Bajgah Village School Project Report

Bajgah Village School Project in Afghanistan

Background

Following the coalition intervention in 2001, the country has become relatively stable, encouraging more than 3 million refugees to return and start rebuilding their livelihoods. Logically, the greatest number of refugees came from the areas where fighting was fiercest and where the greatest landmine problems were created. Protracted fighting between Taliban and Northern Alliance forces took place in and around Bajgah village, in the Baghlan province. During this fighting many mines were laid, the majority by the Taliban defending strategic positions.

Bajgah Village has experienced a significant return of refugees over the past two years. These returning families have brought with them hundreds of children, many of whom have never known peace or stability, and are in need of an education and a safe environment in which to live. During this period, 13 villagers have become landmine victims and 44 animals, vital to village livelihoods, have been killed by landmines. While most of the minefields have now been surveyed and marked, the continued presence of a large minefield between the main housing areas of Bajgah and its village school remains a daunting risk.

The Bajgah village school educates nearly 900 children. The school was situated about 100 feet from an active minefield. And the children were using tracks through the minefield to get from the village to the school each morning. Like in other rural farming communities, Bajgah children are generally tasked with looking after animals when they are not at school. These animals will often stray into minefields and are regularly followed in by children, who take their responsibility for these animals very seriously as the animals are often a poor family’s most valuable possession.

Project Implementation

The HALO Trust tasked one demining team with demining the minefield next to Bajgah school. The 26 man team consisted of a team leader, an assistant team leader, two section commanders, three deminer medics, a deminer driver and 18 deminers. HALO teams used German made Ebinger detectors and followed the one-man one-lane system. This gave each deminer a greater sense of responsibility and allowed team leaders to gauge an individual performance. A team truck transported each team and equipment. An ambulance with HF communications supported each demining site.

Summary

Most of the children of Bagjah village have only ever known war, repression or refugee status. This is beginning to change, but the debris of past conflict is still endangering them on a daily basis. This project helped ensure that children no longer have to commute through lethal minefields in order to get to school. Once this deadly threat of landmines been cleared, and villagers are made safe, real peace can be achieved. Our work takes a significant step towards helping Bajgah village come to terms with its past and start looking forward to a prosperous future.