KANDAHAR AIRFIELD – Success in the war in Afghanistan depends on winning the confidence of the people. U.S. forces attempt to achieve this goal by increasing reconstruction activities and changing the way U.S. troops interact with the Afghan population.
Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan is reaching out to the community as they establish only the 2nd humanitarian assistance yard in Afghanistan.
"The military version of the Red Cross - we are providing needed supplies to communities around the region," said Spc. Antonio Charles, a JSC-A humanitarian assistance specialist.
The program started in 2005 at Bagram Airfield. The yard's purpose is to provide timely disaster and emergency relief to local Afghan communities. Poverty, famine, droughts and years of war have created a need for such a facility. It's a storage and distribution center for humanitarian aid supplies such as food, clothing, school and medical supplies, and certain household items.
"The humanitarian assistance yard will allow many Afghan families whose homes have been destroyed or damaged to stay put and rebuild instead of evacuate," said Sgt. 1st Class Corey Garner, a JSC-A humanitarian assistance NCO. "By staying, they can continue to use local merchants and services and build the community back up, and possibly bring in opportunistic businesses."
Several U.S. agencies work closely with local communities. They'll identify the needs of the community and submit a request to the humanitarian assistance yard, which will coordinate, transport and deliver items. The yard's presence here has provided jobs and opportunities for the locals. All supplies stored in the yard were purchased through local vendors.
"It's nice to help the people of Afghanistan and show the people another side of Americans instead of bullets and guns," said Pfc. Timothy Fiel, a JSC-A humanitarian assistance specialist.
