Mr. Hermann, where exactly in Afghanistan have we reached you?
I am at the Welthungerhilfe office in Sheberghan, the capital of the north Afghan province of Jovzjan, 120 kilometres west of Mazar-i-Sharif. The region borders on Turkmenistan to the north. The foothills of the Hindu Kush mountains are to the south. At the moment the region is suffering from extreme drought, so we are currently preparing a project to support the most seriously affected sections of the population.
How do you help the people hit by the drought?
We are focusing on agriculture and livestock breeding. We support the population in selected villages by providing microloans and renting out agricultural equipment. In addition, we are helping to rebuild the kind of agricultural advisory structures that existed before war took over.
How important is Germany’s role in the civil reconstruction of Afghanistan?
The people are extremely grateful for every form of assistance. Germany is highly regarded in Afghanistan. Our contribution plays a major part in building structures to enable local authorities to assume responsibility themselves and increasingly decide their own future. All this is a lengthy process that requires a lot of perseverance.
Which areas of life have already improved for the Afghan population?
There have been really significant developments in the infrastructure. In addition to roads and schools, countless wells for drinking water have been dug. Bridges and reservoirs have been built. The telecommunications infrastructure has developed at a breathtaking pace. The banking sector has been restored and its network of branches can now be used by more and more Afghans.
Uwe Hermann
has been working for the German relief organization Welthungerhilfe since 1991. The 48-year-old agricultural engineer became a project manager in Afghanistan three years ago. He currently works in the north of the country.
