AFGHANISTAN: Representatives from almost 60 donor countries, including Ireland, will gather in Tokyo on Monday to pledge funds aimed at rebuilding Afghanistan's shattered economy and society. The United Nations and the World Bank both estimate that Afghanistan needs $5 billion over the next 2? years to begin rebuilding its shattered economy, and $15 billion over 10 years for longer-term development.
Kabul, however, will ask for $22 billion in pledges at the Afghanistan Donor Conference. This week the spokesman for the UN special envoy in Afghanistan, Mr Ahmed Fawzi, warned that an immediate injection of at least $100 million was needed to pay civil servants and to tide the country over the next six months.
The crunch will come in Japan next Monday and Tuesday when rich countries will be asked to start writing the cheques. Diplomats and aid experts have warned that a failure to fund Afghanistan's reconstruction could sow the seeds of future terrorism. Afghanistan was already one of the world's poorest countries even before it was devastated by two decades of war and famine.
One senior diplomat told The Irish Times yesterday that the international community faces a massive challenge which will demand far more patience than the US military campaign required.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, will attend the two-day conference along with senior Department officials. Ireland's financial commitment, to be announced next week, is expected to be in the millions of euros and to be spread over a number of years.
Afghanistan's profile is depressing. It has an estimated population of 25 million, and the people have a life expectancy of only 40 years. Some 22 per cent of the urban population is below the poverty line and the illiteracy rate is 64 per cent.
An estimated 70 per cent is malnourished; one in four children dies before the age of five; one in 12 women dies in childbirth;roads and airports need rebuilding; farming is a shambles; millions of landmines need clearing; and security has crumbled.
The EU, Japan, Saudi Arabia and the United States, who will co-chair the meeting, are expected to announce their pledges on Monday, setting an example for smaller donors.
While Japan is pondering promising Afghanistan $500 million for 2½ years, 10 per cent of its estimated short-term needs, most attention will be on Washington and its commitment to long-haul rebuilding. The US Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, who will attend the conference, said on his visit to Kabul yesterday that Washington would remain committed to Afghanistan for a long time to come and was planning a significant contribution to rebuilding the shattered country.