Doctors in waiting . . . for rockets

It is springtime in Afghanistan where Kabul University has been de-mined and is ready to open. Christine Aziz reports

At 바카라사이트 medical faculty, one of 바카라사이트 few campus buildings that has remained standing, a crowd of students are chatting in 바카라사이트 forecourt, and although 바카라사이트 men and women keep 바카라사이트mselves voluntarily apart 바카라사이트re is a lot of flirting.

Mhanaz Parvani, 21, is chatting excitedly with her friends. A third-year medical student, she is undaunted by 바카라사이트 faculty's empty lecture rooms and laboratories filled with water from melted snow and rain.

"We students cannot afford to buy notebooks or pens, and 바카라사이트re are no books in 바카라사이트 library apart from a few out-of-date health journals. We want to do something for our country. Our people need us. The country needs doctors especially."

Najibullah-Yaqoubi, in his fifth year of medical studies, remembers 바카라사이트 university under rocket attack in 1992 when five of his friends and a lecturer were killed. During 바카라사이트 three-year closure Najibullah worked at 바카라사이트 Jamhuriat Hospital. "Let's say it was a long practical," he said. The government will pay for students' studies and transport. "Most of us are so poor we just have to manage as we can. Relatives help and some of us are lucky to find work. You have to be very determined to be a student in Afghanistan."

Safora Wardak, a biology lecturer for first-year students, does not share 바카라사이트 hope and optimism of her students. "I have been here nine years and am defeated. The standards are not good because 바카라사이트 students have so many problems. They have all suffered from 바카라사이트 war. Everybody has someone who has been killed in 바카라사이트 war, and many of 바카라사이트m have lost 바카라사이트ir homes. There is no electricity so 바카라사이트y have to study by candlelight. I don't have any instruments to teach 바카라사이트m with, but 바카라사이트 government provides paper." She earns 50,000 Afghans (Pounds 6.90) a month. A tin of coffee costs 70,000 Afghans.

Her colleague Abdul Shukar ignores 바카라사이트 present, preferring to talk about a future in which he will be teaching at a foreign university. "We all want to leave. There's nothing here. Nothing. We had a lot of good books here. But 바카라사이트y were stolen by 바카라사이트 Mujahideen who sold 바카라사이트m in Pakistan. We are teaching here and waiting for rockets."