Regional Command East
Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team, PAO
LOGAR, Afghanistan (July 20, 2011) – The Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) completed an Afghan National Army (ANA) base renovation project that will create significant progress in the Afghan National Army´s operational capacity.
The project included a new kitchen, dining hall, and first-aid medic station in the Altimur base facilities of ANA´s 1st Kandak. Prior to these improvements the medical facility conditions were too harsh to attend to the injured and sick soldiers.
“We had just a tent with two field beds as a first-aid station. Another tent was serving as a dining hall,” said Lt. Col. Turyalai, head of the 1st Kandak. His unit is on the level of battalion, so there are about 700 soldiers under his command. The new emergency station will serve mainly for their treatment.
“Injured soldiers will still be transported to the neighboring Paktia province for difficult operations. But this new building will help us a lot, because the capacity is higher and the conditions much better,” said Turyalai.
“Since the end of the project, we have had nine beds, which are enough. But we lack qualified doctors. There are only two serving for the Kandak,” he said.
In Altimur a new headquarters is currently under construction. As the other facilities, it was originally based in several tents.
"Local conditions have not been suitable for coordination of difficult operations, the old headquarters is not equipped for work at night or with maps," said František Kříž, the security officer of Czech PRT. This project is only one of many supporting Afghan National Security Forces.
"It is an essential part of our overall strategy. Civilian members of the PRT are working on improvement of the working and living conditions for Afghan soldiers and policemen while the military part of PRT arranges their training at the same time. We realize that the quality of army and police will be a key factor during the transition, which has been already ongoing in some provinces. Therefore the importance of support to security forces is increasing," said Petr Svačina, head of civilian PRT.
During 2009 the Czech PRT also renovated parts of the Malalai Maiwand base, which is the main ANA´s provincial hub. In support to the Afghan National Police seven new checkpoints were built and two more are currently under the construction. Additional ongoing projects include security walls, equipment and training center.
To view additional photos related to this article, click here.
Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team has been operating in the Logar province since March 2008. Its civilian part comprises 12 experts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and 293 troops from the Czech Army. The activities of the PRT range from security, agriculture development, water buildings reconstruction and building infrastructure to supporting education, health care and independent media. The Czech team has completed a total of 157 projects in Logar so far, including several Quick Impact Projects.
Stumble It!
