Afghan girls draw water from a recently completed village well in the Kuz Konar District of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province

The Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team has completed an eight-well project that will bring much-needed water sources to six districts throughout the eastern Afghanistan province.

The PRT-funded project, which combined several individual well projects into one, cost $30,000 and was constructed by an Afghan company.

“As we travel throughout the province, the Afghans tell us water availability is one of their biggest concerns,” Air Force Lt. Col. Steve Cabosky, Nangarhar PRT commander, said. “This project allowed us to directly address some of those needs and demonstrates the team’s ability to work closely with the local government to improve the lives of the Afghan people.”

The wells, which were constructed in the province’s Goshta, Kama, Kuz Kunar, Shinwar, Nazyan and Dara-I-Nur districts, took the contractor eight months to complete.

The new wells will bring a reliable water source to thousands of people across the districts, Air Force Capt. Elisabeth Leon, chief engineer for the Nangarhar PRT, said.

“These wells bring water to areas that have had their clean water reserves depleted,” Leon said. “They will help reduce waterborne illnesses, improve sanitation and provide a higher quality of life for the people.”

The PRT is funding about 60 projects worth more than $70 million throughout the province. The team’s mission is to work directly with the provincial and district governments to assist in the province’s security, governance and reconstruction efforts.

DVIDS

Afghan National Security Forces and ISAF defeated two insurgent attacks in eastern Afghanistan Nov. 16.

In Nangarhar, insurgents fired rocket-propelled grenades at the civilian-populated district center of Khogyani and a nearby ISAF base. Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and ISAF forces returned fire by ground and air in defence of the area. A number of insurgents were killed, and one is in Afghan custody. No civilians or soldiers were injured.

Insurgents also attempted to attack an ISAF base in Bermel district, Paktika. ISAF soldiers returned fired in self-defence and called in attack helicopters. A large number of insurgents were killed, while again no civilians or ISAF soldiers were injured.

“We commend the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police for their outstanding defence of their fellow citizens. Their capabilities are improving, and ISAF will continue to support them in defeating these enemies of peace,” said Brigadier General Richard Blanchette, ISAF spokesperson. “Although no civilians were injured, the insurgents’ attack on a district center only re-emphasizes their complete disregard for Afghan lives. This further solidifies ISAF’s steadfast support of the Afghan government in our joint mission to make this country more secure so that the Afghan people can go about their business without fear of attack from such murderers.”

ISAF