Multi-service team delivers goods to Afghan village

A five-ton, six-wheel drive truck loaded with humanitarian assistance supplies makes its way over a narrow road in the Panjshir Province, Afghanistan, on Monday, June 12. With a ground guide and spotter in the truck's turret, the multi-service supply convoy delivered supplies to the village of Dara. (Courtesy photo/Marine Col. Steve Hasty)

Multi-service team delivers goods to Afghan village

A multi-service supply convoy loaded with humanitarian assistance supplies makes its way up a narrow road in the Panjshir Province, Afghanistan, on Monday, June 12. The convoy delivered the supplies to the village of Dara, located at approximately 8,000 feet above sea level. (Courtesy photo/Marine Col. Steve Hasty)

Multi-service team delivers goods to Afghan village

A truck loaded with humanitarian assistance supplies makes its way along a narrow road in the Panjshir Province, Afghanistan, on Monday, June 12. With help of a ground guide and spotter in the truck's turret, the multi-service supply convoy delivered approximately four tons of food to the village of Dara. (Courtesy photo/Tech. Sgt. Charles Campbell)

Multi-service team delivers humanitarian goods to remote Afghan village

Published June 15, 2006
By Capt. Joe Campbell
Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team

PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- A multi-service supply convoy slowly crawled along a dusty, rock-strewn road winding up, up, up and around mountains, through tiny, remote villages, scenic wheat fields and pastures enroute to a relief mission June 12.

At approximately 8,000 feet above sea level, the village of Dara was the destination of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team and volunteers from the 405th Civil Affairs Battalion to offload beans, rice, cooking oil, salt, powdered milk and tea.

“It was slow-going in a fully-loaded five-ton truck that is as wide as the road in places,” said Army Reserve Sgt. First Class Brian James who drove the 6x6 truck. He is a supply NCO deployed with the 405th CA-BN from Pleasant Grove, Utah. “I’d say we averaged about 20 kilometers per hour, which was good considering the narrow passes and rough road.”

The team and several volunteers formed a human supply chain to offload the bags and boxes of food and stack them in storage containers at the Dara District Center.

“Governor Bahlol and Deputy Governor Kabiri coordinated the humanitarian assistance drop after determining that Dara had the most immediate need of the six provincial districts,” said Army Maj. Cliff White, Panjshir PRT deputy commander who is a reservist deployed from Colorado Springs. “They delegated distribution oversight to the Panjshir director of refugees, the district director and village elders.”

The president of the provincial council was also on hand to oversee the distribution process and coordinate future humanitarian assistance drops in other districts.

“The district director, village elders and the provincial director of women’s affairs compiled and prioritized (based on need) a list of the 450 families from a 30 kilometer area around Dara to receive the HA items,” said Major White.

The mission met several goals including keeping an Afghan presence at the forefront of the operation, which serves to extend the authority of local and provincial governments.

“While we usually aren’t involved in the direct distribution of humanitarian assistance, that doesn’t detract from the importance of these missions,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Neal Kringel, Panjshir PRT commander, deployed from the U.S. Embassy in Libreville, Gabon. “It is quite an accomplishment just getting people and supplies out to a remote location such as Dara and safely back again with the precarious roads.”