Darqad District
درقد ولسوالۍ
District
Darqad District Map
Location of the district in Takhar Province
Coordinates: 37°23′06″N 69°27′18″E / 37.385°N 69.455°E / 37.385; 69.455
Country Afghanistan
ProvinceTakhār Province
SeatDarqad
Area
[1]
 • Total393 km2 (152 sq mi)
Population
 (2015)[2]
 • Total25,152
 • Density64/km2 (170/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+4:30 (Afghanistan Standard Time)
Post code
3758[3]

Darqad District (Pashto: درقد ولسوالۍ) is a district of Takhar Province, Afghanistan. The district has 34 villages.[1] Darqad did not change between the 325 and 398 district sets.[4] Near the end of 2018, the district was considered to be Taliban-influenced, as opposed to the Afghan government.[5] The district was Taliban-controlled by August 2021.[6]

Geography

Darqad has an area of 393 square kilometers, comparatively equivalent to the Isle of Wight.[7] The district lies within the watershed of the Ab-i Rustaq River, a tributary of the Panj River.[8] Darqad has 34 villages.[1]

The district is bordered by Yangi Qala to the east, Khwaja Bahauddin to the southeast, Dashti Qala to the south, and Khatlon to the west and to the north. Khatlon is a Tajik province, with all other entities being districts in Takhar province.[2][9] The Panj river separates Darqad from Tajikistan.[10]

Demographics

Darqad has a population of 25152, with a sex ratio of 26 males to 25 females. The median age is 14.9. 45.8% of the district's population is working, and of those that don't work, half of them are seeking work. The average household size is 6.7 people, meaning there are about 3,754 households in Darqad.[2]

Economy

There are some basic roads in the district, but there is a lack of a coordinated transportation system. Darqad has some natural mines and forests. There is some agricultural activity in the district, however the land sometimes is flooded by the Panj. There is a lack of improved seeds, fertilizer, and trained farmers.[1]

There are valuable smuggling routes between Darqad and Tajikistan.[11]

Education and Healthcare

Darqad has some schools, with a few of them being religious schools. However, there is administrative corruption, a lack of funds, lack of equipment, lack of land, and lack of drinking water. Half of the population ages 15–24 can read.[2]

The district has some basic health centers, with doctors and vaccination. Darqad lacks professional doctors, equipment, technology, and a hospital.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Darqad English Summary Finalized" (PDF). mrrd-napdp.org. Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development. June 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Takhar Socio-Demographic Economic Survey" (PDF). afghanistan.unfpa.org. UNFPA. September 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Darqad Post Codes: Afghanistan". worldpostalcode.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Story Map Series". mapsynch.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Quarterly Report to the United States Congress" (PDF). sigar.mil. 30 January 2019. p. 71. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Mapping the advance of the Taliban in Afghanistan". BBC News. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Islands by land area". islands.unep.ch. 1998. Archived from the original on 1 December 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Part IV: Description of Watersheds" (PDF). aizon.org. p. 111. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Afghanistan Administrative Divisions" (PDF). aims.org.af. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Darqad, Afghanistan". google.com. Google Maps. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  11. ^ Bell, Anthony; Witter, David; Whittaker, Michael (2011). "REVERSING THE NORTHEASTERN INSURGENCY". Institute for the Study of War. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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