Afghan Update 20160906 – Norway issues a discouraging report about its accomplishments over the past decade in Afghanistan, CSTC-A transfers aircraft to AAF, Summer Campaign 2016 highlights ANDSF deficiencies, MSF hospital in Lashkar Gar, and UN humanitarian bulletin.
Norway Report on Afghanistan. Ann Wilkens writes up a summary of a report published by an independent Norwegian commission (appointed by the government) that provides a candid assessment of the long-term support that the country of Norway provided to the Afghan government. Read “To Say It Like It Is: Norway’s evaluation of its part in the international intervention”, Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), August 23, 2016.
Afghan Humanitarian Issues. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has published its Afghanistan Humanitarian Bulletin for July 2016. Topics include malnutrition among Afghan children, returning Afghans from Pakistan, and the high amount of civilian casualties in 2016.
Afghans Receive more Aircraft. The Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan (CSTC-A) transferred four MD-530F attack helicopters and a C-130H transport plane to the Ministry of Defense in August 2016. Read more in a news report by DVIDS, August 25, 2016.
Combat Effectiveness of Afghan Forces. The ‘fortress fiefdom effect’ is reducing the combat capabilities of the Afghan forces. Read “2016 Fighting Season Highlights Vulnerabilities for Afghan Forces”, The Diplomat, August 31, 2016.
MSF Hospital in Helmand. The Doctors Without Borders organization runs a 300-bed hospital in Lashkar Gar – the capital of Helmand province. The province is controlled by the Taliban (or at least 80% of it) and the capital is threatened. Read more in “Inside One of Afghanistan’s Largest Hospitals”, Time.com, August 31, 2016.
