May 16, 2008

Overview

Afghanistan to seek US$50 billion at donors conference in June
Afghanistan plans to ask for US$50 billion in aid to rebuild the war-shattered country at an international donors conference in Paris next month (June). Speaking to reporters in the Afghan capital, Kabul, Ishaq Nadiri, senior economic adviser to President Hamid Karzai, said a new five-year development plan which is part of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy -- a 5,000-page document drafted as a result of a two-year consultative process across the country -- will be presented on June 12 in Paris when donors meet. He said the new plan is designed to resolve many of the current inefficiencies in the aid process. He said nearly US$14 billion will go toward improving security with the key target to revive the country's frail agricultural sector. Nadiri said he is hopeful the proposal will draw strong political commitment to Afghanistan. According to a report by the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR), an umbrella organization of 94 international aid organizations, since 2001, international donors have pledged some US$25 billion in aid for Afghanistan. The report noted that only US$15 billion has actually been delivered. The report also noted that some 40 percent (US$6 billion) of the aid that was delivered went back to donor countries in corporate profits and consultant salaries. The newly appointed UN envoy to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, has said he is committed to transparency of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan and has pledged to work closely with the Afghan government to ensure that aid was not being spent on wasteful projects. Other reports have also noted corruption within the Afghan government and lack of transparency.

At least 44 people, including civilians, killed in violence across Afghanistan

At least 44 people, including civilians, were killed this week in separate incidents of violence across Afghanistan. At least 18 people, including six policemen and 12 civilians, were killed and several wounded in a suicide bomb attack near a police station in a crowded market in Del Aram district in western Farah province on Thursday (May 15). Afghan police shot dead a would-be suicide bomber in the eastern province of Khost on Wednesday (May 14). Afghan and US-led coalition forces killed at least 12 suspected Taliban militants in a security operation in Garmser district in Afghanistan's restive southern Helmand province on Monday (May 12). At least two people were killed and several others wounded when protesters demonstrating against civilian deaths in a US-led military operation clashed with police in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday (May 10). Thousands of protesters reportedly took to the streets over the killing of three civilians during a US military raid at a house in Shinwar district in eastern Nangarhar province on Friday (May 9), blocking a major highway that links Kabul to Pakistan. Contrary to the claims of local people, the US military said in a statement that those killed were militants and the target of their raid was a "foreign fighter network." Afghan police who came to break up the five-hour demonstration reportedly fired shots that left two protesters dead and at least six others wounded. Afghan police claim that they had fired warning shots into the air, however, a provincial council member said the police had fired into the crowd. Afghan and NATO-led forces also killed seven Taliban insurgents in two separate raids in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday. According to an Afghan army spokesman, four Taliban fighters were killed in a raid in eastern Paktia province while another three were killed in a separate raid in the neighboring province of Khost. There were reportedly no casualties among NATO or Afghan troops. A US-led coalition soldier was killed when a bomb struck a military vehicle on Friday.

Germany to send soldiers from northern to western Afghanistan
Germany said it will deploy some soldiers from its base in northern Afghanistan to the western region to help curb militant infiltrations from the country's volatile south into the western provinces. German daily Frankfurter Allegemeine Zeitung reported that Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung on Thursday (May 15) approved a request from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to deploy German soldiers to work alongside Afghan and Norwegian troops to flush out Taliban militants that have lately infiltrated into the western provinces of Badghis and Faryab. The short-term deployment of German troops consists of 45 soldiers, while 20 soldiers will be on standby to work as part of the MedEvac unit for emergency medical evacuations. Germany, which has some 3,200 troops in Afghanistan's relatively calm north, has been reluctant to deploy troops to more restive parts of the country. Despite pressure from other key NATO allies such as Britain, the US and Canada, Germany has maintained that its troops will remain in the north except in emergency situations elsewhere in the country requiring German troop support of a limited nature.

