Rebuilding Afghanistan will cost 15 billion dollars over a decade, said a preliminary assessment today by the World Bank, UN Development Program and Asian Development Bank.
"It is estimated that reconstruction will cost about five billion dollars in the first two and a half years, the period spanning the current interim authority and the transitional government due to follow that in accordance with the Bonn Agreement," the agencies said in a joint statement.
They put the 10-year figure for reconstruction costs at $15 billion.
The report was released to donors ahead of a January 21st-22nd ministerial conference in Tokyo of more than 50 donor countries to draw up plans to rebuild Afghanistan after the US-led military campaign.
"In the immediate months ahead, the Afghan administration will be under pressure to achieve quick results in its reconstruction efforts, meeting pressing needs in a way that gives the citizens a stake in peace and stability, and enhancing national integration," the statement said.
It said further work on a more comprehensive assessment of Afghanistan's needs would be carried out soon.
Immediate priorities were likely to be helping as many Afghans as possible reclaim their lives with access to health services, children - especially girls - going to school and adults returning to work, including in fields and orchards.
Drug control was another priority. Refugees were expected to return in large numbers once security had been restored, the statement said.