Heifer International Aids Afghanistan Refugees

Heifer Project International
Tuesday, 30 October 2001

LITTLE ROCK, AR - Heifer International, a nonprofit world hunger organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas, is preparing to increase its aid four fold to Afghan refugees in Pakistan who have fled the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. An additional $200,000 will be used for over ten thousand families.

For seven years, Heifer has been assisting Afghan refugees in Pakistan, training them in to use livestock to produce food and income. Most of the trainees are widowed refugees with children who have escaped the oppression of the Taliban regime.

The project uses the Middle Eastern Fayoumi breed of chickens, a small bird that is easily managed and locally adapted to produce eggs and meat.

Since 1999, Heifer has helped 1,500 families inside Afghanistan manage projects inside Afghanistan projects distributing milk cows, Arab dairy goats and poultry. A message received through refugee camps in September indicated that the training and distribution of livestock was continuing.

Heifer's livestock programs in Afghanistan were receiving funds until last May, when the political situation caused communication with Heifer's partners there to be cut off. Heifer has continued to work with the refugees in camps in Pakistan near the Afghani border.

Heifer believes the global community is coming to a clearer understanding of the plight of the Afghan refugees and the need for aid if they are to survive. Heifer International is committed to maintaining support for the refugees.

Since 1944, Heifer International has provided small communities with livestock and training to enable them to farm in ways that protect the environment. Permanent community development is the goal of each project. Project partners are able to provide their families with food and clothing through the marketing of their produce.

These benefits multiply as recipients of an animal pass on the first female offspring to another family in need. This instills a sense of pride and dignity as whole communities lift themselves out of poverty.

For more information, or to contact Heifer Project International, see their website at: www.heifer.org