report in Khaama Press, 12 Dec 2020 at 01:54 PM
NATO said in a statement on Saturday, that between November and early December of 2020, NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has operated several chartered flights carrying pharmaceutical supplies from NATO allies to Afghanistan.
The cargo consisted of pain relievers, vitamins, antibiotic pills and ointments, polio vaccine, hand sanitizers, IV fluids, and other critical medicines, the statement read.
Such supplies will help Afghan forces improve their standards of care and reduce the risk of infections and harm to service personnel, other flights are scheduled through the end of this year.
This aid is funded by the NATO-run ANA trust fund, this is part of the extensive support by the NATO and CSTC-A Procurement Agency to the Combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan, which plays a prominent role in developing Afghan National Defense Forces.
According to the statement, such projects focus on improving Afghan security forces in logistical, organizational, educational, and healthcare aspects.
“The Afghan National Army Trust Fund represents one of three funding streams used by the international community to channel its financial support to Afghanistan’s security forces. The other two are the Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA), administered by the United Nations Development Programme, and the United States Afghanistan Security Forces Fund (ASFF). LOTFA is used to pay the salaries of police and corrections personnel and to build the capacity of the Afghan Ministry of the Interior and the police. The ASFF pays for equipping and running Afghanistan’s security forces, as well as facility and infrastructure repair, renovation and construction” NATO reported.
NATO indicated that Projects in ANA Trust Fund includes millions of dollars for power transmission, countering IEDs, training, helicopter repair, and security systems developed by video surveillance, these services are delivered through many agencies including NATO support, Procurement Agency, United States Army Corps of Engineers, The United Nations Office of Project Services.
Total contributions made to the ANA Trust Fund since its establishment in 2007 increased to over 3.2 billion US dollars.
Earlier NATO foreign ministers reiterated their strong commitment to RS missions in Afghanistan, they assured Afghanistan of NATO’s financial sustainment of Afghan Security forces up to the year 2024 and efforts towards lasting peace in Afghanistan.
“The NATO Support and Procurement Agency is NATO’s main services provider, delivering a broad spectrum of integrated capabilities for the Alliance, its member nations and partners. The Agency brings together NATO’s logistics support and procurement activities, providing effective and cost-efficient multinational support solutions. NSPA is a customer-funded agency, operating on a “no profit – no loss” basis”. NATO reported on their website.
https://www.khaama.com/nato-supports-afghan-forces-with-pharmaceutical-supplies-8796655/
