Why I work in Afghanistan
In the UK we hear about Afghanistan almost every day. But most people have never met anyone who has actually been there, and from what you see in the media you’d be surprised that anyone would actually want to work …
Afghanistan's fragile hope
I can hardly believe how quickly it’s come around – but my time here in Helmand is over. It’s been a fantastic experience, and what I've seen on the ground is very different to the picture so often presented on …
How to get around in Helmand
Since I joined the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team in November I’ve seen some great progress being made here, but I’ve also seen the huge challenges involved in helping the Afghan people govern this country for themselves. Just before Christmas, Douglas …
Welcome to Helmand
I work in a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand province, Afghanistan – part of the international mission to support the Government of Afghanistan and help Afghans govern their country for themselves. My job title is Economic Adviser. I work with …
Departing Afghanistan: Reflections on my year in Helmand
My time in Afghanistan has, all too soon, come to an end. I'm moving on for pastures new, not because I'm ready to leave the country I've come to love so much, but just because the time has come. I'll …
Round and round in circles: life on camp in Lashkar Gah
I live on a military base in a very dusty part of the world, where temperatures top 50 degrees in the summer. We've not seen much rain since I first came here in early June. A number of UK troops live on …
A day in the life of a civilian in Afghanistan
I was in the air somewhere above Helmand the other day, flying in a Sea King helicopter, trying to do my commute-time reading, but a long way from the squeeze of the Tube. A moment later, I was interrupted from …
Poverty in Helmand
Three months ago, the bazaar in Garmsir, southern Helmand, stood empty. Stalls were bare; some were shuttered, others all but derelict. Fighting between the insurgents and the Afghan and international forces meant the population had left the district centre, leaving …
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