice. Afghan society has been devastated.
"Repairing this damage can't be done overnight," she added. "It will take a long time for the economic, social and psychological scars to heal. The international community has to recognise this, and to understand that Afghanistan needs more than military solutions. It needs support for agriculture, better infrastructure and schools and health services must improve."
Ms Stocking said the vast majority of ordinary Afghans wanted peace in their country and the 'root causes of the fighting' dealt with.
The survey by Oxfam and a group of Afghan organisation found the widespread feeling amongst all the participants was that poverty, corruption, injustice and civilian suffering have fuelled the spread of insecurity.
Those questioned also said they felt foreign aid was failing to reach those who needed it the most and the money should instead be used to improve health and education services, as well as improving employment opportunities.
The improvement of security for Afghan civilians in the fighting between allied troops and the Taliban insurgency was also a huge concern for the civilians, with over 2,000 casualties reported up to October this year.
Ms Stocking said: "The Afghans' desire that their safety should be paramount means that all sides must stop targeting civilians.
"The international forces should tighten their restrictions on air strikes and night raids. They must transparently investigate all allegations of harm to civilians and provide appropriate forms of redress.
"Afghans surveyed also felt that the Taliban and other insurgents should immediately stop targeting civilians and stop taking refuge in civilian areas, which puts normal Afghans on the front lines of the conflict."
The Nato military campaign has faced a severe backlash in recent months with public opinion in the US and UK beginning to turn against the offensive following the disastrous presidential election in August.