The Rapid Assessment Field Survey was carried out by a team of over fifty researchers polling 17,000 Afghan men in randomly selected districts in southern and eastern Afghanistan in the month of March, 2007.

The Survey shows how rapidly the situation is deteriorating in these areas. Moreover, it underlines the need for an immediate reaction to this crisis. The main findings of the survey are:

26.8 per cent of those interviewed openly support the Taliban; 80.3 per cent worries about feeding their families; 48.7 per cent thinks that NATO will not defeat the Taliban; 80.4 per cent thinks the international troops are not helping the people;

These findings are a clear indication that we are losing the support of the local population and that we are losing the battle for the hearts and minds in Afghanistan. The international community should quickly change course as there is no time to waste. Afghans must be convinced that their future lies with the democratically elected Afghan Government, and not with the Taliban.

For more information about this report, please contact Mr. Jorrit Kamminga, Head of Policy Research at ICOS at:
.
Full report in English (1,92 Mb, PDF)