'Charmak' disease kills 17 in western Afghanistan
Confirmed cases of hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) also known as 'camel belly' or 'charmak' disease, have occurred in Gulran district of Herat province in western Afghanistan. There are more than 190 cases and 17 deaths, according to provincial health officials. Test results from the National Institute for Public Health in the Netherlands say the disease was caused by consuming bread contaminated by pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in charmak, a poisonous weed growing in grain fields in Gulran, which then finds its way into the wheat flour. According to the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO), regular consumption of bread contaminated with this alkaloid causes rapidly filling ascites (also known as peritoneal cavity fluid, peritoneal fluid excess, hydroperitoneum or abdominal dropsy), severe abdominal pain, vomiting and jaundice. VOD of the liver is toxic liver damage caused by the pyrrolizidine alkaloids, WHO said. The outbreak was first reported in November 2007. Thirty-eight patients are currently undergoing tests to determine if they have VOD. After receiving the test results from the Netherlands, health officials are now treating the patients with two grams of sodium daily, administering vitamin and mineral supplements, and extracting excess fluids from the patients’ bellies in serious cases. Health experts did not know how to treat the disease until early May.
Movement

2008: UNHCR is asking Pakistan to revise its Afghan refugee repatriation plan, as the current plan to repatriate some 2.4 million refugees by the end of next year (2009) is “unworkable” due to persistent insecurity and lack of economic opportunities. (BBC, Apr-18). UNHCR said this week that since March 1, when the repatriation campaign resumed from Pakistan, some 10,000 Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan. (UNHCR, Mar-31)

2007: UNHCR temporarily suspends the Afghan voluntary repatriation campaign in Pakistan until March 2008 due to seasonal slowdown. (IRIN, Nov-2). Pakistan has reportedly extended the deadline to close Jalozai camp until March 2008. (IRIN, Sep-4). The UNHCR has asked Pakistan to temporarily suspend closure of Jalozai refugee camp in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) that was originally scheduled to be closed on August 31. UNHCR said due to the fast approaching Muslim holy month of Ramadan and winter season, conditions were not conducive for the return of some 100,000 camp residents. UNHCR said any forceful return of these refugees could lead to secondary displacement.

Pakistan is to close all Afghan refugee camps by December 2009 and to repatriate all refugees living in the country. UNHCR says it has repatriated over 306,000 Afghan refugees from Pakistan so far this year under its voluntary repatriation campaign. (UNHCR, Aug-10)

4.2 million refugees have returned to Afghanistan, and 500,000 IDPs returned home since early 2002. Close to 3 million of the refugees returned from Pakistan. 2.6 million Afghans remain in Pakistan, including one million in 74 long-term camps. About 1.5 million Afghans returned from Iran. Taking into account unassisted returns, perhaps 600,000 to 700,000 Afghans remain in Iran—up to 30,000 are in seven camps.

Iran deported some 85,000 unregistered refugees to Afghanistan during April 21 - May 14, 2007. Iranian officials say they plan to initially send back 500,000 of over a million illegal refugees in the country. Earlier this week, Iran said it has reached an agreement with the Afghan government to slow down the pace of expulsions for illegal Afghans living in the country.

Some 200,000 Afghan refugees in Pakistan have returned to their homes under the UN-assisted voluntary Afghan refugee repatriation program since it resumed on March 1, 2007, following a seasonal winter suspension. Pakistani authorities said voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan that are without proof of registration (PoR) ended in April, and refugees remaining in the country without PoR are now considered illegal and subject to government action. Repatriation campaign for Afghan refugees with PoR.

