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Seeing results in Afghanistan
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: After three months of activity in the vicinity of Kabul, the Norwegian CIMIC-teams are beginning to see results of their efforts in the field of civilian-military co-operation.
By Captain Torbjørn Stray-Pedersen og Captain Sten Rune Kristiansen, CIMIC, Afghanistan
Norwegian Captain Nuland along with some of the locals outside clinic of Mir Bacha Kot in Afghanistan. Photo: Torbjørn Stray-Pedersen, CIMIC.
Patients from areas that previously have been difficult to reach have received medical attention and surgery. In addition, a clinic has been given beds as well as other medical equipment.
These are some of the concrete results the Norwegian officers conducting civilian-military co-operation can document.
Relieved before summer
The Norwegian group of 14 officers commenced their CIMIC-work outside Kabul in early February. Now their assignment is well under way, and the Norwegians can begin preparing for the task of briefing their replacements, also Norwegians, on their missions.
The Norwegians are part of the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF), which is present in the capital to ensure safety and stability for president Karzai and his transition government.
Gathering information
The Norwegian CIMIC-element consists of two teams working north of Kabul, respectively in the Shakardara and Mir Bacha Kot districts. The early days of the mission have been heavily based on gathering information and analysing the situation in these districts. As a result of their work, aid can now be channelled where it is most needed. Both districts are heavily affected by the fact that the frontlines between the Northern Alliance and the Taliban went straight through them. Mir Bacha Kot was completely deserted, and the Taliban forces destroyed the entire infrastructure in the area.
The very foundation for peoplesý existence was completely wiped out. The area was formerly known as one of the major sources of food-production for Kabul, but has now not been farmed for years as a result of war and drought. Thus far this year, weather conditions have been good, and the crops are thriving. Farmers envisage a brighter future, and are out working their fields. BEDSIDE MANNERS: Captain Torbjørn Stray-Pedersen with beds for a clinic in the district of Mir Bacha Kot. Photo: Sten Rune Kristiansen, CIMIC
Lacking healthcare
The Norwegian CIMIC-teams have built up strong knowledge of the situation in the area, and discovered early that the healthcare situation was dire.
In the Shakadara district, where one of the Norwegian groups operates, public health facilities were in very poor state. In order to improve the relationship with the civilian population and to ensure visibility for the project, a patient bridge was established as a short-term solution. Military medical personnel from ISAF regularly go out and examine patients among the civilian population. Depending on which medical specialists are available at any given time, patients are selected to return to the field hospitals for operations.
In the last two months several hundred patients have been examined. Close to fifty of these have been operated on. These are usually people living in remote villages. This has led to many challenges for the Norwegian personnel, as they have had to solve logistical and transportation problems.
Military doctors help
During a visit to the public medical clinic in Mir Bacha Kot, the Norwegian team operating in the area found all the requirements of a clinic missing. There was no water, no electricity, no toilets, no beds, no operating tables, no surgical equipment and no medications. The clinic was little more than an empty shell, treating around 80 patients every day. The clinic was built by UNOPS in 2002, but the project to install sanitary facilities and water access was never completed.
The Norwegian CIMIC-team sought to improve the situation in the clinic, and resources were quickly made available from the Norwegian ministry of foreign affairs. The project was undertaken in two phases. First the clinic was equipped with beds, operating tables and other rudimentary medical requirements. The second phase will see drilling for water taking place, and the installation of sanitary facilities. Already after the first phase has been completed, the quality of the clinic has drastically increased.
Popular distribution
In the two districts where the Norwegians operate, there are in total close to 35 schools. The teams have co-operated to purchase school equipment and sports supplies to all of them. This equipment will be distributed later this week.
The resources made available to the schools are very limited, and all contributions to schools are highly appreciated the locals. There are also plans to start volleyball tournaments among the high schools in the areas, where prizes will be made available to the winners.
Since wars have been fought in the area for so many years, it is not uncommon for the teams to discover mines or unexploded ordnance in the schoolyards. In such cases, clearing personnel from ISAF are called in to clear them.
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