As those of you who follow my blog regularly will know, I've been working over the past year or so on a programme which delivers vital services to rural areas across Afghanistan. Many of these areas are just recovering from …
Bamyan is a beautiful province in Afghanistan and home to the Hazaras, an ethnic Shia minority who make up 9% of the Afghan population. They are believed to be descendants of Genghis Khan's army and have distinctive features. My visit was …
Herat is seen as the cultural capital of Afghanistan. It boasts a university, a growing economy, a thriving carpet and crafts industry, and is one of the more secure provinces in Afghanistan. Herat lies in the North West of Afghanistan, …
Kabul has just seen the end of the Loya Jirga - a mass meeting in which, traditionally, tribal elders meet to discuss matters of national and political importance. During the three-day event, around 2,000 Afghan nationals from across the country gathered …
I've been reflecting on the changes to people's lives in Afghanistan, particularly women, over the last ten years of UK involvement there. In the UK, women take it for granted that when we have a baby we will get good prenatal …
Many of you would have seen on the news recently that the British Council in Kabul was subject to a ferocious and deadly attack on 19 August. Luckily all international staff survived - a testament to the robust security measures …
The UK Government has been supporting an Afghan Government programme to deliver basic services, including water, health, justice and education, in recently secured areas. The programme operates nationally, but the UK has been supporting efforts in Helmand Province. The programme …
I spotted a little girl squatting quietly against the school wall watching the buzz of our official welcome at Tortank Girls’ School in Lashkar Gah. We were greeted by staff and students with a song and flowers. As the rest …
Last week, as I was sat in the garden outside our accommodation, I saw for the first time a lunar eclipse – it was stunning. As the earth’s shadow slowly slipped across the silvery moon surface it was transformed into …
Last week I left Afghanistan for good. When I said goodbye to our local staff member in Helmand he asked "will we see you again in Helmand Province?" "Probably not," I replied. After making Afghanistan my home for the last …
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