Sang-e-Mum

1. Community demographics

Local authority figures who used Habitat Surveys estimated that there are 438 households in Sang-e-Mum Payin (Upper Sang-e-Mum) with 2190 people, along with 584 households in Lower Sang-e-Mum with 9312 people. All the inhabitants of the area were said to be Hazara and are predominantly Hazaragi dialect Dari speakers. The majority are children and youth (under the age of 24). The health profile of Sang-e-Mum is average with key informants noting that the village is 10km away from a clinic and a hospital, with poor access to qualified doctors and medicines.

There is an IDP population of approximately 30 households and 180 people living in Upper Sang-e-Mum and 35 households of 200 people in Lower Sang-e-Mum, mostly coming from Gezab District because of insecurity. Community leaders estimate that there are only 25 people from 3 families in Upper Sang-e-Mum and 30 people from 5 families in Lower Sang-e-Mum that are returnee migrants, but this number could rise depending on security and economic improvements. There was a general consensus that people would be unlikely to move over the next 2 years.

2. Community geography and economic profile

Sang-e-Mum lies in a valley and is surrounded by rocky mountains on all sides. It's major source of water are fountains that are abundant in spring but not in summer or winter. The Lazir river lies approximately 12km away. The adobe clay houses are spread 100 - 200 metres away from each-other across the 5-8km² valley.

3. Economic profile

The community members are primarily engaged in agriculture and labor, with just a few members of the community running shops. Key informants noted that if there are 2 or more men in a family, the men might go abroad in search of employment. Home needlework is only present in a few households according to local authority figures.

4. Energy profile

There is no grid electricity in Sang-e-Mum. People use solar home systems with low capacity for lighting and for watching TV. Generators that can power households are available for purchase in the market. People use wood, gas, animal dung and thorns for cooking as well as for heating. Many people use a tabakhana (local warming system) for heating which uses wood and animal dung.