International Security Assistance Force

NEWS RELEASE
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan

2009-11-CA-055
For Immediate Release

Kabul, Afghanistan (Dec. 01) - The ISAF Zabul Provincial Reconstruction
Team (PRT), mid-way through its nine-month tour, has completed nearly 40
projects this year.  Operational for several years, the Zabul PRT
assists the Afghan government with improving stability through
governance, reconstruction and development.

The Zabul PRT is a diverse organization with joint, interagency and
international components.

"The PRT It is one of the principal counter-insurgency units in the
region and part of the larger ISAF effort to bring stability to Zabul
province," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Andy Veres, PRT commander. "The
effort (stability) has resulted in approximately $140 million (U.S.) in
developments in Zabul since we started the provincial reconstruction
team here."

Projects completed by the PRT include the first electrical grid in
Qalat, paved roads, bridges over the Tarnak and Arghandab Rivers,
several modern schools with computer labs, sanitation services,
government buildings and community centers at the district level to help
revitalize the traditional shura system of governance in Afghanistan.
The PRT has spent nearly $3 million (U.S.) on computers for education
programs and safe drinking water and nutrition projects. The combined
civilian-military team is also providing the mentorship which trains and
enables government officials to serve their people more effectively, to
include health care programs.

"The boys and girls of the next generation of Afghanistan need help on
their way to a brighter future," Colonel Veres said. "Our team is here
to reassure them that they will not have to confront the challenges of
education on their own."

ISAF Casualty
An ISAF service member from the United Kingdom died following an IED
explosion in southern Afghanistan yesterday.
-30-
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