Afghanistan wins billion dollar pledge

" We see $2bn as a realistic target "
Vidar Helgesen
host official

The pledge was announced by Norwegian officials at the end of a two-day donors' meeting in Oslo.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai had asked delegates for help with long-term reconstruction, rather than emergency aid such as food and medicine.

The conference brought together more than 20 industrialised countries, most of whom had attended a similar conference in Tokyo last year.

That gathering had pledged long-term aid worth $5bn, of which about $1.5 billion has been disbursed this year.

Desperate poverty

Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen, briefing the press on Wednesday, said $1.23 billion had already been pledged for 2003, and more may be offered.

"We see $2bn as a realistic target," he said.

"Some countries have indicated clearly that they will step up their pledges."

Correspondents say after two decades of war, many Afghans have been reduced to a life in poverty approaching desperation.

Conference officials said rebuilding war-damaged roads and schools for girls deprived of an education under the Taleban, received high priority at the meeting.

Money would also go to help refugees returning home, improving sanitation and water supply, and building a new national army for Afghanistan.

The last is an important undertaking as insecurity remains a major concern and hinders reconstruction activities.

On Tuesday, two US soldiers and their Afghan interpreter were wounded when a grenade was lobbed into their jeep on a busy street in the capital Kabul.