29 January 2002

USAID Outlines Afghan Reconstruction Programs

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced January 29 that it will undertake several reconstruction programs in Afghanistan in the very near future.

At an announcement event attended by First Lady Laura Bush and Afghan Interim Authority Chairman Hamid Karzai, USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios said the agency's goal with the several programs being announced is to move quickly, offering Afghans some "visible progress" in the reconstruction of their country.

One $6.5 million initiative will provide almost 9.7 million textbooks for Afghan children who begin a new school term in March. "Rebuilding the school system must be a priority. Nothing is more important to Afghanistan's future than giving its children the tools and skills they need to learn and succeed," said Mrs. Bush.

Other programs also slated to begin very soon will focus on health needs and agriculture sector reconstruction. The "quick-start" programs will be funded from the almost $297 million commitment the United States has made to help in Afghan reconstruction.

Following is the text of the USAID press release:

Washington, D.C. -- Laura Bush, Secretaries Elaine Chao, Tommy Thompson and Rod Paige joined the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Andrew S. Natsios and the Chairman of the Afghan Interim Authority Hamid Karzai today to highlight the first U.S. government-funded, quick-impact programs for Afghanistan reconstruction. Key ministers of the Afghan Interim Authority and members of the U.S. Congress were also in attendance.

USAID announced more than $15 million in quick-starting programs, particularly in education, women's development, health and agriculture to meet the Afghan people's most pressing needs.

"Our goal is to move quickly. We need to make a difference in the lives of Afghans. They need to see visible progress," said Administrator Natsios, who returned from Afghanistan on Sunday. "We are working closely with Chairman Karzai and his ministers to help the Afghan people rebuild their country. We agree education, health and agriculture are top priorities."

USAID is spending $6.5 million to print and distribute 9,675,000 textbooks teaching science, math and reading to grades 1-12 in time for the opening day of Afghanistan's schools on March 23, 2002. The textbooks are written in the Afghan languages of Pushto and Dari and will be accompanied with blackboards and other school supplies. During the next 12 months, 20 teams of five teacher-trainers will conduct four-week training sessions with 4,000 educators.

"A new school term will begin in Afghanistan in March. Many girls will enter the classroom for the first time," said Mrs. Bush. "Rebuilding the school system must be a priority. Nothing is more important to Afghanistan's future than giving its children the tools and skills they need to learn and succeed."

USAID is contributing $7 million to support spot reconstruction grants especially focusing on agricultural rehabilitation, programs for women and support to the Afghan Interim Authority. In the health sector, USAID is providing UNICEF with $600,000 to vaccinate 2.26 million children against measles.

USAID is granting $1 million from the Leahy War Victims Fund to support the social and economic rehabilitation and integration of landmine victims and other disabled people. These funds also will provide training and specialized technical expertise to Afghan orthopedic technologists.

This $15 million plan is part of USAID's total $167 million Afghanistan reconstruction effort. This amount is part of the U.S. government's total pledge made on January 21, 2002 at the Afghanistan reconstruction conference in Tokyo to contribute $296.75 million in Fiscal Year 2002 to the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

The U.S. Agency for International Development is the U.S. government agency that has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.