Afghan Reconstruction Cooperation Continues

American Forces Press Service ^

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2006 – Coalition forces and the U.S. Agency for International Development continue to work together to bring reconstruction and economic development to the people of Afghanistan, U.S. military officials said.

“Together with Afghan national security forces and the coalition, USAID is working with the government of Afghanistan to build a safe, free and prosperous future, at peace with its neighbors and a friend to freedom around the world,” Army Col. Thomas Collins, a coalition spokesman, said.

Since the spring, coalition forces and USAID have combined to contribute more than $40 million in reconstruction aid to the country. Over the last four years, USAID has contributed about $3.5 billion to various projects in Afghanistan, the agency reported.

The following is a breakdown of where USAID funds have gone in Afghanistan:

-Democracy and governance: $316.06 million;
-Economic growth: $475.89 million;
-Education: $208.92 million;
-Health: $242 million;
-Infrastructure: $1,093.02 million;
-Agriculture: $164.59 million;
-Alternative livelihoods program: $175 million;
-Provincial reconstruction teams: $144.45 million; and
-Reintegrating former combatants: $20.42 million.

In other humanitarian news from Afghanistan, Combined Forces Command Afghanistan recently contributed $67,000 to the construction of a fire station at the Mazar-e Sharif airport, putting the airport on track to become certified as a regional airport, officials said.

This station is the first of several projects designed to transform the airport into a regional airport certified by the International Civil Aviation Organization. The international community has pledged more than $80 million for transportation projects in Balkh province, officials said.

(Compiled from Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news releases.)

Related Sites:
Combined Forces Command Afghanistan
U.S. Agency for International Development

[SandRat]

Sorry Mullah Omar Murtha but it looks likes things are getting better to me.

[pissant]

Still waiting for the vaunted taliban/Ny Times spring offensive.