Singapore - The Singapore Armed Force (SAF) is sending two construction engineering teams to Bamiyan province in central Afghanistan as part of the city-state's contribution to the international humanitarian assistance and reconstruction efforts, the defence ministry said on Monday.

Each of the six-man teams will be operating as part of the New Zealand Defence Force's provincial reconstruction team for three months from early May to October, the ministry's statement said.

"The SAF team will supervise the construction of a regional health training centre, which will serve as a one-stop centre for the training of all healthcare workers in Bamiyan province," the ministry said. Upon completion, its operation will be turned over to local authorities.

The SAF had previously deployed a five-man dental team and a five-man engineering team to Bamiyan for three months each in 2007. (dpa)