of conflict and the deforestation that is happening in Afghanistan , and is now one of the least productive and poorest cities in the country , making living conditions very harsh for the 60,000 inhabitants estimated to be living there .
The climate in Bamiyan is dry and temperatures fluctuate between a maximum of 30 ° C in summer and a minimum of -20 ° C in winter . One of the most important features of the city is the Bamiyan Cliff , in which two niches were carved placing two giant Buddha statues ( 38 and 55 meters high ) dating back to the 6th century , which were exploded by the Taliban regime in 2001 . In 2003 , the UNESCO listed the area as a world heritage site . ( UNESCO 2014 )
Figure 2 : Bamiyan City ( UNESCO 2014 )
Post-war recovery and development is a great challenge that many countries faced throughout history . Involvement in armed-conflicts is the extreme opposite of sustainable development , since wars have a negative impact on the environment and eco-systems , natural resources , countries ’ economies , infrastructure , human health , and the social fabric . Although there are many attempts to establish guidelines for sustainable development in post-war countries , they are often criticized for being unrealistic ( Clark 2008 ). More than a decade after the fall of Taliban regime in Afghanistan and the beginning of the reconstruction phase , the country still suffers from extreme poverty , poor health and education . A recent study argues that the reconstruction phase can be described as a failure ( Vana 2012 ).
This study aims at establishing a sustainability guideline and laying a base for sustainable development in Bamiyan city following a realistic approach , and taking into consideration the obstacles that are slowing down development , and the opportunities that can eventually lift the standards of living in the city .
Post-conflict sustainable development of Bamiyan city in Afghanistan 351