| Afghans calls for faster reconstruction The Times
10/24/2006
By Anthony Loyd
[Printer Friendly Version]
British officials insist that work in Helmand is on schedule DRAINS, latrines, schools: British officials in Afghanistan insist there is more to show for their reconstruction efforts in Helmand province than hundreds of dead Taleban and worrying insecurity.
The most important judges of the pace of Western efforts — the Afghan people — remain unimpressed. Mohammed Daud, the Governor of Helmand, said yesterday: “They are helping, but very slowly. They have Quips — quick-impact projects. We say they are Slips — slow-impact projects. They must accelerate their activities We need stability and security in Helmand. But we can’t achieve this without development. DfID [the Department for International Development] must fulfil their promises.” The Taleban have issued warnings of violence to come. Mullah Omar, their fugitive leader, said that his men would intensify their fighting to levels that would “surprise” Nato troops. In Helmand, nearly five months after British troops deployed, there is one DfID official in the province of 1.4 million, based in Lashkar Gah. DfID controls the £6.5 million designated by Britain for the quick projects intended to win over Helmand’s war-weary population, and the £30 million allocated to longer-term projects. British officials, responding to the Governor’s criticisms, insisted that reconstruction work was on schedule. Even though only about £600,000 has so far been spent, half the overall budget had been earmarked for quick-impact projects, said Nick Kay, who heads Britain’s joint reconstruction plans for southern Afghanistan. “We’re well on course to spend the budget by March,” he said. Mr Kay admitted that poor security had limited redevelopment in the area, but insisted that the absence of DfID personnel was not hindering progress. Most DfID staff in Afghanistan, on security advice, venture no further south than the embassy in Kabul. However, British officers from 3 Commando yesterday defended the civilian organisation’s temerity, and said that the Governor’s criticisms probably reflected the pressures of his position and an understandable appetite for quick results rather than any real delay in redevelopment. “People believe that by having DfID on location they’ll go out and dig a hole in the ground for a job and start pouring cement in it: nothing could be further from the truth,” explained Lieutenant-Colonel Andy Price. Projects suggested by Afghans and British soldiers are put to the Helmand Executive Group, a six-man group of British officers and Foreign Office officials that sits up to twice a week and asks DfID for funding. It makes recommendations to Mr Daud, whose own provincial council decides whether or not to give plans the go-ahead. Lieutenant-Commander Nick Leason, who is involved in the process, said that DfID had never turned a project down. Once authorised, Quip funds are paid to Afghan contractors employing a local labour force and using local materials. Projects completed under Britain’s reconstruction efforts in Helmand include flood defences, cleaned canals, handpumps, health clinics and a jail. Citing the 250 Afghans employed, using DfID cash, to reinforce Lashkar Gah’s bridge, Mr Daud is unconvinced. The figure “is nothing from 1.4 million”, he said. “DfID should have a comprehensive plan.” AID BUDGET £390m spent by the Department for International Development in Afghanistan since 2001 2nd largest bilateral donor, after US £330m committed over next three years 70 per cent of DfiD aid goes directly to the Government of Afghanistan THE CHALLENGES 16 per cent of children do not live to see their first birthday 3.5m refugees have returned home since 2001 6m extra children in schooling, one third girls
Other Stories:
|