Resource list for home study:

What impact has conflict had on development in Afghanistan?

Bar graph to show the probability of not surviving to 40 in Afghanistan compared with some of its neighbouring countries (2005) - www.afghanconflictmonitor.org/AHDR2007_surv.jpg
Bar graph to show the adult literacy rate in Afghanistan compared with other countries (2005) –http://www.stanford.edu/group/womenscourage/GirlsEducation/arena_political_barriers.html
Table showing % of students in primary education (2005) –http://www.stanford.edu/group/womenscourage/GirlsEducation/arena_political_barriers.html
Map showing population per hospital in Afghanistan (2001) - http://www.emro.who.int/eha/CntryUpdates/AFG/WHO/HealthData/AFG-PopulationPerHosp.gif
Population pyramids for Afghanistan in 2000, 2025 and 2050 - http://fertilityrates.info/2008/
Bar chart showing mortality rates and life expectancy (2006) - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7741767.stm
Bar chart showing Students, teachers and schools (2001-2007) - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7741767.stm
Map showing hunger in Afghanistan (2008) - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7741767.stm
Newspaper article ‘Afghanistan: Fifth least developed country in the world’ - http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/f991bb2add8b5e0fb97dcbb838ae04be.htm
Table comparing Afghanistan’s Human Development Indicators in 1999 and 2007 - www.afghanconflictmonitor.org
Afghanistan’s looming food crisis (2008) - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7672414.stm
Photos of Afghanistan (2008) - http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=conflict+in+Afghanistan&l=cc&ct=0 Afghanistan humanitarian profile - http://www.afghanconflictmonitor.org/HP_0907.pdf

Afghanistan’s location is a strategic one, lying between the Middle East, Central Asia and India. Consequently, it has been an area of conflict for centuries as countries have fought over it and tried to conquer it. In 1994, after several years of different factions trying to gain control of the country, the hard-line Islamic Taleban emerged, controlling most of Afghanistan with their version of Sharia law. Afghanistan became a base for Osama Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda members and when, after the attacks of September 11th 2001 the Taleban refused to hand the suspects over, the US launched a bombing campaign against the Taleban as part of their ‘war on terror’. The conflict started on October 7th 2001 and has been going on ever since.