Looking backwards

A window in a building in Khanabad, a small town in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz with a population of around 70,000. The population is made up of various ethnic groups, including Tajiks, Pashtuns and Uzbeks. Despite its strategic location on the Khanabad River, the town remains characterised by poverty, poor infrastructure and an unstable security situation.

The drinking water supply is gradually being improved, partly through new wells and water pipes. The electricity supply is also partially connected to the national grid, but is affected by local outages. A 50-bed hospital provides basic care, but the health system is overburdened. Schools exist, especially in the city, while rural areas continue to suffer from a shortage of teachers and poor facilities. Khanabad is thus representative of many regions in northern Afghanistan: caught between reconstruction, stagnation and the aftermath of decades of conflict. | Afghanistan