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You are here » Home » Telling Our Story
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| Rebuilding Afghanistan |
Opening the Salang Tunnel |
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Located in the Hindu Kush mountains at an altitude of 11,100 feet, the Salang Tunnel links the main road between north and south Afghanistan. During fighting in 1998 between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance, the tunnel's southern entrance and entire ventilation system were destroyed. Opening the tunnel was critical for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, economic development, and population flows.
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Before
When the tunnel is not functioning properly, transport from northern Afghanistan to Kabul takes 72 hours. When it is operational, goods can be transported from northern Afghanistan to Kabul in less than 10 hours. In December 2001, USAID provided funding for ACTED, an non-governmental organization, to work with the Afghan Ministry of Public Works to clear the tunnel of rubble and land mines.
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| Photo: ACTED |
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After
Traffic began moving through the tunnel on January 19, 2002. An estimated 1,000 vehicles carrying up to 8,000 passengers use the Salang Tunnel every day. Over 70 percent of the fuel used in Kabul passes through the tunnel. To insure continued operation of the Salang Tunnel this winter, USAID is providing $1.6 million for snow clearance, emergency repairs, and traffic control management.
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Photo: ACTED
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