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A little something for all those who were clamouring for more Canadian aid work and less Canadian military work in AFG - be careful what you wish for. Shared in accordance with the "fair dealing" provisions, Section 29, of the Copyright Act.
Aid work in Afghanistan more perilous as Canada shifts focus to development
Canadian Press, 15 Aug 08
Article link
At a time when Canada is shifting its strategy in Afghanistan toward development, the murder of three aid workers is raising questions about the ability of do-gooders to work in a country that still lacks basic security.
The chill that has descended on the humanitarian relief community in Afghanistan came after a driver and the three workers, including Canadians Shirley Case and Jacqueline Kirk, were shot to death in a Taliban ambush south of Kabul on Wednesday.
Their employer, the New York-based International Rescue Committee, announced it would suspend its aid programs in Afghanistan indefinitely. The group had been active in the country for 20 years.
Ron Hoffmann, charge d'affairs at the Canadian Embassy in Kabul, said the attack was "shocking" and "out of the ordinary."
But he said it has done little to shake the resolve of the 200-plus and growing non-governmental organizations in the country, or the several hundred Canadians registered as working in Afghanistan.
"It's the kind of attack we have not seen much of in recent years," Hoffmann said.
"If there's one thing that always strikes me after a tragedy like this, it's the way the development community pulls itself together and really demonstrates its resolve to continue to work in this country."
Although the Taliban have claimed responsibility, saying they were targeting two vehicles of "the foreign invader forces," Hoffmann said Canadian and Afghan authorities are investigating.
He suggested a probable motive for the attack is the fact that the country is improving and the government is getting stronger.
"Many people believe the insurgency is reacting to some extent to the progress in the country and the fact that they haven't been able to stop the progress," he said.
Fuel trucks and UN World Food Program vehicles have been a favourite "soft" target of insurgents looking to attack organizations that back the government of President Hamid Karzai.
But some development workers have described the International Rescue Committee as a "neutral" agency that's prepared to deliver aid regardless of who is in power.
It's what makes this attack so heinous, they said.
According to ANSO, a security group that works for aid organizations in Afghanistan, attacks against development workers in the country have spiked this year. In fact, 23 aid workers have already died this year compared with 15 in all of 2007.
"The security situation has deteriorated," said Hashim Mayar of the Agency Co-ordinating Body for Afghan Relief.
He said it's unlikely the insurgents knew they were attacking women who supported educating females, and that they were probably just targeting foreigners.
That despite the fact insurgents typically go after Afghan nationals rather than foreign aid workers, he said.
Regardless of the questionable security situation across the country which also claimed the lives of two Canadian soldiers over the past week, boosting development remains the cornerstone of Canada's 2011 military exit strategy from Afghanistan.
Canada's civilian effort, which includes members of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Canadian International Development Agency, RCMP and Correctional Services Canada, is expected to grow to more than 60 people by the end of the year. This would be some 200 per cent more than what Canada had in Afghanistan at the beginning of its civilian involvement.
Canada has boosted development funding from $179 million in 2006-2007 to $290 million in 2008-2009. Half of all the funds are directed at Kandahar, the province where Canada has assumed responsibility as part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force.
Wednesday's tragedy is expected to do little to alter Canada's new focus.
The security situation, by many accounts, is tough to assess because it is so fluid. It varies from place to place, and could also depend on the time of year.
The enemy, too, isn't homogenous, said Maj. James Allen, commander of the civilian-military co-operation team in Kandahar.
Known by its acronym CIMIC, the team oversees many of Canada's reconstruction and governance initiatives in the rural areas of Zhari, Panjwaii and Arghandab where few non-government organizations can operate due to security concerns.
The insurgency involves a variety of groups and characters - from petty criminals and tribal warlords, to al-Qaida and Taliban fighters from Afghanistan, Pakistan or elsewhere. And each has a different agenda.
While some may target foreigners, Allen said he has heard of others who urge followers to stay away from development efforts.
Some villages have been known to refuse assistance, fearing a backlash from their insurgent neighbours, he said.
Many NGOs also publicly refuse to work with the military for fear of becoming a target.
Drew Gilmour of Development Works - a private Canadian company that leads reconstruction projects in rural Kandahar and one of the very few groups to do so outside of CIMIC - said incidents like these should alert those in the development community to reassess their security precautions.
Despite deteriorating security, his company has expanded operations into places like Arghandab, Sha Wali Kot and Dand around surround Kandahar city.
