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Project Overview
According to the United Nations, Afghanistan's estimated one million war-widows makes it one of the highest countries in terms of the numbers of female-headed households.

Islamic Relief is currently planning to establish 10 bakeries for women in Lashkargah, with each bakery serving 400 household beneficiaries. Each household will be distributed 5 units of bread per day, costing 7 Afghanis (approximately 14 US cents) each.

Project Background
The decades of destruction and now rapidly changing social and economic conditions in Afghanistan have forced women into multiple roles as food producers, care providers, income generators and decision makers under conditions of limited financial resources without the help of a spouse or other support.

In stable conditions, Afghanistan's traditional social safety networks would respond to the needs of vulnerable households and contribute support for their survival. Sadly, these support mechanisms have been stretched to the limit in Afghanistan mainly due to the drastically changing social and economic realities. Local communities can no longer provide a foundation to adequately support and provide for those in need.

More and more, these usually poverty-stricken female-headed households find themselves in a downward spiral of resources and asset depletion that eventually leads to destitution and begging, a sight not uncommon on the streets of Afghan cities.

Helmand was once one of the most productive provinces in the south in terms of agricultural cultivation, but during the past four years of drought, many rural people were seriously affected and flocked into the Lashkargah. This, combined with growing refugee returnee populations in a city with limited resources, has meant mounting need among many of its residents. Lashkargah, with a population of 36,600 according to UN estimates, contains 2 districts and attached to the city is Mullah Mukhtar camp for internally displaced persons. Most of these people moved here as a result of the severe drought. Therefore, many households in the area are in need of emergency food support.

With the flow of people into Lashkargah, the population is increasing daily, with growing cases of hunger and joblessness, needy widows and helpless orphans.

As currently planned, 10 bakeries will be established with each bakery serving 400 household beneficiaries. Each household beneficiary will be distributed 5 units of bread per day; the cost of these 5 units of bread will be 7 Afghanis (or 14 US cents). Daily, a total of 20,000 units of bread will be produced once this project is fully operational.

Project Objectives
Improving health and nutrition of urban, poor families headed by widows or the disabled while also allowing them to save their limited funds for use elsewhere such as for education for their children.

Project Activities
• 10 women's bakeries established and equipped
• 4,000 widow and/or disabled-headed families provided with access to subsidized bread on a daily basis (30,000 people total)
• 100 widows employed

Beneficiaries
4,000 widow- or disabled-headed families (30,000 people total) receiving daily subsidized bread and 100 widows employed