ID :
67559
Wed, 06/24/2009 - 18:02
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/67559
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S. Korea begins construction of hospital, job training center in Afghanistan
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, June 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea broke ground Wednesday for the construction of facilities in Afghanistan as part of its planned expansion of reconstruction efforts there, according to Seoul's foreign ministry.
South Korea announced last month it will increase the number of its workers in
the war-ravaged nation to around 85 from the current 25, mainly medical staff at
a clinic inside the U.S. Air Force Base in Bagram, about 80km north of Kabul,
starting next year.
It said it would construct a 30-bed hospital with two surgery rooms, a vocational
training center and lodging facilities for South Korean workers including job
specialists and taekowndo instructors.
"A ground-breaking ceremony for the facilities was held at the Bagram Base on
Wednesday, attended by South Korea's ambassador to Afghanistan Song Woong-yeob
and officials from the U.S. military base and the Afghan government," the
ministry said in a press release.
Seoul plans to finish construction by the end of this year, it added.
In addition, the government will send 100 ambulances and 300 police patrol
motorcycles worth a total of about US$5 million.
South Korea has been assisting the U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team in
Afghanistan to make up for the 2007 withdrawal of its 200-strong team of military
medics and engineers.
The U.S. is asking South Korea to actively take part in helping stabilize
Afghanistan, understood to include troop deployment, but Seoul remains cautious
due to domestic political considerations. A troop dispatch at the request of
Washington is feared to reignite anti-American sentiment here.
South Korean officials said that once new buildings are constructed, about 40,000
Afghans would be able to get medical services each year while others would
receive vocational training.
"The government plans to expand contributions to the reconstruction and stability
of Afghanistan and actively participate in the international community's efforts
to achieve that goal," the ministry said.
SEOUL, June 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea broke ground Wednesday for the construction of facilities in Afghanistan as part of its planned expansion of reconstruction efforts there, according to Seoul's foreign ministry.
South Korea announced last month it will increase the number of its workers in
the war-ravaged nation to around 85 from the current 25, mainly medical staff at
a clinic inside the U.S. Air Force Base in Bagram, about 80km north of Kabul,
starting next year.
It said it would construct a 30-bed hospital with two surgery rooms, a vocational
training center and lodging facilities for South Korean workers including job
specialists and taekowndo instructors.
"A ground-breaking ceremony for the facilities was held at the Bagram Base on
Wednesday, attended by South Korea's ambassador to Afghanistan Song Woong-yeob
and officials from the U.S. military base and the Afghan government," the
ministry said in a press release.
Seoul plans to finish construction by the end of this year, it added.
In addition, the government will send 100 ambulances and 300 police patrol
motorcycles worth a total of about US$5 million.
South Korea has been assisting the U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team in
Afghanistan to make up for the 2007 withdrawal of its 200-strong team of military
medics and engineers.
The U.S. is asking South Korea to actively take part in helping stabilize
Afghanistan, understood to include troop deployment, but Seoul remains cautious
due to domestic political considerations. A troop dispatch at the request of
Washington is feared to reignite anti-American sentiment here.
South Korean officials said that once new buildings are constructed, about 40,000
Afghans would be able to get medical services each year while others would
receive vocational training.
"The government plans to expand contributions to the reconstruction and stability
of Afghanistan and actively participate in the international community's efforts
to achieve that goal," the ministry said.
