NATO in Afghanistan

Reconstruction and development

(June 2007)

$26.8 billion has been made available to Afghanistan since 2001, including $10.5 billion pledged at the London Conference in 2006.

Health:

  • 83% of the population now has access to medical facilities, compared to 9 percent in 2004
  • 76% of children under the age of five have been immunized against childhood diseases
  • More than 4000 medical facilities opened since 2004
  • Over 600 midwives were trained and deployed in every province of Afghanistan

Economy:

  • GDP growth estimates of between12-14% for the current year
  • Government revenues increased by around 25% from 2005/06 to 2006/07
  • Income per capita of $355, compared to $180 three years ago
  • Afghanistan is one of the fastest growing economies in South-East Asia

Private Sector:

  • 10% of Afghans now own a mobile phone, compared to 2 lines per 1000 people in 2001
  • 150 cities across Afghanistan now have access to mobile phone networks and internet provider services
  • Multinationals and internationals operating or showing an interest in Afghanistan include Coca Cola, Siemens, Nestle and Etisalat
  • Evidence of strong consumer demand in Kabul (eg, road traffic, new shopping malls, new hotels)

Infrastructure:

  • Over 4000 km of roads completed
  • Work has begun on 20,000 new homes for Afghans returning to Kabul
  • Over 1 billion square metres of mine contaminated land cleared
  • 17,000 communities benefited from development programmes such as wells, schools, hospitals and roads through the Government’s National Solidarity Program (NSP)

Security:

  • Over 60,000 ex combatants disarmed and reintegrated
  • 35-40,000 officers are serving in the new national police force
  • 30,000 soldiers are serving in the new national army

Refugees:

  • 4.8 million have returned so far (3.5 million with the UN’s help)
  • The UN refugee agency has helped provide over 1 million shelters for returning refugees

Women:

  • Over a quarter of parliamentarians are women
  • Millions of girls are back in school with 400,000 new female students starting school for the first time this year
  • Over 100,000 women benefited from micro finance loans to set up their own business

Schools:

  • Over 7 million girls and boys are in school or higher education
  • 10 universities around the country, against one (barely functioning) under the Taleban

Media:

  • 7 national TV stations (6 private); numerous radio networks, plus a diverse and increasingly robust and professional print media

CURRENT STATUS OF PRT PROJECTS – Source ISAF

RC(C)

  • Since 2002, 746 CIMIC projects totalling 15.4 million USD; and 1,565 other major infrastructure projects totalling 1.5 million USD
  • Since August 2006, RC(C) has built:
    a veterinary hospital, a sports field, a water reservoir, and three wells
  • several schools were repaired and 6 new schools
  • one bridge and two foot bridges
  • Since August 2006, 14,000 Afghans have received medical assistance, ranging from the distribution of simple medication to the most sophisticated procedures.

RC(E)

  • Since 2002, 1,376 PRT projects totalling 504.8 million USD, and 14,388 other major infrastructure projects totalling 2.7 million USD
  • Since October 2006, 200 kms of roads were built
  • Thanks to school repair and construction work, 35,000 students can be accommodated during various school shifts

RC(N)

  • Since 2002, 1,054 PRT projects totalling 31.5 million USD, and 6842 other major infrastructure projects totalling 2.2 million USD
  • 185 ongoing R&D projects totalling 6.5 million USD in 2007. Total R&D project for 2007 is 21.3 million USD.

RC(S)

  • Since 2002, 1,362 PRT projects totalling 175.3 million USD, and 4,150 other major infrastructure projects totalling 1.8 million USD
  • Kajaki Dam in Helmand aimed at providing power to 1.7 million people, irrigation to farmers, jobs to thousands within the next 2-3 years
  • The major Gershk-Sangin-Kajaki road-building project has started and progresses north
  • ANA patrol bases and 18 new permanent security check points being constructed

RC(W)

  • Since 2002, 1,369 PRT projects totalling 160.7 million USD, and 3,218 other major infrastructure projects totalling 2.7 million USD
  • In 2006, 64 million USD were invested in reconstruction and development and 216 million USD spent on the construction of the Herat-Farah ring road
  • In 2007, R&D budget for PRTs amounts to 42 million USD