The Need Vulnerability to Natural Disasters in Badakhshan Badakhshan is one of the highest-risk provinces in Afghanistan in terms of earthquakes, flooding, drought, and landslides. These annually occurring natural disasters are responsible for the damage and destruction of homes and infrastructure – including footbridges, roads, watermills, irrigation canals, and small hydro-power plants – as well as the loss of crops and land for cultivation. Many villages are located along steep slopes with little vegetation, so they face an increased risk of landslides during the rainy season, especially combined with frequent seismic tremors and seasonal flash flooding. Furthermore, many remote villages are completely isolated in terms of road access and communications. This isolation delays and limits emergency response operations when a natural disaster occurs. The government, NGOs, and the communities themselves have repeatedly identified that disaster-preparedness planning and implementation are weak and under-resourced in this province. Communities have demonstrated a willingness to participate in a community-based disaster-preparedness and mitigation programme. Small-scale mitigation projects are necessary to build flood-protection walls, repair or replace foot bridges, and repair or reconstruct irrigation canals, diversion canals, footpaths, and flood-diversion dams. As this is an active seismic region, simple earthquake-resistant construction techniques should be incorporated into all construction, and will require training at the village level to reduce the vulnerability of households from the threat of a future major earthquake. Our Response Strengthen Disaster-Preparedness Planning and Management Medair is seeking to reduce the impact of natural disasters in Badakhshan by working alongside local communities to strengthen disaster-management planning, coordination, and information-sharing. By end of September 2009, Medair will have completed rural participatory assessments in villages to facilitate the development of community-based action plans. Seminars and workshops are being held to share information and education about practical solutions. Medair will also provide external support, when necessary, to reduce risk in these vulnerable communities. These communities are composed of self-reliant and determined people who have previously demonstrated their ability to organise and plan. Medair is capitalising on their strengths, and developing innovative, low-cost solutions using local resources and capacities. Furthermore, Medair will complete a series of disaster-management workshops at the district level to develop a district disaster-management plan in coordination with the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority. With Your Support We will assist isolated rural communities located in areas with a high risk of earthquakes, flooding, drought, and landslides. The people living in these villages are generally poor, and are dependent upon subsistence farming, with small numbers of livestock. This project is empowering them to work together to protect themselves in a self-sustaining way, vastly improving their chances of surviving and coping in the face of natural disasters. In addition, the district as a whole will become better prepared through strengthened disaster-management planning. There will be an improved understanding of disaster-management techniques and best practices at provincial, district, and high-risk community levels throughout the region. The total budget for this project is US$ 264,600. Most of this amount has already been granted by governmental humanitarian aid organisations, but we are still seeking private support in the amount of US$ 40,000. This level of private support will enable us to meet our total budget target and complete this vital project.