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Afghanistan Weekly Activity Update
November 10 – December 7, 2005 · Issue 106
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The Ministers of Transport and Public Works, Dr.
Qassimi Enayatullah and Dr. Sohrab Ali Safari and
the Governor of Paktia Hakim Taniwal open the
newly repaired Gardez airport with an official
ceremony. |
Gardez airport opened in Paktia Province -
The airport, located in Gardez, the provincial
capital, will improve travel with Kabul as well as
neighboring countries, such as Pakistan, where
many Afghans still reside. Better connections
will expand commerce and trade, bringing
economic growth and other benefits to the
people of the southeast region.
The newly repaired airport has a 4,921-foot long
runway with an asphalt surface, terminal building
and control tower. It will operate year round.
The airport was co-funded by USAID and the
World Bank. It was officially opened on
November 23, with Minister of Transport Dr.
Qassimi Enayatullah, Minister of Public Works
Dr. Sohrab Ali Safari and the Governor of Paktia,
Hakim Taniwal, as well as members of USAID
and the international community in attendance.
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| U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice greets
Kamela Sediqi, an Afghan business owner.
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Afghan women gain skills to manage small businesses –
“When I first became interested in business, it was very hard
to work under the Taliban. Now there are hundreds of
Afghans trained in business development. Women’s lives
are changing. We have opportunities for work and education
and can participate in the political process,” said Ms. Kamela
Sediqi, an entrepreneur.
Ms. Sediqi is one of 15 women who participated in a
leadership course for business women supported by USAID
at Thunderbird University in Arizona. Many of those who
took the course are now helping to create the Afghan
Women’s Business Federation. Recently, Ms. Sediqi spoke
to a gathering of U.S. government, business and NGO representatives at the U.S. Global Leadership
Campaign’s 10th Anniversary Gala in Washington, DC. Ms. Sediqi called for an expanded Afghan-American
partnership, saying “We will work hard to build a stable and successful Afghanistan, and I hope that [the
United States] will be there with us.”
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| Members of the provincial reconstruction team
greet the Marah village elders as they prepare to
transport the food back to their village.
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Food assistance generates goodwill - On
December 7, 2005, the fourth and final installment
of food to help the villagers of Marah during the
harsh winter months was loaded onto trucks and
handed over to the village elders. Marah village is
in Daychopan district in the southeastern province
of Zabul, where the security situation remains a
concern.
The food assistance has done more than reduce
hunger. It has generated goodwill. As one elder
put it, “These trips have taught us that what the
Taliban are saying about the Americans is not
true.” During the initial meetings, the elders were
wary of the United States and the Government of
Afghanistan, but that has changed as the
installments of food arrived safely in Marah.
While USAID is working in the area through provincial reconstruction teams, its efforts have been
hampered by the unstable security situation. The positive reception in Marah may help pave the
way for more projects in the future.
The provincial reconstruction team in Kandahar provided storage facilities for the food and helped
oversee its safety.
SECURITY INCIDENTS
December 12, 2005 A convoy traveling just
north of Kandahar City in Kandahar Province
was hit by an IED. One USAID Field Program
Officer was in the convoy but was not injured.
Two Canadian soldiers were evacuated to
receive medical treatment.
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