2006: UNHCR expects to assist 550,000 returnees—400,000 from Pakistan and 150,000 from Iran. However, so far this year only some 60,000 Afghan refugees have repatriated from Pakistan. Unassisted returns are a factor from Pakistan and have been a major contributor to returns from Iran. The tripartite arrangement among UNHCR-Afghanistan-Pakistan is good through 2006. The UNHCR-Afghanistan-Iran Joint Program has been extended into 2007. Repatriation from Pakistan, halted for the winter, recommenced on March 1. UNHCR assisted nearly 9,000 refugees in returning from Pakistan and over 500 from Iran during March. In April 2006, Pakistan closed two long-term camps in NWFP, and two in Baluchistan Province with 250,000 long-term residents. Refugees in Baluchistan can either return to Afghanistan or relocate to Mohammad Kheil camp near Quetta. Refugees in NWFP are moving to Afghanistan or one of ten camps in NWFP—refugees are pushing for a one-year delay.

2005 plans called for 400,000 Afghan refugees to return home from Pakistan and 200,000 from Iran, down from an earlier 350,000 estimated from Iran. 453,000 returned from Pakistan. 67,000 from Iran were assisted and over 210,000 returned on their own to Iran for a total of nearly 280,000, and a combined Pakistan and Iran total of 733,000—close to the original projection.

2004 plans were for one million to return. Actual returnees were around 850,000, with 385,000 from Pakistan and 460,000 from Iran, including 80,000 spontaneous returns. Pakistan closed camps in South Waziristan and all new camps, with remaining new refugees going to Mohamed Kheil camp in Baluchistan Province.

Emphasis in 2003 was on repatriation from old camps and cities in Pakistan to rural areas in Afghanistan. 70% of returnees from Pakistan were from cities and 30% from camps. Over a third returned to Kabul, another 10% went to other central provinces, and just over 20% returned to each of the north and east. The Southern region received 6% and the Western region 4%. The 2003 peak months were June and July.

In 2002 over 2.3 million Afghan refugees returned with 2 million assisted by UNHCR. UNHCR repatriated 1.53 million Afghan refugees from Pakistan, including 125,000 from Baluchistan and 1.4 million from the North West Frontier Province. 82% were from urban areas; only 3% were from new camps. 265,000 refugees were assisted in returning from Iran; and 10,000 refugees from the central Asian republics.

Afghanistan Relief Efforts: United Nations Coordination Regions

Central Region

Location	Central Region
Coordination
Population
IDP Movement
Food	A rapid food needs assessment by USAID’s Famine Early Warning System (FEWS) suggests that due to failed wheat crops, unfavorable weather and higher food prices, Ghor province would need in the short-term (December-April) some 14,231 metric tons of food assistance to feed its vulnerable population. (ReliefWeb, Oct-18) According to local officials, thousands of students attending 40 schools in Ghazni province have not received WFP food assistance for over a month due to insecurity. FAO on July 5 said that 6.5 million Afghans suffer from chronic food insecurity. (IRIN, July-8)
Health	Czech Republic-led PRT to begin construction of a new 20-bed facility for the existing Comprehensive Health Clinic in Mohammad Agha in Lowgar province. (NATO, Apr-24) UN agencies and the local provincial government raise funds to build a new maternity wing in the Bamiyan main hospital. The new facility is expected to provide essential healthcare for expectant mothers in central Bamiyan province and to reduce the risk of both maternal and child mortality. (UNAMA, July-17).
NFIs -Shelter	IOM, UNICEF, UNOCHA, & OXFAM
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF
Security	Afghan and foreign troops with close air support killed at least 23 Taliban militants in Qarabagh district in the central province of Ghazni on Monday (April 28). There were no reports of casualties among Afghan and foreign forces. (CNN, ABC, Apr-29) Two Dutch soldiers from the NATO-led force were killed when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in central Oruzgan (also spelled Uruzgan) province Friday (April 18). (ABC, BBC,Apr-18)
Comments

