Evaluation of DoD Security and Life Support for Afghan Evacuees at Camp Bondsteel (DODIG-2023-008)

What We Did:

The objective of this evaluation was to determine the extent to which the DoD provided adequate lodging, security, and medical care for Afghan evacuees diverted to Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, for further processing.

What We Found:

During our site visit in April 2022, we observed that ASG Balkans provided adequate support, such as lodging, security, and medical care diverted to Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, for further processing. For example, ASG Balkans provided the 75 Afghan travelers with:

(U) individual beds inside tents with electricity and internet connectivity;
(U) food and water;
(U) layered security within Camp Liya; and
(U) medical exams, immunizations, access to specialty care,and off base emergency care.

(U)However, ASG Balkans personnel noted the following challenges with lodging,security, and medical care for Afghan travelers as OAW endures.

•(U) The lodging tent shape and layout installed by a contractor was different from the shape and layout that was requested by the ASG-Balkans in the service contract.4 According to ASG-Balkans personnel, the contractor was unable to procure the specified lodging tents in time to support the impending arrival of the refugees. During our site visit in April 2022, we observed that the current tent shape and layout could create a potential electrical and fire safety hazard because of the need to link multiple electrical cords to work around the structural problems posed by different tent configurations. However, ASG-Balkans personnel accepted the tents provided by the contractor and mitigated the risk of electrical and fire safety hazards by performing daily safety inspections to identify and address the potential hazards.•(U) DOS delays in determining the status of the disposition of the Afghan travelers and notifying them of their status could result in dwindling morale among the Afghan travelers, potentially resulting in security challenges.

(U) The uncertain duration of the travelers’ stay at Camp Liyaimpacts decisions about their treatment of chronic medical conditions.For example, certain medical tests required to treat a traveler’s chronicmedical condition may not be ordered because Camp Liya medicalpersonnel do not know how long that traveler may stay at Camp Liyabefore departing.

(U)These challenges occurred because:

(U) the contractor was unable to procure the specific lodging tentsrequested by the ASG Balkans given the limited advance notice providedby the DOS and the Commander of U.S. European Command; and

(U) the DOS has operational control of Camp Liya with the DoD in anassisting role, and the DOS, not the DoD, controls the length of stayof each Afghan traveler.

(U)ASG Balkans officials stated that they will likely encounter challenges asthe length of stay for the Afghan travelers’ increases. During our evaluation,Camp Liya was expected to conclude operations in August 2022 but, accordingto ASG Balkans personnel, they were preparing for the mission at Camp Liya tocontinue beyond that date. On July 29, 2022, ASG Balkans personnel informedus that Camp Liya is currently projected to close on August 31, 2023.

(U)We briefed the ASG Balkans Commander on our findings at the end of oursite visit to Camp Bondsteel in April 2022. We learned that the ASG BalkansCommander conducted After Action Reviews documenting lodging, security, andmedical lessons learned. In September 2022, we were provided an After ActionReview with 12 observations by the Inspector General for the 21st TheaterSustainment Command. In addition, the ASG Balkans Commander stated that hehas conducted After Action Reviews since September 2021 because Camp Liya’smission was extended until August 31, 2023, and to assist in the event that asimilar operation occurs in the future. The ASG Balkans Commander statedthat ASG Balkans maintains a running After Action Review in Microsoft Teams.The After Action Review will help the ASG Balkans and other DoD organizationsprepare for potential future large scale evacuations and life supportoperations for civilians.

What We Recommend:

We recommend that Commander of Area Support Group–Balkans document the lessons learned for lodging, security, and medical care for Afghan evacuees and provide the lessons learned through the chain of command for review and distribution to interagency partners.