New Zealanders Deliver Roof Beams to Camp

Defend America News ^ | Combined Joint Task Force 76

[SandRat]

BAMYAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, March 1, 2006 — The New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team recently delivered 1,200 roofing beams to the Tupchi Returnees Camp, approximately 15 kilometers from Bamyan City. This camp is home to approximately 120 families. The residents of this camp were all forced to leave Iran, often with only the possessions they could carry. Good land is in short supply in mountainous Bamyan, therefore the camp is situated on a narrow, rocky part of the Bamyan Valley floor. As it is not possible to build in the Bamyan winter, some recently arrived returnees live in tents in temperatures as low as 24 degrees below zero.

The roofing timber is to support roofs in the mud houses built by the residents of the returnees camp. Each house requires 10 beams.

Trees are very sparse in the mountainous Bamyan province, so timber often has to be trucked in from other parts of Afghanistan making roofing timber very expensive by local standards.

The provincial reconstruction team delivered $20,000 worth of beams during this trip to the returnees camp.

The New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team has previously assisted this camp by providing building materials, assistance to dig a well, building tents, warm clothing, blankets and food. Additional clothing, food and blankets were delivered by the most recent New Zealand patrol.