East Central Region

Location	East Central Region
Coordination	UNHCR
Population
IDP Movement	UN; Government encouraging refugees to return to home provinces to limit burden on Kabul—government land distribution program only in province of origin;
Food	WFP has begun distributing wheat to some 650,000 beneficiaries affected by high food prices in Kabul and the surrounding areas. (Reliefweb, Mar-6, 2008) IRC, Action Contra la Faim; WFP
Health	At least 100 pneumonia patients, primarily children, have died in the past month in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said February 14. In the same period, over 170,000 patients with pneumonia and other acute respiratory infections have been treated at health centers across the country. The country remains under the national public health emergency declared on January 8, with 30,000 health workers requested to not take leave for the duration of the emergency period. (IRIN, Feb-14) UNICEF, CARITAS, MSF, IFRC, IRC, ICRC
Non-Food Items - Shelter	UNHCR, ACTED, MSF, IRC, ICRC, IOM
Security	Three Afghan policemen were killed and eight others wounded when a policeman dropped a rocket-propelled grenade that exploded on Monday in Kabul (May 5). (ABC, BBC, May-5)  Four children were killed and one other wounded when an old artillery shell they were playing with exploded on Monday. (ABC, BBC, May-5)  Two civilians were killed and 13 others wounded on Sunday (May 4) when a truck at a refuse dump on the northern outskirts of Kabul ran over an unexploded ordnance. (ABC, BBC, May-5).  Three people, including an Afghan member of parliament, a tribal leader and a child, were killed in a failed suicide attack on Afghan President Hamid Karzai at a Mujahideen day (Victory day) parade in Kabul on Sunday (April 27). Three militants were also killed by Afghan security forces. (KT, Reliefweb, CNN, Apr-28) Seven people, including two suspected militants, three Afghan intelligence agents and a woman and child, were killed on Wednesday (April 30) during a raid on a house in Kabul, where militants suspected of being linked to the assassination attempt on Karzai were hiding. (HT, ABC, BBC, May-1)
Water & Sanitation	An agreement has been signed between the UNHCR and the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) to provide safe drinking water for Afghan returnees from Pakistan and Iran, as well as IDPs. (UNHCR, Sep. 24) ICRC
Comments	The WFP emergency food aid appeal for US$77 million to feed some 2.55 million Afghans affected by rising food prices is fully met. WFP will provide food aid under this program through July 2008. (KT, May-1) The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is seeking US$13 million in emergency funds to help hundreds of thousands of Afghan children lacking proper food, water, medicines, education and other essential services. (AFP, VOA, Feb-12)

Eastern Region

Location	Eastern Region
Coordination	UNHCR, International Islamic Relief Organization;
Population
IDP Movement	UNHCR
Food	IRC NATO-led ISAF PRT transported water pipes for a nearly seven-mile-long planned water supply project in Baghlan province. (NATO, Aug-23)
Health	Provincial officials in southern Khost, Kandahar and eastern Nangarhar provinces have confirmed hundreds of diarrhea cases due to water contamination from floods. (IRIN, July-11)
Non-Food Items - Shelter	CWS, UNICEF
Security	Afghan police shot dead a would-be suicide bomber in the eastern province of Khost on Wednesday (May 14). (KT, Swiss Info, May-15) At least two people were killed and several others wounded when protesters demonstrating civilian deaths in a US-led military operation clashed with police in eastern Nangarhar province on Saturday (May 10). Three civilians were reportedly killed during a US military raid at a house in Shinwar district in eastern Nangarhar on Friday (May 9). (KT, BBC, May-10-11) Afghan and NATO-led forces killed seven Taliban insurgents in two separate raids in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday. Four Taliban fighters were killed in a raid in eastern Paktia province while another three were killed in a separate raid in Khost. There were reportedly no casualties among NATO or Afghan troops. (AFP, May 11) A soldier from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force was killed in a clash with Taliban militants in Paktia province on Friday (May 9). (The News, May-9) One civilian and two NATO soldiers were killed and another two wounded when an explosion struck their vehicle during a routine patrol in the eastern province of Khost on Wednesday (May 7). (KT, MSNBC, May 7) Two Afghan policemen were killed in a similar attack when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in Khost on Wednesday. (KT, MSNBC, May 7) At least 19 people, including civilians, were killed and more than 40 wounded in a suicide bomb attack in Khogyani district south of Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province on Tuesday (April 29) when a suicide bomber on foot struck an outdoor meeting of tribal leaders and the government's poppy eradication team. (CNN, ABC, Apr-29) Five Afghan border security officials were killed and seven others wounded when Taliban militants attacked a border checkpoint in eastern Kunar province on Wednesday (April 23). (CNN, BBC, ABC, Apr-23)
Water & Sanitation	CARITAS; ICRC, UNICEF
Comments

