Afghanistan

The PRT (Provincial Reconstruction Team) is the most suitable channel to create in Afghanistan a stable political-economic environment that could lead to the process of reconstruction of the territory. In the Stage II area of NATO-ISAF mission in Western Afghanistan (previously with Operation "Enduring Freedom" and from May 31, 2005 under the aegis of ISAF (International Security Assistance Force), Italy supplies the

Regional Commander (RC) and has the role of leading nation of the PRT of Herat. (The western area comprises the province of Herat, and the provinces of Farah, Chaghcharan and Qaleh-Ye-Now). The PRT is a mixed structure of military units and civilians with the task of participating in the process of expansion of the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan and assuring support to the activities of reconstruction

conducted by GOA (Government of Afghanistan) and international organisations operating in the region. Every PRT is built according to the risk, the geographical position and the economic conditions of the associate region in which it works.

Task Force “LINX” for Operation “PRESIDIUM” (PRT) has the task to support the local authorities in the stabilization and reconstruction process of the province, in particular:
activities aimed at carrying out and completing

national and international reconstruction plans and macro plans, by means of civilian personnel ( MAE: Ministry of Foreign Affairs- Italian cooperation) and, according to the operational concept of the mission, military units ( CIMIC) for emergencies and quick impact projects. Since the beginning of February 2005, personnel of Multinational CIMIC Group Regiment (MNCG Regt) has been regularly assigned to the Italian PRT in Herat.

The first operations were conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Army PRT that was already based in the city and heavily engaged in dealing with an emergency caused by the heavy snowfalls in the mountainous district of the province of Herat. It was extremely urgent to reach villages that had been isolated for days and deliver food and medical supplies to the population. In the following weeks Multinational CIMIC Group personnel

of the Cimic section of the PRT in Herat, became heavily engaged in assessing and mapping the needs of the population of the Herat province, with regard to public health, education and the water distribution system. A vast quantity of detailed information was gathered to give a clear and realistic idea of how to plan and finance projects in the most effective way. For this purpose a large number of meetings

were organized with the local authorities and the G.O. and N.G.O. present on the territory. However, the contacts we had with the local authorities proved to be most useful in giving the Cimic cell a realistic picture of the situation on the ground and enabling us to carry out the assigned mission: to support the reconstruction of the country led by the Government of President Karzai. At the same time that assessments and estimates were being carried out, the

Cimic cell staff was engaged in the distribution of humanitarian aid donated by Italian NGO’s. This arose here in Herat as in An Nassiriyah (Iraq), admiration and gratitude from the local population, in such an unforgettable way that it righteously represented the greatest reward for all the men and women of MNCG Regt who participated in this operation.