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Junk left in Afghanistan - 30th June 2021
This is the US army base in Bagram, Afghanistan. Now, after 20 years, it is closing. The soldiers are leaving.
The army is sending equipment to the USA. But they are leaving things too. There are doors, TVs and phones. But other people can't use them. The army is breaking them.
Now, people are interested in the broken objects. Big companies are looking around Bagram. They can choose first.
Many objects have metal in them. They can sell the metal. Small businesses want to make money too.
Some people are unhappy. They think it's wrong to waste everything.
Mir Salam: "Instead of destroying all these materials, they should have left them intact and given them to the public or the government. The government could make good use of it. If they had used it properly, then it could have rebuilt our country by now.”
Bagram was the main centre for the US army in Afghanistan. It was like a city, with busy streets. It had swimming pools, cinemas and restaurants. There was a prison too.
Lots of Afghan people worked in Bagram. Now they are worried about the future. They will have no jobs.
The governor of Bagram is worried about it too.
Lalah Shrin Raoufi: "I am not optimistic with the US forces withdrawal at this crucial time, as a resident of Bagram. The US forces presence in Bagram district has provided jobs for many thousands of people. People get work and are busy there and can earn money to live."
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