Northeastern Region

Location	Northeastern Region
Coordination
Population	9,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast
Movement IDPs
Food	On December 27, heavy snowfall had blocked access to at least 10 districts in Badakhshan province, leaving some 200,000 people in need of food assistance. (IRIN, Dec-27)
Health	WHO, Merlin, UNICEF, MSF; ICRC
Non-Food Items (NFIs) -Shelter	UNICEF, ACTED, Refugees Int’l, Mercy Corps
Security	A US-led coalition soldier was killed when a bomb struck a military vehicle on Friday (May 9). (The News, May-9) At least 20 people, including civilians, were reportedly killed in US-led coalition airstrikes in Nuristan province on Sunday (April 6). (ABC, Apr-7-8)
Water & Sanitation
Comments	The MoPH has asked the NATO-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Badakhshan for air support to enable medical teams to service otherwise inaccessible areas. (IRIN, Feb-14) At least 13 people were killed in an avalanche in Baharak district in northeastern Badakhshan province on December 11. Fifteen others were rescued. (IRIN, Dec-12)

Northern Region

Location	Northern Region
Coordination	UNHCR, IOM
Population	9,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast; 60,000 IDPs from North elsewhere in country.
Movement IDPs	IOM
Food
Health	MSF, ICRC, UNICEF At least 20 children have died in several districts of northern Balkh and central Daikundi provinces over the past five weeks due to water contamination from floods. (IRIN, July-12)
NFIs –Shelter	IOM, ACTED, Mercy Corps
Security	Three border security officials were killed in northwestern Badghis province when their vehicle hit a landmine during a routine patrol on Wednesday (April 23). (CNN, BBC, ABC, Apr-23) Two Afghan aid workers working for German aid organization KinderBerg International have been reported missing in northern Afghanistan since Tuesday (April 8). (KT, AFP, Apr-11) Three German soldiers were wounded, two critically, after a roadside bomb struck their vehicle overnight in Kunduz province. (ABC, AFP, Mar-27) Five Afghan deminers working for the UN-funded mine clearance program were killed and seven others wounded when two unidentified assailants on motorbikes opened fire on their vehicle in Chimtal district in Balkh province on Sunday (March 23). (UNNS, KT, AFP, Mar-24) Two Afghan deminers working for the Mine Detection and Dog Center were gunned down in Balkh on Monday (March 24). (KT, AFP, Mar-24) A bomb wounded four people near a shrine in Mazar-i-Sharif on Friday (March 21). (The News, Mar-21)
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF, ICRC, DACAAR
Comments	ISAF PRT helps flood-affected families in Khamyab and Qarqin districts in Jowzjan province at the request of provincial authorities. (Frontier Post, Aug-12)

