On how faith fits in with military might we’ll talk to Major Keith Cameron, a Squadron commander and military engineer, who is recently back from assignment in Afghanistan. We’ll also take a look at the work of a Canadian agency Health Partners International that’s bringing medical supplies to Afghanistan. Then we’ll hear the story of a woman who endures the political instability and arid desert to rebuild the gardens in Kabul and restore a place of beauty for women and children. Finally, we’ll hear from two Afghani refugees who fled Afghanistan during the Taliban regime and they’ve come to our shores last December.

Steps have also been taken to improve the status of women through appointments to ministerial posts and the human rights commission; however, deeply ingrained attitudes within society are preventing women from exercising their rights. There is widespread, and occasionally violent, resistance to their participation in education, public administration and the economy. Nevertheless, women's experience managing secret community development organizations during the Taliban era has empowered many, and their role in reconstruction and long-term development will be crucial.

Over 3 million children- nearly a third of them girls- have returned to school.

Millions of children were immunized against polio and measles.

More than 1.8 million refugees and 250,000 internally displaced persons have returned to their homes.

Food aid and emergency assistance was delivered to approximately two thirds of the population. 

Judicial, legal and constitutional reforms are now under way and the country is preparing for elections to be held before June 2004.

Drought still plagues the southwest and more than 7 million people are vulnerable to hunger. Health services are still out of reach for many; some regions are reporting the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world. 

More than 75 % of the population is without safe water and over 90 % has no proper sanitation. Nearly 1.5 million children are still not in school.

The massive return of refugees and internally displaced people, mainly to the cities, has strained existing resources and nearly 1.5 million more are expected to return home this year. Natural resources are seriously degraded and large areas are still mined. Afghanistan remains one of the world's poorest countries, and the resumption of poppy cultivation reflects a serious lack of economic opportunities, especially in the rural areas. 

John Kelsall - is the president of Health Partners International (www.hpicanada.ca), a Canadian agency that sends medical supplies with doctors, missions groups and disaster-stricken areas. 

Alex Buchnea - is committed to helping refugee families get settled in Canada. Alex and his family have been taking refugee families into their home for more than a decade.