14 March 2011 - With a UN-funded micro-hydro project, locals of Sabz Abad village of Surkhrod district in eastern Nangarhar province hope that the 30-KW electricity will make a major positive change in their life.

At the inauguration ceremony of micro-hydro station on 06 March 2011 by officials and UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the villagers said the project also boosts their economy. UNHCR funded the project with contribution from the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

A village elder, Haji Multan, 45, said the hydropower project improves the life of the villagers, and make our children capable to read and write also in the night, and they can learn and use computers too. He also said that village will benefit immensely from the flour mill and the water canal.

”We thank the UN Refugee Agency for funding this valuable project, and UN Food Programme for providing mixed food for the labourers,” added Multan.

Speaking at inauguration ceremony, Ilija Todorovic, Head of UNHR Sub Office Jalalabad said “Such projects make strong bridge between humanitarian assistance and development”.

According to Engineer Timorshah Kamalpuri, Assistant Programme Officer of UNHCR’s Sub Office Jalalabad, UNHCR contributed US$ 59,373 for the construction of the reservoir, turbine and construction of the water canal and its protection walls.

According to Muhamad Eamal, Senior Liaison Programme Associate UNHCR, more than 600 families, including registered returnees, are going to benefit from this three-month project which include grain mill and water canal.

WFP provided 50 kilograms of wheat, 3.7 kilograms of cooking oil, six kilograms of pulse and 0.5 kilogram of salt to each labourer of the project every month.

Akmal Fakiri, Director of Rural Rehabilitation and Development of Nangarhar province said “We are trying to set up, under National Solidarity Programme, a Protection Wall Project in Sabz Abad village, as it is located in the vicinity of the river.

UNHCR has so far built ten micro-hydro projects in three eastern provinces – Nangarhar, Kunar and Laghman – and another four are planned to be constructed.