Cablegate: Canada Bolsters Assistance to Kandahar

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PP RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHOT #1640 2392055
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 272055Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6434
INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0795
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0122
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0401
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS OTTAWA 001640

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/A, EEB/IFD, WHA/CAN
STATE PASS USAID FOR ANE AND DCHA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON SOCI AF CA
SUBJECT: CANADA BOLSTERS ASSISTANCE TO KANDAHAR

1. (U) Summary: On August 25, Canada announced that it will
substantially boost its development commitment to Kandahar
province by providing C$45 million in support of five
projects targeting health and community development. The new
projects build on major funding announced in February by
Prime Minister Harper to accelerate the reconstruction and
development process. The finding will be allocated to the
World Health Organization, the National Solidarity Program,
the Kandahar Local Initiatives Program, UNICEF, and local
NGOs and institutions in Kandahar. End summary.

2. (U) International Development Minister Bev Oda made the
announcement while taking part in Afghan Independence Day
celebrations in Toronto. She said that "Canada's government
is proud to stand beside the Afghan people as they strive to
build better lives for themselves and secure a better future
for their children. Today's contribution will build on
previous successes by supporting projects aiming to enhance
health services and community development in Kandahar, one of
the provinces in greatest need of our assistance."

3. (U) Canada's strategy in Kandahar province focuses on
responding to basic human needs, strengthening livelihoods,
and increasing the capacity of local governments. The
funding will be allocated as follows:

a) C$17.5 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) to
help implement a national polio eradication initiative and
a tuberculosis control program;

b) C$10 million to the National Solidarity Program to build
on the substantial results achieved to date in the areas of
local governance and community development;

c) C$5 million to the Kandahar Local Initiatives Program,
which will support small-scale, quick action development and
reconstruction initiatives that respond to immediate needs;

d) C$10 million to UNICEF to help improve access to maternal
and child health services in the southern region of the
province, with a focus on Mirwais hospital in Kandahar City;
and

e) C$2.5 million for a rapid-response health intervention
fund for local NGOs and institutions in Kandahar.

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