Germany is contributing to civil aid projects in Afghanistan – with schools, police training and better streets, but also with money for the maintenance of Afghan cultural heritage sites.
Since 2002, the German Archeological Institute in Afghanistan has been busy with projects to help preserve culturally significant sites. Archeologist Ute Franke proposed this idea to the Department of Foreign Affairs and has worked on location in Afghanistan. Her contribution includes leading the research into the history of the city of Herat and supervising the excavation of the Bagh-e Babur park in Kabul.
Deutsche Welle: Isn’t it more important for the people of Herat to have fresh water and jobs than to know what their old town once looked like?
Ute Franke: These two things are not mutually exclusive. Also, this project had very concrete, everyday-life effects. For example, as part of the old town restoration work by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture – which was financed by Germany’s Department of Foreign Affairs – the sidewalks in certain areas were asphalted. The canalization has been redone; the sewers and stale water have disappeared and new water reservoirs have been excavated. Thanks to this, the living standard in this area has increased.
Ismailimail 