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Street scene in Ghaf, Daikundi Province
Deputy Council member speaking about the changes in Ghaf over the previous decade-
“Yes, there have been major changes in this town which have had a positive impact on people’s lives for instance, the solar power and the roads, schools, and clinics that have been constructed and the people which have become literate.”
1. Community demographics
According to key informant interviews with local authority figures who relied on Solidarity Council statistics from 3 years ago, there are approximately 475 households with 3250 - 3350 people in the village of Ghaf in Shahrestan district. Almost the entire village identify as Hazara and speak Dari. It is estimated over half of the population are children under 18 years of age, with only 15 - 30% of the population estimated to be adults (above the age of 25) or elderly.
The community experience some health difficulties, citing the lack of clinics, doctors and medicines as well as seasonal diseases. While local authority figures state there is no IDP population in Ghaf, they estimate about 70 people have returned from migration, mostly from Iran, and now live in their parents' households. It is also predicted that there will be little migration over the coming years, with most people in the community continuing to live there.
2. Community geography
The village is located in hilly and mountainous terrain apprximately 20km away from the Helmand River, the nearest water source. The village is not densely populated with the single-storey mud houses spaced 50 to 100 metres from each other across a large area. There are big trenches that have a good supply of fuel (wood and mountain thorns) in the spring.
There is a secondary school for boys and a secondary school for girls in the community. There are also medical clinics in the Chaprasak Bazaar, although they are located in houses instead of dedicated buildings.
Households in Ghaf village
3. Economic profile
Local authorities note that almost everyone in the village is engaged in agricultural work or have migrated abroad for work (Iran was cited), with no secondary industries in the community apart from shopkeepers. Some members of the community raise 3 - 4 chickens, a sheep or a goat at home along with their agricultural work.
4. Energy profile
There is no connection to grid electricity and local authority figures described almost all villagers using solar home systems with low capacity for lighting and appliances. Households use wood, mountain thorns and animal dung for cooking in earthen stoves as well as to heat their houses.
LPG canisters by a paved road in Ghaaf with mountains in the background. Solar panels sit on top of the next household-shop.
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