The state of war and peace in Afghanistan has had a significant impact on the distribution of the foreign aid. Afghanistan is among the developing countries, according to the ISI (International Statistical Institute). It is classified as a developing country on the criterion that it has a GNI (Gross National Income) of less than US $11, 905 per capita a year (ISI, 2014). In order to help Afghanistan (and other developing countries) get through the development process, developed countries and international organizations, channel funds to this country, in the form of foreign. However, given the state of war and peace within the country a number of positive and negative effects abound. Some of the positive effects include; firstly, during the period when peace prevails in Afghanistan, it becomes possible for efficient distribution of the foreign aid. This enables the leaders and the international community to ensure that various developments take place within Afghanistan. As a consequence, the development achieved facilitates the protection people on the basis of their human rights.
The proportionate distribution of the foreign aid within the country assists in the acceleration of economic development. Ensuring an improving economy within Afghanistan is a prerequisite for peace and end of civil wars. Essentially, the Afghanistan economy does not have the capacity and resources required to ensure effective running of all the critical sectors of the government. According to Katzman (2014), any cutoff of foreign aid would result in a fiscal implosion, and subsequently, loss of control within the security sector, the collapse of the political power, and probable civil war (Katzman, 2014). However, with the help of foreign aid, Afghanistan’s economy has improved over the years. For instance, the economy has grown at an average 9-10% since 2001. More significantly, the growth dependent on foreign aid accounts for over 95% of Afghanistan’s GDP.
Officials in Afghan prospected that the country requires at least $10 billion from 2014-2025 before it can become self –reliant financially. The government of Afghanistan collects little revenue given the lack of capacity to net tax effectively and few successful businesses within the country. There have been numerous debates in regard to the mechanisms of distribution and amount of aid within the country. In some of the provinces, such as Bamiyan and Balkih, where peace prevails, there have been numerous complaints that almost 80% of the international aid is channeled into the war affected provinces. This leaves out the poor Afghans residing in peaceful regions.
On the other hand, some of the negative effects of war and peace are; firstly, the civil war inhibited distribution of the aid into the intended sectors of the Afghan economy. For instance, in 1992, war in Afghan intensified, making it impossible for aid to be effective. Indeed, some of personnel assigned to the task of overseeing the usage of the aid have to retreat into their countries or seek protection in the neighboring countries. Furthermore, the donors felt impelled to retract their aid in case the countries persisted in war (Waldman, 2008). More significantly, this is as a result of the damages to various infrastructures during the time of war. Additionally, violation of the various terms and conditions attached to foreign aid also makes the donors withdraw their aid, and subsequently, it negatively impacts the country.
The foreign Aid has assisted the Afghan leaders sail through a number of economic hurdles. For instance, the country has suffered because of drug abuse specifically opium. Indeed, a survey by the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs) established that the country contributed about 93% of the world’s opium poppy refined into heroin in 2007 (University of Western Ontario, 2010). However, the international aid has contributed significantly in assisting the leaders to reduce the level of production of the Opium poppy. In 2009, farming of Opium reduced by a significant 22%, an encouraging gesture towards reducing levels of drug abuse. Some of the imminent problems in Afghanistan may be attributed to intensive drug use, dependency and trafficking. Essentially, the efforts put on reducing the production of opium poppy have generated significant fruits in the aim of eradicating drug abuse in Afghanistan. Additionally, the leaders have been empowered to provide health services to the citizens. During the time of war, a quarter of the children born succumbed to death due to preventable disease. The public were vulnerable to the rampant epidemics such as typhoid and cholera (UN News Center, 2014). However, the foreign aid has assisted in establishing and running the health care sector.
The rulers and regimes that have existed in Afghanistan acquired power through military coups involving violence. The foreign aid has facilitated the country to initiate democracy, where the nationals have the power to choose their desirable leader. In essence, this allows the country elect a leader who has the qualifications to steer the country into economic development and political stability. The foreign aid facilitated the establishment of an Independent election commission to oversee the process the elections within the country in 2009. Regardless of the critics on the undemocratic nature of those elections, this marked a starting point towards a democratic country.
References
ISI. (2014, January 3). DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. Retrieved from The International Statistical Institute: http://www.isi-web.org/component/content/article/5-root/root/81-developing
Katzman, K. (2014). Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security and US Policy. Congressional Research Service, 1-87.
UN News Center. (2014, January 13). Afghanistan & the United nations. Retrieved from UN NEWS CENTRE: http://www.un.org/News/dh/latest/afghan/un-afghan-history.shtml
Waldman, M. (2008). Aids Effectiveness in Afghanistan. Acbar Advocacy Series, 1-33.
