Afghan villagers finance bridges to fight flood isolation

KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — In a rare example of self-financed development, villagers in Afghanistan’s central Daikundi province have pooled resources to build two concrete bridges aimed at ending years of seasonal isolation.

According to Pajhwok Afghan News, local residents and philanthropists contributed more than two million afghanis ($29,000) to launch the construction in Miramor district’s Ghujur Ab area. The bridges, valued at 2.2 million afghanis, are expected to shorten routes between Daikundi and neighboring Ghazni and Bamyan provinces.

Community leaders say the project responds to urgent needs. During the flood season, the main road in the area becomes impassable, cutting off students, patients, and traders from vital services. Once complete, the bridges will provide reliable access for daily transportation and emergency travel.

“This project was initiated by the people themselves with their own contributions,” said Ghulam Rasoul, a resident, who emphasized the burden families face whenever rising waters disrupt local roads.

While construction is underway, villagers continue to call for additional government support and external aid to ensure the work is completed on time. Similar community-driven projects have recently been reported in other parts of Daikundi, highlighting how residents are filling gaps in infrastructure despite limited state resources.

Analysts note that such grassroots initiatives reflect both resilience and desperation: in the absence of consistent public investment, Afghans in remote provinces are increasingly funding their own development to overcome geographic and climatic barriers.