KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – A section of the Matun Districts’ Sadiq Rohee School was reopened on July 1 after repairs were made to a damaged area of the facility caused by an improvised explosive device.
During school hours on May 11, the device detonated next to a water fountain, causing structural damage to the building and injuring eight children and five teachers, said a representative from the Provincial Department of Education.
The blast from the explosion damaged 70 percent of the windows, the stairs and many blackboards in the building.
Once notified of the situation, the Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team visited the school to inspect the damaged structure. The PRT collected bids for the work and hired a contractor.
The contractor removed the masonry and plaster covering the stairwell to check for structural damage from the blast then made repairs.
“The kids were still going to go to school so our goal was to make sure it was safe for them,” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Gerald Rawlins, from Indianapolis Indiana, Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team engineer. “We made sure to expedite the process because the kids’ safety was our primary concern.”
To ensure the safety of the students, the hallway leading to the damaged area was blocked until the contractor could finish repairs.
The school was closed for two days.
Once reopened, only half of the kids returned for a short period due to parents safety concerns, said the Provincial Department of Education official.
Within a week all students returned to school with classes held in the undamaged portion of the schoolhouse.
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Lt. Edward Houser, from Houston Texas, Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team engineer, inspects the stairwell of the Sadiq Rohee School after an improvised explosive device damaged the facility on May 11. The PRT managed the repair effort of the facility by quality checking the work accomplished by the contractor. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt Kevin Fulcher, Khost PRT Public Affairs Office)
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team responded to a request for assistance after an improvised explosive device detonated at the Sadiq Rohee School on May 11. The team managed the repair process to remove the exterior walls and inspected the building for structural damages. The hallways were blocked leading to the damaged area to ensure the safety of the students as school continued during the repairs. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt Kevin Fulcher, Khost PRT Public Affairs Office)
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Sadiq Rohee School in the Matun District is once again safe to use thanks to the efforts to the Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team, July 7. Repairs were required after an improvised explosive device damaged the facility on May 11. The PRT expedited the contractor hiring process and provided quality control of the repairs to ensure the children could safely continue their education. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt Kevin Fulcher, Khost PRT Public Affairs Office)
