of conflict and the deforestation that is happening in Afghanistan, and is now one of the least productive and poorest cities in the country, making living conditions very harsh for the 60,000 inhabitants estimated to be living there.
The climate in Bamiyan is dry and temperatures fluctuate between a maximum of 30 ° C in summer and a minimum of-20 ° C in winter. One of the most important features of the city is the Bamiyan Cliff, in which two niches were carved placing two giant Buddha statues( 38 and 55 meters high) dating back to the 6th century, which were exploded by the Taliban regime in 2001. In 2003, the UNESCO listed the area as a world heritage site.( UNESCO 2014)
Figure 2: Bamiyan City( UNESCO 2014)
Post-war recovery and development is a great challenge that many countries faced throughout history. Involvement in armed-conflicts is the extreme opposite of sustainable development, since wars have a negative impact on the environment and eco-systems, natural resources, countries’ economies, infrastructure, human health, and the social fabric. Although there are many attempts to establish guidelines for sustainable development in post-war countries, they are often criticized for being unrealistic( Clark 2008). More than a decade after the fall of Taliban regime in Afghanistan and the beginning of the reconstruction phase, the country still suffers from extreme poverty, poor health and education. A recent study argues that the reconstruction phase can be described as a failure( Vana 2012).
This study aims at establishing a sustainability guideline and laying a base for sustainable development in Bamiyan city following a realistic approach, and taking into consideration the obstacles that are slowing down development, and the opportunities that can eventually lift the standards of living in the city.
Post-conflict sustainable development of Bamiyan city in Afghanistan 351