Erractic Electricity Supplies Hinder Life In Kabul

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 1: Mohammad Naim guards a large diesel generator that provides 800 killowat of electricity for 600-700 families November 1, 2006 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Almost five years after the fall of the Taliban, most Afghans still don't have sufficient power while many have none. The demand continues to increase, but the supply is not near enough in a city that has grown from about 500,000 to around 4 million people. According to officials from the Department of Power, the average residential neighborhood in the capitol city only gets 12-15 hours of electricity per week. While Afghans complain about the constant problems of electricity, most still don't pay for it. The importation of power from countries like Uzbekistan is years behind schedule. United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has just stopped its costly fuel subsidies this month that was funding the expensive, old diesel generators, costing millions per year. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)