UMCOR opens new field office in Gardez
24 February 2004
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 programs. 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 (an NGO specialising in post disaster and
conflict return issues) 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
organization, 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 program grows.
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