Hazara Nation

RW
"Note the difference in the bags" one of our GHNI staff in Afghanistan commented. "We had to pack the food in different bags while we traveled through Taliban country."

We go to the hard places.

The World Food Program estimates that 9 million Afghans face famine this winter. Afghan Members of Parliament are seriously warning the government and the international community that catastrophe is looming if nothing is done. GHNI anticipated a difficult winter and met with the Afghan Department of Disaster Preparedness to get permission to distribute food aid and find out the neediest areas. As a result, GHNI accomplished three distributions in January 2009: one in the remote mountains of Bamyan, one in the refugee camps outside of Kabul, and one in Ghazni, a dangerous south-west region of Afghanistan. Another shipment of food is on its way.

Ghazni

Deep and strong, the Taliban's hold on Ghazni keeps the people there isolated and un-reached from non-governmental organizations (NGO's). Then Global Hope Network received a hand-written letter from the south-west district governor asking for help. The winter months are harsh and families face starvation as they struggle for basic food items. So we went, and because of the generosity of many of you, we were able to bring in 15 tons of flour! Though the road was dangerous, we disguised the food bags and made it through safely. The governor was so thankful, and his people knew that they were not forgotten.

Bamyan

In the snow packed mountains of Bamyan, GHNI had to battle fierce weather that threatened to keep us from the remote villages. With great patience, we made it through the snow. GHNI works closely with the local government in Bamyan who conducted a survey for us. From this survey we had a list of 600 families in desperate need of winter assistance. They were grateful beyond words for the 11 tons of flour your contributions made possible for us to deliver.

Kabul

On the outskirts of Kabul, refugees huddle to keep warm in make-shift tents. They fled their homes and all they had in the Taliban held south. They have no where to go and no means to provide for their families. They've lost everything. Anxious for help, they look to NGO's like GHNI for any possible assistance. These refugee camps are the primary concern of the Department of Disaster Preparedness. So we went to them and distributed sacks of food. Again, your generosity has made it possible for us to reach these hurting refugees with Help and Hope. As they say in Afghanistan, "tashakor" –"thank you"!