Assessing Health and Dietary Issues of Households Displaced Due to the Aynak Copper Mine Project, Afghanistan

Abstract

Mining-induced displacement is a prevalent but unfortunate consequence of regional development initiatives that leads to various consequences. In the case of Afghanistan, the Aynak copper mine, one of the world's largest copper mines, resulted in the displacement of an entire village in 2011. Additionally, several other villages in the vicinity of the Aynak copper mine will face displacement in the future. The literature indicates that displacement caused by mining, whether voluntary or forced, has severe social and economic impacts on displaced people, particularly in terms of their health. This study investigates the health effects of displacement caused by the Aynak mine in Afghanistan. By utilizing the difference-in-differences (DID) approach, we compare health-related outcomes before and after displacement between displaced and nondisplaced households. Data are collected in two periods, namely, pre-displacement in 2011 and post-displacement in 2021. The findings reveal that while access to public facilities has improved and dietary habits have changed significantly for displaced households, their current living conditions pose higher health risks due to the prevalence of diseases such as malaria, diarrhea, and skin diseases. These results emphasize the inadequacy of displacement planning. We recommend that policymakers prioritize the health needs of affected households and implement comprehensive and sustained efforts when designing displacement and resettlement programs.