Provincial government helps Asadabad residents with aid donated by U.S.
By Air Force Capt. Tony Wickman, Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs
Sep 21, 2009 - 7:09:08 PM
Blackanthem Military News
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| A young Afghan girl and her mother enter the Kunar Provincial Governor compound to receive material aid. More than 500 widows, orphans and disabled local Afghans from Asadabad district came to the governor's compound and received material assistance, Sept. 17, from the Kunar provincial government via aid received and organized by the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team. The locals received items like blankets, pots and pans, tarps, hygiene and dentals kits, sandals, and backpacks. The donations were made by private citizens, nongovernmental agencies and corporations. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Capt. Tony Wickman, Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs) |
CAMP WRIGHT, Afghanistan - More than 500 widows, orphans and disabled locals from Asadabad district of Kunar province, Afghanistan, received material assistance from the Kunar provincial government via aid received and organized by the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team, Sept. 17.
The Afghans received everything from blankets, pots and pans, tarps; hygiene and dentals kits, sandals, and backpacks. The donations were made by private citizens, non-governmental agencies and corporations.
According to Dallas native, Spc. John Nelson, Kunar PRT civil-military operations/humanitarian assistance Non-commissioned Officer in Charge, the distributed goods were received from the humanitarian assistance yard at Bagram Air Field and sent to Camp Wright for distribution. He said the operation is the largest coordinated effort the PRT has done to date with regard to the number of people they helped.
"We're expecting to provide assistance to 250 orphans, 250 widows and 100 disabled people today. We're delivering things that aren't food items," Nelson said prior to the operation. "We're delivering about 4,400 pounds of assistance."
"The local government is coordinating the unloading, setting up and distributing the supplies…they will be the ones actually handing out the items to their people," he said. "We're here to assist the local government in their efforts."
According to Fazal Hakim Safi, U.S. Agency for International Development, deputy field program officer to Kunar PRT, the provincial governor in coordination with district leaders decided an assistance effort was needed.
"The governor (Fazullah Wahidi) saw the logic for the aid gift and decided the people needed help," Safi said. "He is (establishing) a committee to handle humanitarian assistance, but wanted to help the people of Asadabad now."
One grateful person was a young boy named Hammed, clutching a backpack and soccer ball.
"I am happy to have something just for me, it's very nice," Hammed said as he walked to the street with his new items.
According to Nelson, these kinds of missions are helping establish the legitimacy of the provincial government.
"This mission was coordinated through the provincial governor and Asadabad mayor. It allows us to help local citizens to support their families by giving the government practice handing out humanitarian assistance items to take care of their people, which increase the visibility and capacity of the government," Nelson said.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| Several Afghan women and young girls line up to receive material aid from their village elders at the Kunar Provincial governor's compound. More than 500 widows, orphans and disabled people from Asadabad came to the governor's compound and received material assistance, Sept. 17, from the Kunar provincial government via aid received and organized by the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team. The locals received items like blankets, pots and pans, tarps, hygiene and dentals kits, sandals, and backpacks. The donations were made by private citizens, nongovernmental agencies and corporations. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Capt. Tony Wickman, Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs) |
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| Spc. John Nelson, Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team civil-military operations/humanitarian assistance Non-commissioned Officer In Charge, (right) and an Afghan worker unloads 4,400 pounds of material assistance from a Kunar PRT vehicle to give to locals of Asadabad district. More than 500 widows, orphans and disabled Afghans from Asadabad came to the governor's compound and received material assistance, Sept. 17, from the Kunar provincial government via aid received and organized by the Kunar PRT. People received items like blankets, pots and pans, tarps, hygiene and dentals kits, sandals, and backpacks. The donations were made by private citizens, nongovernmental agencies and corporations. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Capt. Tony Wickman, Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs) |
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| Afghan workers unload 4,400 pounds of material assistance from a Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team vehicle to give to Asadabad people. More than 500 widows, orphans and disabled people from Asadabad came to the governor's compound and received material assistance Sept. 17, from the Kunar provincial government via aid received and organized by the Kunar PRT. People received items like blankets, pots and pans, tarps, hygiene and dentals kits, sandals, and backpacks. The donations were made by private citizens, nongovernmental agencies and corporations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brian Boisvert, Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs) |
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| Marhaba Karimi, Kunar provincial director of women's affairs, speaks to more than 500 widows, orphans and disabled people from Asadabad who came to the governor's compound to receive material assistance, Sept. 17. The Kunar provincial government delivered items to the people from aid received and organized by the Kunar PRT. People received items like blankets, pots and pans, tarps, hygiene and dentals kits, sandals, and backpacks. The donations were made by private citizens, nongovernmental agencies and corporations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brian Boisvert, Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs) |
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| A young Afghan girl walks away with a smile on her face after receiving humanitarian assistance items from an Asadabad village elder, while under the watchful eye of a Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team member. More than 500 widows, orphans and disabled people from Asadabad came to the governor's compound and received material assistance items, Sept. 17, from the Kunar provincial government via aid received and organized by the Kunar PRT. The local Afghans received items like blankets, pots and pans, tarps, hygiene and dentals kits, sandals, and backpacks. The donations were made by private citizens, nongovernmental agencies and corporations. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Capt. Tony Wickman, Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs) |
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| Army Staff Sgt. George Condos, Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team security force member, assists a disabled Afghan regain his balance after falling when he received his material assistance items from his village elders. More than 500 widows, orphans and disabled people from Asadabad district in Kunar province, came to the governor's compound and received material assistance, Sept. 17, from the Kunar provincial government via aid received and organized by the Kunar PRT. The local Afghans received items like blankets, pots and pans, tarps, hygiene and dentals kits, sandals, and backpacks. The donations were made by private citizens, nongovernmental agencies and corporations. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Capt. Tony Wickman, Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs) |
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| An Afghan National Police officer gives socks to young girls seeking material assistance from the provincial government. More than 500 widows, orphans and disabled people from Asadabad came to the governor's compound and received material assistance Sept. 17, 2009, from the Kunar provincial government via aid received and organized by the Provincial Reconstruction Team-Kunar. People received items like: blankets; pots and pans; tarps; hygiene and dentals kits; sandals; and backpacks. The donations were made by private citizens, nongovernmental agencies and corporations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brian Boisvert, Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs) |
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