Simultaneously shutting down Afghanistan’s economy and flooding it with food aid is all but certain to decimate the country’s agricultural sector for a generation. This is what the US did in c.1990 Somalia and the country has still never recovered.

"The focus on food aid for Afghanistan threatens to treat the population as a faceless, initiative-less mass waiting to be helped. In reality, households are doing everything they can to take care of each other. The options are just so very limited." aan.af/3CB4iWC

Important research from AAN Afghanistan. The stories of how the economic disaster in Afghanistan is hitting households are heartbreaking. But, my goodness, what courage and determination people are showing to try to get by - and help others.

Must read -- nuanced and timely piece from AAN Afghanistan on how ordinary Afghans are navigating an impossible situation

AAN Afghanistan's latest: Living in a Collapsed Economy A teacher in Kheder, #Daikundi: "My father, unfortunately, died. He was sick for about two weeks and died before seeing a doctor. I had to spend a lot of money, about 150,000 afghanis (USD 1,500), on the funeral."

#Afghanistan #economiccollapse We wanted to know how our interviewees were making it through the winter, so the AAN Afghanistan team spoke to all of them again. Stories of resilience, hardship, determination and, most of all, far too few options. aan.af/3CB4iWC

The current intl focus on food aid for Afg threatens to treat the Afg pop. as a faceless and initiative-less mass waiting to be helped,but in reality,most households are doing everything they can to take care of each other. The problem is that the options are so very limited.

Living in a Collapsed Economy (3): How people are surviving winter - new research by AAN Afghanistan aan.af/3CB4iWC

Older Afghan girls continue to be shut out of education but how do the Taleban view schooling for their own daughters? AAN’s three-part series on the Taleban and education looks at the current picture of schooling and how and why Taleban attitudes to education have changed. [1/4]

In AAN Afghanistan's latest economic reporting we listen to what Afghans across the country told us about the food aid that's arriving in their communities. We found gratitude and relief, allegations of favouritism and misdirection, and concerns over the future. aan.af/39J58Ga

I will never forget the early hours and then days following the Taliban takeover. This AAN dossier is a great step by step account of what happened.

Living in a Collapsed Economy (4): The desperation and guilt of giving a young daughter in marriage AAN's Ali Mohammad Sabawoon spoke to four fathers who never thought they'd do such a thing and found themselves no better off than before they did it aan.af/3D96qqf

The wonderful chair of AAN's Advisory Board, Francesc Vendrell, has died. Envoy for the UN 2000-01 and EU 2002-08, Francesc was far-sighted and practical, a seeker of peace and defender of human rights. We were proud to be associated with him and mourn his loss. Obituary to come.

An outspoken diplomat who cared - about people, principles and peace. Part of Afghanistan's history. A mentor and a warm friend. We will miss him. I will miss him.

"Francesc was a different breed: the kind of diplomacy he stood for was principled, engaged and empathic." Our obituary for Francesc Vendrell. As UN Envoy 2000-01 and EU Envoy 2002-08 to Afghanistan, he was a seeker of peace, a defender of human rights. bit.ly/3XFgTSA

The 4 excuses for barring girls from universities (not observing hijab, mixed classes, spending nights in other dorms & traveling without mahram) remind us of Rumi's poem: "The fool's excuse is worse than his crime..." #Afghanistan "عذر احمق، بدتر از جرمش بود"

I'm not good at telling people, but my book came out and it's worth your time: PEACE PEACE THEY SAY. A collection of poems that tried to be about peace but kept turning to war. "Intimate, meditative, piercing." Available at all major online stores. Let me know what you think

“'I knew better how to talk about peace, before I worked in peace building,” writes Martine van Bijlert in the foreword to a collection of poems about peace, reviewed by Roxanna Shapour. The collection is one of our recommended reads. bit.ly/3E464Ed

Fascinating new report on what #Afghan men think of IEA restrictions on women and girls. The anguish at daughters and sisters being shut out of education expressed by even the most pro-Taleban interviewees is one of the highlights. Martine van Bijlert afghanistan-analysts.org/en/themed-repo…

“Because the exclusion of women from public life affects everyone. It can disrupt families, fray communities & undermine both men & women.”— via AAN Afghanistan by Martine van Bijlert