Chapter 13 - Wazir Abad School

After the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 the ISAF implemented various reconstruction projects in Afghanistan. These projects were mostly implemented by the Civil Affair arm of the ISAF with the help of District Stabilization Teams (DSTs), Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) and district and Provincial governments.

Due to security reasons, in many parts of southern Afghanistan these projects were started after 2009. In Khanashin district, the construction of a high school, clinic, district center, a three miles paved road through the bazaar and renovation of the Castle Mosque were the major accomplishments.

In addition, various small, quick impact projects were also started. During 2012 the funding for the civil affairs project was almost stopped. However, some funding for small quick impact projects was offered even after 2012 to seek public support in the district.

In a similar effort, a two-room structure for an elementary in Wazir Abad village was funded by ISAF. Wazir Abad was a small village located between the Helmand River and Khanashin desert. The lower part of the village was irrigated by a water channel originating from the Helmand River, which was excavated by the local villagers. All houses in the village were mud huts and signs of poverty were widespread. There was no road, school, clinic, clean drinking water or any other amenity in the village.

It was January 09, 2012, DST and civil affairs representatives visited the village to inspect the school construction in the village. Before visiting the school, we stopped at village Dewalak, where an elder from the Wazir Abad reported to us that the construction of the school had already been completed, and was ready to be handed over to the villagers so the school could be started. After two hours of staying at Dewalak we started moving toward Wazir Abad. It took us about an hour to reach Wazir Abad school site which was only two miles from Dewalak.

The structure was built outside the village, although it was not very far away from the village but still the distance was considerably uncomfortable for the small kids who were supposed to attend the school during harsh summer days. I could not understand why village elders selected such a spot for the school. The contractor was not present during our visit. The construction was completed but it was very poor. Instead of cement, clay was used. The material used in the roof was extremely poor. Instead of concrete, steel or wood, a piece of bamboo was used as a door beam. Before entering the school, the patrol leader asked an EOD Marine to sweep the rooms with his metal detector.

The first room was declared clear, but as the EOD Marine entered the second room, his metal detector started beeping, indicating something suspicious, might be an IED was planted in the floor. The floor of the room was plastered, it meant that the IED was placed first and then concealed with the plaster. It was not clear whether the contractor or his workers were aware of this or not. We were directed not to enter the room. After inspecting the building from outside we returned to our base.

In a couple of days, we learned that a bomb blast totally damaged the school. I felt sorry for the small kids of the village who lost their hope to go to the school and become useful citizens to build their country's future. However, I got the answer to my suspicions as to why village elders selected a school spot at a distance from the village and why contractors built such a poor structure. I do not know who should be blamed for the destruction, but they deprived their own kids of education and let them remain in the darkness of ignorance. I hope coming generations will not forgive those who were targeting educational institutions and will be brought to justice.

Due to security problems and intimidation of militant groups, in some areas it was not easy to complete, implement or even identify developmental projects. I saw many times that due to intimidation, contractors left construction projects incomplete. This resulted not only delays in the implementation and completion of a project but also significant increase in a project's cost. Many contractors were also killed by the militants, or their machinery was burned. That is why, the less secure areas in Afghanistan received very little development funds under ISAF as compared to the comparatively secured ones.