?Providing Sustainable Lighting Solution for Enhanced Livelihood of Disaster Affected Families in Argu District of Badakhshan?,

A series of heavy rain induced multiple landslides struck in the Nowabad area of Abi-Barak village of Argo district, Badakhshan Province in northeastern Afghanistan and causing significant loss of life and widespread environmental degradation. More than 2000 have been killed in this incident, which took place in April 2014.

While aid agencies are engaged in search and rescue operations, agencies such as UNICEF, WFP, IOM, UNHCR, ARCS, NAC and NRC have also come forward to provide food, NFI kits, tents, kitchen kits, hygiene kits, blankets and so on. However, provision of fuel remains a challenge. The primary options are kerosene and diesel generator, however while the latter is complex and requires distribution, the former is expensive for the refugees to afford. In the current situation, displaced families spend considerable amount of time to fetch the kerosene oil, and often resort to doing without it. This adversely affected education, health and quality of life for the communities, especially women and children.

As the country has an excellent solar energy resource in the region, typically averaging over 5.5 kWh/m2 /day and estimated for at least 300 days annually, therefore provision of Solar Lantern will address their need. This will help them during the night to have light and reduce the demand for kerosene to cooking only.

The project proposes to provide efficient solar lighting systems for the displaced households in the project area.