But Gilmour said he remains vigilant.
"We operate in a bad area so we're always on guard," he said.
Aid work in Afghanistan more perilous as Canada shifts focus to development
Canadian Press, 15 Aug 08
Article link
At a time when Canada is shifting its strategy in Afghanistan toward development, the murder of three aid workers is raising questions about the ability of do-gooders to work in a country that still lacks basic security.
The chill that has descended on the humanitarian relief community in Afghanistan came after a driver and the three workers, including Canadians Shirley Case and Jacqueline Kirk, were shot to death in a Taliban ambush south of Kabul on Wednesday.
Their employer, the New York-based International Rescue Committee, announced it would suspend its aid programs in Afghanistan indefinitely. The group had been active in the country for 20 years.
Ron Hoffmann, charge d'affairs at the Canadian Embassy in Kabul, said the attack was "shocking" and "out of the ordinary."
But he said it has done little to shake the resolve of the 200-plus and growing non-governmental organizations in the country, or the several hundred Canadians registered as working in Afghanistan.
"It's the kind of attack we have not seen much of in recent years," Hoffmann said.
"If there's one thing that always strikes me after a tragedy like this, it's the way the development community pulls itself together and really demonstrates its resolve to continue to work in this country."
Although the Taliban have claimed responsibility, saying they were targeting two vehicles of "the foreign invader forces," Hoffmann said Canadian and Afghan authorities are investigating.
He suggested a probable motive for the attack is the fact that the country is improving and the government is getting stronger.
"Many people believe the insurgency is reacting to some extent to the progress in the country and the fact that they haven't been able to stop the progress," he said.
Fuel trucks and UN World Food Program vehicles have been a favourite "soft" target of insurgents looking to attack organizations that back the government of President Hamid Karzai.
But some development workers have described the International Rescue Committee as a "neutral" agency that's prepared to deliver aid regardless of who is in power.
It's what makes this attack so heinous, they said.
According to ANSO, a security group that works for aid organizations in Afghanistan, attacks against development workers in the country have spiked this year. In fact, 23 aid workers have already died this year compared with 15 in all of 2007.
"The security situation has deteriorated," said Hashim Mayar of the Agency Co-ordinating Body for Afghan Relief.
He said it's unlikely the insurgents knew they were attacking women who supported educating females, and that they were probably just targeting foreigners.
That despite the fact insurgents typically go after Afghan nationals rather than foreign aid workers, he said.
Regardless of the questionable security situation across the country which also claimed the lives of two Canadian soldiers over the past week, boosting development remains the cornerstone of Canada's 2011 military exit strategy from Afghanistan.
Canada's civilian effort, which includes members of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Canadian International Development Agency, RCMP and Correctional Services Canada, is expected to grow to more than 60 people by the end of the year. This would be some 200 per cent more than what Canada had in Afghanistan at the beginning of its civilian involvement.
Canada has boosted development funding from $179 million in 2006-2007 to $290 million in 2008-2009. Half of all the funds are directed at Kandahar, the province where Canada has assumed responsibility as part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force.
Wednesday's tragedy is expected to do little to alter Canada's new focus.
The security situation, by many accounts, is tough to assess because it is so fluid. It varies from place to place, and could also depend on the time of year.
The enemy, too, isn't homogenous, said Maj. James Allen, commander of the civilian-military co-operation team in Kandahar.
Known by its acronym CIMIC, the team oversees many of Canada's reconstruction and governance initiatives in the rural areas of Zhari, Panjwaii and Arghandab where few non-government organizations can operate due to security concerns.
The insurgency involves a variety of groups and characters - from petty criminals and tribal warlords, to al-Qaida and Taliban fighters from Afghanistan, Pakistan or elsewhere. And each has a different agenda.
While some may target foreigners, Allen said he has heard of others who urge followers to stay away from development efforts.
Some villages have been known to refuse assistance, fearing a backlash from their insurgent neighbours, he said.
Many NGOs also publicly refuse to work with the military for fear of becoming a target.
Drew Gilmour of Development Works - a private Canadian company that leads reconstruction projects in rural Kandahar and one of the very few groups to do so outside of CIMIC - said incidents like these should alert those in the development community to reassess their security precautions.
Despite deteriorating security, his company has expanded operations into places like Arghandab, Sha Wali Kot and Dand around surround Kandahar city.
But Gilmour said he remains vigilant.
"We operate in a bad area so we're always on guard," he said.
Shared with the usual disclaimer....
