But, You Ask, What's It Like to Live in Afghanistan?

by Michael Bear

category: Humanitarian Relief

Published June 25, 2009 @ 08:14AM PT

Most of us would recognize an anniversary with a small gift, or perhaps an inappropriate e-card.  Not so the International Committee of the Red Cross.

In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Solferino, the Red Cross has just released a survey on the impact of armed conflict and violence on civilians, polling people in Afghanistan, Colombia, Congo, Georgia, Haiti, Lebanon, Liberia and the Philippines.

This survey is part of the Red Cross Our World. Your Move campaign.

The findings from the survey are striking:

Number of People Affected

- "In total, around two-thirds of persons (66%) have been affected in some way – either personally or due to these wider consequences – and this includes almost everyone in Haiti (98%), Afghanistan (96%), Lebanon (96%) and Liberia (96%)."

How Conflict Affects Civilians

- "Of all the people who have experience of armed conflict, 56% have been displaced. In certain contexts, this number is higher such as in Afghanistan, where 76% have been displaced, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 58%, in Lebanon 61% and in Liberia, almost nine in ten (90%) of those interviewed responded that they had to leave their home."

- "Worse still, many people (28%) say that close family members have been killed by the fighting, including 69% in Liberia, a quarter of those in Lebanon (26%) and the DRC (25%) - and 45% in Afghanistan."

- "On average across the eight countries: 18% have been wounded by the fighting; 19% have known someone to fall victim to sexual violence, including 44% in Haiti and 28% in the DRC; 17% have been tortured, including 43% in Afghanistan; 10% have been imprisoned and 10% kidnapped / taken hostage; 32% have been ‘humiliated’, including 51% in Haiti; 23% have been ‘psychologically hurt’."

Who Provides Support

- "Generally, those ‘closest to home’ – people’s families and parents – are most often called on
initially for support. Other help comes from the ICRC, for 15% of those affected by armed conflict, and the
national Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies (19%)...Other sources of help are the government (15%), religious entities (21%), the United Nations (UN) (18%), NGOs (18%) – and even the military (12%)."

What Kind of Support Is Most Needed

- "For basic needs, people primarily cite: Food, cited by 66% across the eight countries and by 90% in Liberia; Security/Protection, 48% overall and 66% in Haiti; Medical treatment/healthcare, 43% overall and 48% in Afghanistan; Shelter, 40% overall and 58% in Liberia."

Barriers to Receiving Assistance

- "For people in need, receiving help is not always straightforward. Some 59% of respondents across all countries surveyed cite corruption as an obstacle to receiving help. This figure includes 85% in the Philippines, 82% in Colombia, 81% of persons in Liberia, 75% in Haiti, and just over half of those in Afghanistan and in the DRC."

- "People also face restrictions due to social status/discrimination (37%) and black markets (33%). Other factors include inaccessible locations (39%), or a basic lack of knowledge that help is available. This latter factor is most cited in Haiti (50%), Colombia (41%), the DRC and the Philippines (37% each)."

- "Some people also fear that accepting help may have repercussions for them, such as rejection by the community (13%) or the perception that they are aligned with the ‘wrong side’ (20%)."

And, Finally, Some Optimistic News

- "Despite the often terrible circumstances that they live through, people are on average more likely to be optimistic about the future than pessimistic (45% vs. 27%). They are also more appreciative of every day (50% say so), and claim to feel on balance less vengeful (32%) and less aggressive (36%)."

[ICRC food Distribution in Afghanistan - Photo from Ash Sweeting / British Red Cross]