Exellent stuff, boy. You chaps on the spot should give us a comprehensive view of real Afghanistan. Media are selling us Bad Talibani and Good Marines at Noon, but not everyday as they do for Baghdad,just from time to time - Strudel
www.strudeltimes.it
How sad. It is inexcusable that such a tragedy should occur. It is criminal that those agencies didn't help the woman. They had tohave seen her and the children there in the cold. Keep upthe great work Sohrab.
Hi Sohrab, you do a great job with your weblogs. I am going to travel to Kabul, and your weblogs has been the most informative weblog for daily life of people in Afghanistan.
Good job boy, and see you soon in Kabul….
Sohrab,no intent to argue here, but while you point out that the U.N. headquarters was close by and other International NGOs drove by these poor people every day, were they not also seen by other Afghans? There are many programs to get clothes and aid to those that need it. In the things our troops request, clothing and aid for kids are always on the list. Thanks for adding to the awareness that much more needs to be done.
Solo,
Where those aid goes? Do know exactly where they collect the aid?
People die from poverty. Don't you think if Taliban and Al Qaeda offer monthly $300 for them to become their member is the Afghan government fail and second international?
I was working with Okke Ornstien Dutch journalist in Kabul, we met soldiers were complaining they dont' have enough salary to eat. They told us Taliban give $300 salary per month, if i got chance i will join them.
What do you think who has the power if they survived from poverty?
I hope you'll write about the
second anniversary of the Kam Air Flight 904 crash next later this week. The facts regarding that crash seem to be still highly debatable, so any contribution would be appreciated (at least by those who hope to learn the truth).
Greetings friend,
I've been reading your blog for quite a while and again thanks so much for the valuble insight into daily life in Afghanistan. It is so important to know what is going on from someone who lives there as oppose to the media censored news we often get here in UK.Just wondering is it really that bad that the UN are not really helping at all....i was hoping to work with an NGO and use my skills to help but i want to know that i would be making a difference.
Hi, In response to Solo, I do understand the fact that there a lot of aids being pledged and delivered to Afghanistan but unfortunately the management is not there, if you remember a few years ago "Ramazan Bashardoost" the minister back then raised concerns about the NGOs and the whole aid redistribution program in the country, but he was told that he didn't have the power to object and make any reforms as a result he resigned.
The problem is the aid and the money goes to the pockets of those who have the power or the connections not to the poor and needy who die of cold and hunger on the street. One can only hope that things will get better.
Congratulations on your blog, Sohrab. The photos and text give us a window into the daily life there in Afghanistan. Kabul seems like a very nice city, despite its difficulties. I and other Americans I know hope that things improve there for you all on each new day that passes. Best of luck.
I think assuming all NGOs are bad is a mistake, and that this thinking simply absolves one from having to do something themselves to help. They assume it will not help anyway.
This photo is great! Plain happiness in the snow.
Never been to Kabul but accusing NGOs of failing in their duty is familiar. The wealth they display seems obscene in the context, but they also sacrifice a lot by taking career where they must move country every 2 years or so.
As individuals, they are no more or less responsible for the poor and the sick than anyone else.
They arent even to blame for the waste of donor money; their partner government department takes the lead in stealing the free money. NGOs just let it happen because they have no choice... the British NGO one who was shot recently probably thought he had one (cant imagine why else anyone would kill him)
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