http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/afghanistan_rel83.jpgAccording to the Afghan Online Press (http://www.aopnews.com/today.html) roughly 10% of Afghanis have electricity available. Today the British military announced that it cleared a hydroelectric plant of Taliban militants. Afghanistan hopes that the recovery of this resource will provide electricity to an additional 1.8 million civilians. Considering that the population (2006 estimate) is approximately 31 million, this achievement would make electricity available to an additional 5.8% of the population. The Afghan government hopes to win the support of the "regular Afghani" by improving their lives. They hope that offering more services will help to increase loyalty to the government.
Living conditions in Afghanistan are some of the worst in the world. Throw that in the pot with massive opium production and the displaced Taliban supporters, and you are going to need to be providing a lot of services to bring people around. Approximately 53% of Afghani's live below poverty level and life expectancy is only 45-46 years old!
The road to success for this impoverished country will likely be long and tumultuous. But I do think that the government has one thing right, you cannot win the support of your people if you do not find a way to make their lives more comfortable. Providing them with energy, health services, or jobs is a good idea. . . one that will take many baby steps, but hopefully build a proper foundation for a successful social and economic system.
I used the AOP article: British Troops Clear Taliban Base at Major Afghan Hydropower Dam.
Dated Feb 6, 2007
as well as the CIA World Factbook
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