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A Taliban fighter stands guard as women wait to receive food rations distributed by a humanitarian aid group, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) **FILE**

U.S. spent more on Afghanistan rebuild than Marshall Plan; nothing to show after two decades of war

By Mike Glenn - The Washington Times

Paint peeling off classroom ceiling of the Balkh Education Facility in Afghanistan.

In the latest aid problem in Afghanistan, investigators found that a school built for the Balkh province is still unfinished, with structural issues that could pose a danger to students and teachers.
&#226;&#8364;&#339;Nearly 5 years after construction began, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is unable to transfer the facility to Afghan authorities,&#226;&#8364; said the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.
The school needs repairs to &#226;&#8364;&#339;a leaking roof, defective electrical wiring, and an improperly sloped terrace roof,&#226;&#8364; inspectors said, adding that sewer pipes near water sources aren't properly insulated, raising the possibility of contamination.
They're also concerned about whether the roof and septic system are designed to hold the weight imposed on them, and that officials cannot assure that the structure &#226;&#8364;&#339;will not collapse at some point in time.&#226;&#8364;
USAID disagreed that the building is structurally unsound. The Army Corps of Engineers which built the school, has &#226;&#8364;&#339;rigorous procedures and requirements for the design and construction of its building projects.&#226;&#8364;
The aid agency did agree that work on the school is incomplete, and said they will fix any remaining problems with the building.
The school has yet to be approved for use, but classes were held in the building in 2013. In response, USAID secured the facility to make sure no one used it, but SIGAR noted that Afghan authorities are not pleased about the ongoing delays.
The original contract to build the school was just under $3 million, part of a $17.1 million program to build a system of educational facilities across Afghanistan.

Afghanistan inspector says government oversight is crucial to prevent fraud, waste

By Phillip Swarts - The Washington Times