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Rebuilding Afghanistan

Weekly Activity Update for August 7 - August 13, 2005
Issue #98

Opening day for the Guzara District Court in Herat. Spring 2005.

The Attorney General of Afghanistan, Mr. Daqeeq, cuts the ceremonial ribbon for the opening of the Kabul Provincial Prosecutor's Office.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 10 for a midwives’ training center in Khost.

Reconstruction of Judicial Facilities

On July 23, USAID held inauguration ceremonies in both Gardez and Logar for the newly constructed judicial facility in each province. Work continues on the renovation of the Paktia Court of Appeals, including the recent installation of a new metal roof. Design and technical documents for the Kapisa Provincial Judicial facility were recently completed. Last month, USAID conducted maintenance training sessions and delivered maintenance kits to both the Logar and Paktia Provincial Judicial facilities. In addition, monitoring teams recently visited and evaluated progress at judicial construction projects in Ghazni, Paktia, Panjshir and Baghlan Provinces.

Groundbreaking for Midwives Training Center

On August 10, 2005, Afghanistan’s Minister of Health, Dr. S.M. Amin Fatimi, and representatives of USAID/Afghanistan held a groundbreaking ceremony for a midwifery training center in Khost. The new training center will include a dormitory and classroom space for up to 40 students. Female health providers are in need in Khost, where maternal and infant mortality rates are extremely high. The proximity of the midwifery training center to the Khost Medical School will ensure integration of the midwives into the health system. A 100 bed provincial hospital near the center will allow each midwife trainee to attend at least 20 deliveries in a clinical setting.

Civic Education and Parliamentary Elections

During the last two weeks of July, USAID’s civic education trainers conducted 1,825 majali in the central region, reaching 56,987 voters. Many of these sessions were in remote villages. During the same period, USAID finalized the preparation of the second round of training of the Provincial Electoral Commissioners (PEC) and their secretaries, as well as began training PEC’s from eight provinces. In addition, an extensive review of the work to-date was conducted and recommendations were made to finalize the Media Results Center in time for its opening on Sept. 8. Training for the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and computer training of the IEC Commissioners continues.

USAID implementers are preparing for the upcoming elections. The National Democratic Institute, with USAID funding, recently held a round table for all candidates on the Code of Conduct. Representatives from several ministries attended the event, including the Ministry of Interior who discussed election security. The Asia Foundation, with USAID funding, is currently interviewing candidates throughout Afghanistan in order to compile a candidate profile catalog. The catalog will provide candidate information to voters. Nearly 200,000 copies will be circulated to both cities and rural communities.

Industrial Park Construction

Curb and sidewalk construction at entrance of Bagrami Industrial Park in early August.

In Kandahar, design work is approximately 100% complete. The designs of the land preparation, roads, sidewalks, sewage system and electricity are complete. One hundred percent of contracts have been awarded to date. Site preparation and securing the area is well underway. Heavy rainfall forced some delays, however, progress has recently increased with the design and contract work finalized. Overall, the project is approximately 37% complete.

In Mazar-i Sharif, design work is approximately 50% of complete. Twenty percent of contracts have been awarded, including the contract for boundary work that was awarded June 1. According to the site monitoring report, excavation of foundation and plain cement concrete is completed and stone masonry in foundation is on going. Overall, the project is 12.5% complete.

Security Incidents

Number of Hostile Attacks
During this reporting period there have been seven hostile attacks resulting in seven persons killed and five injured. None of the attacks directly affected USAID operations, but six of the hostile attacks did have some connection to the upcoming Parliamentary and District Elections.

Related Incidents: On August 10, a vehicle carrying supporters of elections candidate General Daud Shar were campaigning in their vehicle in the Sar Hawza District of Paktika Province when they were attacked by an IED. There was one fatality and three persons injured.

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