Southern Region

Location	Southern Region
Coordination	UNHCR
Population	IFRC says that flash floods and avalanches in early March have affected 2,200 families in Helmand/Sangreen Grishk, Musa Qala, and Nowzad districts; and 400 families in Uruzgan/Dehraud district. (IFRC, Mar-23).
Movement of IDPs	Intense military operations against Afghan insurgents in southern Helmand province, especially in Musa Qala district, have caused hundreds of families to flee their homes to neighboring districts and the provincial capital, Lashkargah. (IRIN, Dec-6) UNOCHA reports that over 2,500 families have left their homes in different districts of Helmand, Uruzgan and Kandahar provinces over the past two months, according to provincial officials. Many of the displaced say they are leaving because of forced recruitment attempts by the Taliban and air strikes by international forces. Many have sought shelter in Kandahar city. (UNOCHA, Sep-27)
Food	WFP says it could not deliver 50 tons of mixed food to Geeti district in Daykundi province due to security concerns. WFP plans to deliver food as soon as safe passage is guaranteed. (IRIN, Nov-14) The World Food Program (WFP) delivered 500 metric tons of food to the provincial capital Lashkargah, in southern Helmand province for some 4,500 families affected by fighting in Musa Qala, Sangin, Kajakiand Nawzad districts. (ReliefWeb, Sep-3) WFP also distributed 300 tons of food to some 37,000 beneficiaries in Kandahar and Helmand under food-for-work and literacy programs. (ReliefWeb, Sep-3) UNICEF; Mercy Corps; CARITAS; WFP
Health	A UNICEF-led Polio vaccination campaign was suspended in Musa Qala due to military operations. The campaign was also suspended in parts of five other districts. (ReliefWeb, Dec-20) Afghan and US-led coalition forces treated some 700 Afghans during a two-day outreach operation in Kandahar on December 7 and 8. (Reliefweb, Dec-12)
NFIs - Shelter	UNHCR, Mercy Corps The Netherlands will provide US$713,000 (470,000 euros) for repair of war-damaged homes for 400 families in Deh Rawood and 150 families in Tirin Kot. (Reliefweb, Feb-28)
Security	Afghan and US-led coalition forces killed at least 12 suspected Taliban militants in a security operation in Garmser district in Helmand on Monday (May 12). (KT, BBC, May-13) US-led coalition troops killed several Taliban militants using airstrikes in Garmser district in southern Helmand province on Thursday (May 8). (ABC, May 9) A Canadian soldier from the ISAF was killed on Tuesday (May 6) when Taliban insurgents attacked his convoy on routine patrol in the Pashmul area in Zheri district in southern Kandahar province. (KT, MSNBC, May 7) Eight Afghan civilians were killed in two landmine blasts near the border town of Spin Boldak in southern Kandahar province on Wednesday (April 30). (Reuters, May-1) Three civilians were reportedly killed and 14 others, including two children, wounded in a suicide bomb attack aimed at a vehicle carrying intelligence officials in the border town of Spin Boldak in Kandahar province on Wednesday (April 23). (CNN, BBC, ABC, Apr-23)
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF
Comments	The Afghan government has approved 19 reconstruction projects valued at US$1.4 million (72 million AFA) for Kandahar province. Projects are to be completed within nine months and are expected to benefit some 29,000 households in the region. (ReliefWeb, Mar-14).

Southern Region IDP camps

Location	Zhare Dasht - South of Kandahar – 6 camps
Type	IDP Camp
Coordination	UNHCR
Camp Capacity	30,000; expandable to 60,000
Population	125,000 IDPs in south; 48,500 at Zhare Dasht
Movement IDP
Food	WFP
Health	UNICEF, MSF
NFIs – Shelter
Security
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF
Comments	Support for Spin Boldak camps terminated in 2004.

Western Region

Location	Western Region
Coordination	UNHCR; ICMC
Population	According to the IFRC, flash floods and avalanches in early March affected some 200 families in Herat city; 918 families in Gulran district; 35 families in Cheshte Sharif district; 150 families in Shindand district, 6,500 families in Badghis/Jawand and Murghab districts, and 20 families in Gour district. (IFRC, Mar-23) 12,000 IDPs, mostly in Maslakh camp
Movement IDPs	IOM
Food	IRC, CARITAS, UNICEF, World Vision, IOM, Action Contre la Faim; WFP