Khuda Bakhesh, Afghanistan: “We are hungry because of floods and drought”

Khuda Bakhesh, 62, is a poor farmer in Daikundi Province in central Afghanistan. Bakhesh has been severely affected by recurrent natural disasters. Heavy snowfalls in the winter of 2007 damaged his almond and fig trees, floods destroyed his fields in the spring of 2008 and his hopes for a harvest this summer have been dashed by drought. Bakhesh told IRIN his story:

 Listen to the radio version of this report in Dari or Pashto

“Last year heavy snow damaged our almond trees, fig trees and harmed our vineyards. The trees were broken under piles of snow. We did our best to revive some of them in the spring, but floods destroyed everything. Our wheat fields were also washed away by floods. The flood damage was worse than the snow and we lost many things.

“My sons and I made a lot of effort and worked day and night to re-cultivate our fields and revive our livelihood after the floods. But now drought has dried everything. All [water] wells and culverts have dried up and there is very little water to drink let alone for agriculture.

“My sons have gone to Iran to work and help us survive. I have no news of them and don’t know if they have found jobs. I have to feed all the female members of my family in Daikundi.

“We don’t eat three times a day because we don’t have enough food. Often we eat either in the morning or midday and then eat again the next day. We eat whatever is available; sometimes only a piece of bread with water.

“Such is life and it’s what God has given us. We’re hungry and poor because of floods and drought. These are divine scourges and we cannot stop them.

“My daughter is sick and I have brought her to the hospital for treatment. Her prescriptions are very expensive and I had to borrow money from a shopkeeper I know. I already owe 250,000 Afghanis [US$5,000] to people and cannot pay them back. I’ll have to repay my debts and the only way for me is to sell my small piece of land.”

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