Approximately 1,100 men report for work outside of Qalat City, Zabul each day as part of a cash-for-work project sponsored by USAID and the PRT to construct a landfill outside the capital city of this remote province. The project is targeted toward increasing public health in the city as well as provides stabilizing effects by employing men during the high fighting season. The project is estimated to last through August 2010.

Multiple focused, joint projects between the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team, U.S. Agency for International Development’s Food Insecurity Response for Urban Populations program, Zabul provincial and district officials and community stakeholders have begun in order to bring improved quality of life and commerce to two key population centers in this remote province.

Two municipal landfills are being developed, one each in Qalat City and Shajoy, employing approximately 1,100 workers each for the next three months. Another 400 workers are employed making improvements along the main bazaar road in Shajoy, the largest in the province, with approximately 2,000 shops.

“These projects not only benefit the public through health improvements removing waste from the streets of the cities, they are also intended to bring positive stability effects,” said 1st Lt. Rebecca Heyse, spokesperson for the Zabul PRT. “By focusing the period of employment during the high fighting season as well as utilizing a cash-for-work approach, rather than conventional contracting, the economic benefit to local residents will be maximized.”

The total budget of the project is more than $1 million, with 95% of the total project cost going straight in the pocket of the laborers in the form of paychecks.

DVIDS

The Afghan national army and Afghan national police, assisted by Coalition forces, conducted a cordon and search in the Arghandab District, Oct. 30, to search for a weapons cache and known insurgent leadership. The operation led to the detainment of four insurgents and several others being killed.

The intent of the operation was to decrease roadside bomb usage along the major highway going into Qalat City in Deh Chopan. The insurgents removed from the district were associated with placing several roadside bombs that were responsible for the deaths of innocent civilians.

The ANA and Arghandab ANP will continue to patrol this area and conduct operations to remove insurgents and halt the emplacement of roadside bombs.

No civilians were injured during this operation.

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