Global Policy Forum

By Kate Clark

A six-monthly donor meeting for Afghanistan begins on Thursday in the Pakistan capital, Islamabad. It is an opportunity for donor countries to co-ordinate aid efforts with the United Nations and aid agencies.

One issue on the agenda is likely to be assistance for Afghan farmers who have stopped growing opium poppies. Before a Taleban ban on growing opium it was estimated that Afghanistan produced three quarters of the world's supply, and farmers have now lost their major industry.

Sixteen major donor countries and institutions will spend a day discussing the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan with the UN and international, Afghan and Islamic aid agencies. The donors will then meet in closed session to decide funding.

Impoverished Farmers

The ban on growing opium was announced last summer, but donors said they could not verify its implementation until spring, when they could see for themselves what was actually coming up in the fields.

But it has now been confirmed that the ban is serious. Afghan poppy farmers have lost four fifths of their income by switching to other crops. Many have been left indebted - some have had to sell land. Apart from the US, no other country has yet pledged any assistance.

Angry

The lack of response so far from the international community has left the Taleban disillusioned and angry. They felt it was one issue where their efforts should have been acknowledged because many countries had complained so vociferously when poppy was being grown. It has reinforced a feeling within the movement that if the world will not recognise the Taleban, then they will not recognise the world.

Many drug enforcement officials say it is vital to support Afghan farmers if the ban is to become sustainable. They say that if nothing is done it will be the world's fault if Afghans go back to growing opium.

The donor meeting comes as Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis is deepening. In many areas it has become clear that farmers are now facing their third year of drought.

Short-term Aid

Aid has so far been concentrated on short term relief efforts. Food aid has been more forthcoming than supplies of seed and it is estimated that 40% of farmers did not have enough seed to plant this winter.

Funds for building up livestock have proved even harder to obtain. Many NGOs also want to see more long term funding for sectors like education. It is always top of the list of what Afghans say they want, said one director of an aid agency, but, he asked: How can we fund education properly if donors only give us money for one school year?