Afghan, Iraq defence aid to continue

Defence Force deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan are being extended at a cost of $35.5 million.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday that a second detachment of 61 Army engineers would go to Iraq for six months and Defence Force staff would continue to lead a provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan until September next year.

Helen Clark said the second deployment to Iraq would cost $9.5 million and the extended work in Afghanistan $26 million.

"We're satisfied it is work well done in helping Iraqi communities become functional with adequate infrastructure," she said.

"We're satisfied it's money well spent in helping stability in Afghanistan at a critical time."

Reports last month said the Government had made a decision in principle to send another team of engineers to Iraq, and that they were in training at Linton Army base.

Helen Clark said service personnel had made a "real impact" on the lives of people in both countries.

"In Afghanistan, the Defence Force team have worked effectively to assist the Afghan Government to extend its influence beyond Kabul and built local confidence through making contact with community leaders," she said.

"In Iraq, our engineers have made important contributions to restoring and establishing core services.

"They have brought clean drinking water to 200,000 people for the first time in a generation, refurbished schools, repaired bridges, and surveyed and mapped mine fields."

The second rotation of personnel to Iraq will leave New Zealand next month and return in October.

The deployment to Afghanistan will start in September.

- NZPA


Herald Feature: Iraq