February 23, 2009 - Tridentnews.ca

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SPECIAL REPORT: AFGHANISTAN
Signature project: Dahla
Dam and irrigation system
The Dahla Dam and irrigation system is Afghanistan’s second largest dam.
By Government of Canada
One of Canada’s six priorities for
moving forward on Afghanistan is
to help strengthen the Afghan government’s
institutional capacity to deliver
core services and promote economic
growth.
The repair of the Dahla Dam and its
irrigation system directly addresses this
priority, as it will:
• Provide a secure irrigation water
supply to the majority of the Kandahari
population;
• Generate 10,000 seasonal jobs; and
• Foster agriculture by providing
farmers with irrigated land.
The Dahla Dam project also addresses
the recommendation of the Independent
Panel on Canada’s Future Role in
Afghanistan for a major signature project
that directly addresses the greatest
needs of the Afghan people and is clearly
identified with Canada.
Canada will invest up to $50 million*
over the next three years to implement
the following activities related to the
initiative:
REPRODUCED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
• Repairs to the Dahla Dam, such as
replacing generators and repairing
water valves to improve the control
of water flow;
• Fixing gates to control the flow of
water from the Arghandab River into
the canal system;
• Repairs to canals, including desilting;
• Support in establishing the Arghandab
Sub-basin water management body,
which will take the lead in managing
the area’s water system in consultation
with local stakeholders; and
• Training farmers in water management
and new crop production
techniques.
Additional facts. The Dahla Dam
and irrigation system, located in the
heart of the province of Kandahar, is
Afghanistan’s second largest dam.
Eighty percent of Kandahar’s population
lives along the irrigation system.
Since it was built in the 1950s, years of
disrepair have left the dam and irrigation
system functioning at reduced capacity.
Funding for this signature project is
included in the Government of Canada’s
investment of up to $210 million over the
next three years to help the Afghan government
deliver basic services.
*Specific allocations are subject to
adjustments in response to changes in the
complex Afghan environment.
Reproduced with permission from the
Government of Canada.
The Polio Eradication Signature Project will see seven million
children immunized across Afghanistan.
Signature project:
Polio eradication
By Government of Canada
One of Canada’s six priorities
for moving forward
on Afghanistan is to help the
Afghan government provide
humanitarian assistance to
vulnerable people, including
refugees, returnees, and internally
displaced persons. In
support of this priority, the
Polio Eradication Signature
Project will see the immunization
of an estimated seven million
children across Afghanistan,
including 350,000 in the
province of Kandahar. Southern
Afghanistan has the highest
national incidence of this
debilitating virus.
Canada will invest up to
$60 million* over three years
to eliminate this debilitating
disease. This will make
Canada the largest international
donor in this area.
Canada’s leadership on polio
eradication directly addresses
the recommendation of
the Independent Panel on
Canada’s Future Role in
Afghanistan for a major signature
project that directly
benefits the Afghan people
and is clearly identified
with Canada. Project activities
will include mapping
nomadic routes and establishing
vaccination points at
major border crossings, with
vaccination schedules synchronized
between Afghanistan
and Pakistan. Local
health workers will ensure that
the polio vaccine is administered
to children in every district
of Kandahar.
Canadian objectives for
2011. Working closely with
the Government of Afghanistan
and the international
TRIDENT, FEBRUARY 23, 2009
community, Canada hopes to
eliminate polio completely in
Afghanistan by 2009. Canada’s
partners in the international
community include the
World Health Organization
(WHO) and UNICEF. This
project will make it possible
to improve the general health
of Afghans and to strengthen
the delivery of health services
in Afghanistan.
Additional facts. Polio
(poliomyelitis) mainly affects
children under five. One in
200 infections leads to irreversible
paralysis, usually in
the legs. Among those paralyzed,
5 percent to 10 percent
die when their breathing muscles
become immobilized.
According to the WHO, in
2008, only four countries in
the world remain polioendemic,
down from more
than 125 in 1988. The remaining
countries are Afghanistan,
India, Nigeria, and Pakistan.
Pockets of polio transmission
persist in northern India,
northern Nigeria, and along
the border between Afghanistan
and Pakistan. These
pockets are the current targets
of the Global Polio Eradication
Initiative.
Funding for this signature
project is included in the Government
of Canada’s investment
of up to $111 million*
over the next three years
to help the Government of
Afghanistan provide humanitarian
assistance in Kandahar.
*Specific allocations are
subject to adjustments in
response to changes in the
complex Afghan environment.
Reproduced with permission
from the Government
of Canada.
REPRODUCED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA