USAID Press Release: USAID Funds Ministry of Water and Electricity in Afghanistan

USAID Funds Ministry of Water and Electricity in Afghanistan

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PRESS RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
(202) 712-4320

U.S. Embassy Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2002

Contact: USAID Press Office

Deputy Minister Nawandish and Head of the Dept. of Electricity Kohistani oversee the signing of 3 USAID grants by USAID Mission Director Craig Buck, Minister of Water and Power M. Shaker Kargar, and US Charge, David Sedney.

On Wednesday, June 5, 2002, the United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), provided three grants to the Ministry of Water and Power in Kabul, totaling an estimated $130,000. Present to sign the grant documents were U.S. Embassy Charge David Sedney, USAID Mission Director Craig Buck, Minister of Water and Power M. Shaker Kargar, Deputy Minister M. Younus Nawandish, and Head of the Department of Electricity Hamayoon Kohistani.

The first grant provides electrical cable, transformers, spare parts, and two vehicles to the Ministry of Water and Power. Electrical cable will be used to replace aboveground damaged or destroyed cables that pose serious health risks for Kabul residents. Two transformers will be used to provide electricity for 22,000 people in the Mohammadia and Khuja Bujhra areas of Kabul. Another major issue confronting residents of Kabul is that of ongoing electrical breakdowns, vandalism, and parts failure, particularly of lines coming in from the key power station -- Naghlo electrical power station in Surobi. There is an urgent need for technicians to provide regular roaming electrical repair service, particularly during the critical time of the Loya Jirga. This USAID grant will provide 2 medium-size vehicles to provide transportation for roaming electrical repairs. Ongoing monitoring and repairs will be particularly critical during the Loya Jirga.

U.S. Embassy Charge David Sedney, USAID Mission Director Craig Buck, and USAID Program Manager Ahmed Idrees Rahmani interviewed by Kabul TV following the signing ceremony. (Photo: Karma Lively, USAID/Kabul).

The second grant provides $50,000 in material and labor costs to rehabilitate the building of the Ministry of Water and Power.

The third grant provides $10,000 in material inputs for a Kindergarten in the Ministry of Water and Power which will enable women employees, particularly widows, to return to work. The latter two grants are being implemented in coordination with UNDP's Programme Implementation Unit (PIU), and are designed to show a peace dividend by providing direct support to an Afghanistan Interim Administration Ministry, create job opportunities for local Afghan contractor employees, and support the Afghan Interim Administration's objective to increase the participation of women in government work.

For more information about USAID's activities in Afghanistan, please visit http://www.usaid.gov/about/afghanistan.