From Struggle to Stability: Noor Ahmad Barekzai's Journey of Resilience through the CRL Project

Photo of displaced people in Herat Province where people survive on a single meal a day. @Google

Drought has been a recurring and devastating issue in Afghanistan, particularly affecting those who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Over the years, the combined effects of climate change, insufficient rainfall, and mismanagement of water resources have exacerbated the drought situation in the country.

Herat, a province in western Afghanistan, is one of the regions most severely impacted by drought. Prolonged dry spells compounded by years of political instability, have led to significant internal displacement. Thousands of families in Herat have been pushed to the brink, opting to migrate to the city of Herat and other urban centers in search of shelter, work, and basic resources.

Noor Ahmad Barekza is originally from Shindand in Herat. Due to a severe drought in his home area, he was forced to leave his district and move to the city of Herat in search of work. Noor joined the millions of Afghans who have been internally displaced Afghans. 

IOM estimates that as of December 2023, 1.9 million (33% of IDPs) had been displaced including secondary displacements due to recurring natural disasters, between 2021 and 2023. 

"The drought took everything from us. We couldn’t grow anything, and there was no work. It forced us to leave our home and struggle just to find enough to eat.’’

In a cruel twist of fate, in 2023, Noor and his family were left homeless after a major earthquake hit Herat in 2023. They had to find shelter in a tent. Today, Noor Ahmad is one of many Afghans whose lives have been transformed by the Community Resilience and Livelihoods (CRL) project. As part of the upgrading of Shermasthiha and Balain Streets with Plum Concrete Surface in District 3 of Herat province, he is one of 122 laborers currently working on this initiative. This project is directly benefiting 12 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 24 returnees. Upon completion, the improved access through the newly constructed roads is expected to support 450 families.

Noor Ahmad has a large family of nine people, including his wife, his mother, and seven children—two sons aged 4 and 10, and four daughters under the age of 10. Previously, his wife helped support the family by working in people's homes, earning between 50 to 100 AFN a day.  He was a daily wage laborer earning only 300 AFN a day when there were jobs available for him. Those days were few, and far between. Even with both of them working, their income was barely enough to cover basic needs.

Noor and his family lived in a small rental house in Herat, paying 1,800 AFN each month. The house, however, was insufficient to accommodate the needs of his large family, providing little comfort or space. For two months, they could not afford the rent. Noor Ahmad’s situation is further compounded by a loan of 50,000 AFN which he owes a relative.  He injured his hand in the war many years ago and required money to travel to Pakistan for medical treatment. 

Now Noor Ahmad is working as an unskilled laborer, earning 450 AFN per day.  His daily income has provided relief and allowed him to support his family better. His family is now much happier. For the first time in a long while, Noor Ahmad feels a sense of security. He is rebuilding his life and through his work on the project, he has forged strong relationships with fellow workers.

“Before, I would have never imagined that I could have this much stability. The CRL project has given me hope. If it weren't for this opportunity, my family might have been forced to beg on the streets.”

Noor Ahmad at the workplace, construction of plum concrete streets in District 3 of Herat City. @Hijratullah Hijran

The fragile situation in Afghanistan does not provide much support for the integration of IDPs. While host communities welcome them, in most cases, they cannot offer any support. Through interventions like the emergency and livelihood support provided by CRLP, IDPs receive a lifeline that helps them build self-reliance and long-term stability. To date, over 27,359 IDPs have benefited from the project, empowering them to rebuild their lives and contribute to the reconstruction of Afghanistan.