Stabilisation projects up and running in Nad 'Ali
23 Feb 10
2,000 local Afghan people that have registered for the 'cash for work' programme around Nad 'Ali are cleaning up bazaars, repairing canals and undertaking community refurbishment projects following the clearance phase of Operation MOSHTARAK.
An RAF Chinook helicopter transports a pre-assembled bridge from Camp Bastion to its new location serving an Afghan village
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
The Provincial Reconstruction Team-supported 'cash for work' programme employs members of the local community in the sorts of jobs that local municipal or civil works departments would normally undertake.
Cautious optimism is growing in Nad 'Ali as early signs indicate a return to normality.
On the west side of the city, shuras continue to determine which compounds can be used as patrol bases by International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghan forces.
Today, Tuesday 22 February 2010, an ISAF patrol found a weapons cache in Nad 'Ali containing four mortar rounds, pressure plates and improvised explosive device (IED)-making materials.
They later found an IED made of a 55mm illumination round packed with home-made explosives. Still later they found another IED consisting of a pressure plate and six mortar rounds. All of the munitions were destroyed in place by an explosive ordnance disposal team.
Soldiers from the Royal Engineers prepare to put the finishing touches to a bridge for use by local Afghans
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
Engineers continue upgrading roads in order to enable the effective delivery of stabilisation supplies. See Related News.
And patrols in the eastern portion of the operating area continue to enable freedom of movement on local roads.
Six projects are ongoing and 18 are planned in northern Nad 'Ali under the Afghanistan Vouchers for Increased Production in Agriculture Plus programme.
Educators and school officials are also discussing an ambitious training programme that will promote reading, writing and arithmetic skills among young people who are addicted to drugs or have previous affiliations with the insurgency.
In Marjah meanwhile, where predominantly American and Afghan troops have been conducting the operation, a determined resistance from small pockets of insurgents continues and the development situation is therefore progressing slowly.
Afghan villagers watch as Royal Engineers repair a local drainage system
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
There has been an increase in displaced persons, with 542 families registering yesterday. The local government has provided assistance and relief to approximately 1,430 people. Out of all those registered, five families have requested shelter since the clearing operation began.
ISAF's Regional Command South is looking at ways to facilitate the delivery of aid to address UN concerns of a lack of food and water in Marjah.
The Afghan Government, Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team, Manoeuvre Enhancement Brigade and others are working together to establish how further assistance can be delivered within Marjah.
The combined forces' main effort continues to be clearing IEDs and bunkers throughout the area. These clearing operations have enabled the opening of several roads in Marjah.