Operation GORK-II in Andarab

Szöveg: Maj. László Bártfai | 2011. november 21. 9:44

In early November, the designated personnel of the 11th rotation of the HDF Provincial Reconstruction Team (HUN PRT-11) moved around Banu and Deh-e-Salában districts in Andarab, Afghanistan. The primary objective of the operation was to enable the Mission Teams to collect the demands for new projects, check the completion of earlier ones and hand over the pre-packaged food for those in need.

The planning of the operation GORK-II started in Camp Pannonia in the first weeks of October. Led by HUN PRT-11 Deputy Commander Lt.-Col. István Megtért, the personnel designated for the inspection set out to visit the potential sites and contact the local leaders. During the negotiations, security was always a top priority issue, as this region is one of the most dangerous hotspots in Baghlan Province. Having assessed all the incoming information and reports, Col. Dr. Romulusz Ruszin, the commander of the HUN PRT-11 decided on launching the CIMIC operation.

On the day before the start, overnight the usual temperature of 10-15 C fell and the forecasts predicted frost. The operation involved 17 vehicles altogether. The march column carrying 70 troops left Camp Pannonia at 04:00 am. and reached Banu district at 09:00 am. At this point, Mission Team 2 and part of the Force Protection element was detached from the main forces and commenced executing their own tasks.

At the district seat, they assessed the state of the health care institution and that of the two-storey girls’ school constructed by the HUN PRT in 2009. After meeting the leaders of the district, the members of the patrol inspected several potential project sites in Qasan valley. At Dezak village, they assessed the previously constructed but now defunct waterworks, while the local leaders of Pasa’i requested a girls’ school building from the HUN PRT. After the negotiations and the inspections, the patrol rejoined the main forces.

The next day the Mission Team handed over 200 aid packages at Deh-e Sallah to the governor of the district, who delivered the Hungarian troops’ donation to the families most in need. The packages included flour, rice, dried beans, cooking-oil, salt, charcoal, canvas and prayer rugs. With the presently donated ones, the number of aid packages distributed by the Hungarians in Baghan Province totals 1100. This project has been implemented within an international framework, as the US Army provided the some 20 tons of aid for the HUN PRT CIMIC and PSYOPS sections.

The patrols proceeded to Banu district, where the Afghan National Security Forces – after the recent completion of the security operations – set up a permanent vehicle checkpoint (VCP). The Hungarian patrol handed over various materials (such as blankets, fuel and food) to help the Afghan policemen’s everyday life. At the end of the day the Hungarian troops visited the boys’ school of Yoc. This school accommodates 700 students, yet it has a single adobe building which is unsuitable for educational purposes.