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CANADIAN MINISTER VISITS AFGHANISTAN

SARID Staff, October 23, 2006

Josée Verner, Canadian Minister of International Cooperation, announced today that Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), will provide nearly $5 million for emergency food aid for tens of thousands of displaced families in Kandahar Province.

The minister arrived to Afghanistan yesterday for a surprise two-day trip, during which she met with Canadian Forces and aid workers, as well as with Afghan cabinet ministers in Kabul.

"With emergency food aid going to Kandahar Province, Canada is demonstrating yet again its commitment to supporting the Afghanistan Government in its efforts to protect its most vulnerable citizens — women and children," Verner said during her visit.

She highlighted that Canada will support a $14.5 million Girls' Education Project, lead by the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) and the Afghan Ministry of Education. The project will establish up to 4,000 community-based schools and after-school learning programs, and provide training for 4,000 new female schoolteachers.

"The citizens of Kandahar deserve a better quality of life," Verner added. "This is why Canadians and Afghans are resolute in achieving stability and development in Kandahar. By channeling our support to Afghan national programs for rural reconstruction in the south, the citizens of Kandahar will greatly benefit from improved access to basic services."

The minister also announced additional $6 million to finance reconstruction and repair of roads and bridges in Kandahar. This money will also help build rural community services, such as clinics and agricultural supports for farmers and villagers.

The Canadian press notes that Verner's surprise visit to Afghanistan comes days after Canadian funding of reconstruction work found itself under heavy criticism for a lack of accountability from various groups and news agencies.

"We work with transparency," the minister said in response to the criticism. "Every Canadian who wants to know how we spend the money in Afghanistan, it's on our website. Every project, every initiative. I think there's no problem there," writes Toronto Star.

Verner’s meetings were restricted to heavily guarded compounds in Kabul and Kandahar because of security concerns. She was prepared to head home without having observed a single federally funded project, notes Canadian Calgary Sun in its report.

Canada has contributed nearly $1 billion over 10 years aimed at reconstruction, reducing poverty and strengthening Afghanistan's governance.