July 03, 2008

Overview

UN says humanitarian situation in Afghanistan deteriorating
The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator is saying that ongoing conflict and natural disasters have caused a "serious" and "deteriorating" humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. John Holmes, who arrived in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on June 26 on a four-day visit to the country to get first-hand knowledge of the humanitarian problems and assess response capacity, is urging the international community to redouble its efforts to help the vulnerable people in the country. Speaking to the UN's Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), Holmes said, "It [the humanitarian situation] is serious and I think it is deteriorating. We need to give it more attention and that's why I'm here." He said aid agencies are "waking up" to the realities in Afghanistan and some of the humanitarian issues that had been neglected since 2001 are regaining importance. Holmes said aid agencies were facing hazardous conditions, adding insecurity and attacks on humanitarian actors were impeding humanitarian aid work, including access to people and delivery of vital humanitarian aid. He said that over the past 18 months the UN food agency, the World Food Program (WFP), has suffered 40 attacks on its food aid convoys in which some 1,000 metric tons of food worth US$800,000 have been lost. Holmes stressed the need to engage opposition groups to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to more volatile areas.

Senior NATO commander calls for more equipment for Afghanistan
Gen. John Craddock, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, is calling for better-equipped troops in Afghanistan instead of more troops. Speaking to reporters at an annual security conference at the Vienna-based Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Wednesday (July 2), Craddock said more helicopters, surveillance aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were needed in Afghanistan to enable ground forces there to effectively deal with the growing insecurity. He said he would welcome more troops in Afghanistan, but emphasized he was more focused on capabilities than numbers. Craddock also urged troop-contributing nations to lift restrictions on troop movements, giving commanders on the ground greater flexibility in using personnel assets as appropriate. He said, "We think it is essential that the Pakistani government and military regain control of that border area and share intelligence on insurgents with the International Security Assistance Force and US-led allied forces. Craddock said the key to success in Afghanistan is not winning by military means but focusing on development and governance. In his speech at the OSCE, Craddock noted that Afghan police continue to lag significantly behind the Afghan National Army, adding that corruption, criminality and a lack of qualified leadership continue to plague this key function.

US to boost Afghan troop presence next year amid stepped-up violence
The US will boost its military presence in Afghanistan amid stepped-up violence as 2008 is shaping up to be another violent year in which attacks are up by 40 percent compared to the same time period last year. Fighting in Afghanistan claimed more than 6,500 lives in 2007. Speaking to reporters in Washington, US President George W. Bush said, "We're constantly reviewing troop needs, troop levels.  We're halfway through 2008...  We're going to increase troops by 2009." Bush acknowledged that the Taliban has proven to be a tough enemy and June a "tough month in Afghanistan" for foreign troops who suffered record casualties.  Bush said the reason there have been more deaths among foreign troops is that the troops are taking the fight to the enemy.  However, Bush did not give details as to how many more troops will be sent to Afghanistan.  According to some reports, senior Pentagon officials have said privately that the US could deploy another brigade (some 3,500 troops) to Afghanistan next year even without additional troop withdrawals from Iraq.  As of last month (June), there were some 60,000 troops in Afghanistan, including 33,000 US troops and around 28,000 NATO forces from over 40 countries.  Meanwhile, at least 25 Taliban soldiers were killed overnight in clashes with joint Afghan and NATO-led forces in northwestern Afghanistan.  According to provincial officials, the security operation by the Afghan army and police took place in Badghis's Muqur district with the support of the Spanish contingent of the International Security Assistance Force.  Casualty claims could not be independently confirmed.
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	In Wardak province on Monday (May 26), gunmen hijacked two food trucks carrying 60 MT of wheat in the Shash Gaw area. The trucks were bound for Miramoor district in central southern Daikundi province, but were forced to head toward Jaghatu district in Wardak. This is the sixth incident involving World Food Program (WFP) food convoys this year, and WFP has temporarily suspended food delivery to Daikundi. (IRIN, May-28) 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)
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	Several Taliban fighters were killed in US-led coalition airstrikes in Wardak province on Thursday (June 26) after they attacked a joint coalition-Afghan combat patrol in Wardak province with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms. (CNN, KT, Jun-26) A Frenchman abducted last month in southern Afghanistan was released unharmed on Tuesday (Jun-17). (BBC, Jun-20) Seven Taliban fighters were reportedly killed in a NATO-led airstrike in Ghazni province on Thursday (Jun-12). (ABC, ReliefWeb, Jun-13).
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	A woman was killed and five other people wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near an Afghan National Army (ANA) minibus Sunday (June 1) morning in Kabul. (BBC, KT, ABC, Jun-2) In Kabul on Thursday (May 29), three civilians were killed and another three wounded in a suicide bomb attack aimed at a convoy of international troops. None of the troops in the two armored vehicles were hurt in the attack. Vehicles suffered minor damage. 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)
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 eastern Khost, Nangarhar and southern Kandahar provinces confirmed hundreds of diarrhea cases due to water contamination from floods. (IRIN, July-11)
Non-Food Items - Shelter	CWS, UNICEF
Security	According to Wednesday (June 25) reports, at least 22 Taliban militants were killed overnight in US-led coalition airstrikes in Sarobi and Gomal districts in Paktika province after they attacked district headquarters with rocket-propelled grenades and guns. (ABC, BBC, Jun-25) Fifteen insurgents were killed in Sayed Karam district in eastern Paktia province after they attacked a government building Tuesday (June 24). NATO-led international forces reportedly responded with helicopter gunships, killing the 15 insurgents and wounding four others. (KT, BBC, Jun-24) At least 55 Taliban insurgents were killed and 25 others wounded in US-led airstrikes in Zerok and Urgun districts in Paktika province on Friday (June 20) after insurgents attacked a coalition convoy. (IHT, BBC, MSNBC, Jun-23) Three civilians were killed in Khogyani district in Yaqubi (also spelled Yaqoobi) district in Khost when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb on Monday (June 23). (IHT, BBC, MSNBC, Jun 23) A suicide attack aimed at a NATO convoy in Yaqoobi (also spelled Yaquby) district Friday (Jun-20) killed the bomber, but there were no casualties among the NATO troops. (BBC, Jun-20)
Water & Sanitation	CARITAS; ICRC, UNICEF
Comments	In Logar province on Tuesday, more than 1,000 people blocked a main highway to protest the killing of a school teacher by US-led forces in an overnight raid. An Afghan official working with the US military said the victim had Taliban links. (Reuters, May-27)

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 May 9. (The News, May-9) At least 20 people, including civilians, were reportedly killed in US-led coalition airstrikes in Nuristan province on 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 About 200 families (1,200 individuals) were displaced by flash flooding from heavy rainfall on Sunday (May 25) in Hazrat Sultan district in Samangan province. No human casualties were reported, but 26 houses were destroyed, more than 100 were damaged, and dozens of animals were killed. The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) is providing tents and kitchen kits. The WFP will send food following a needs assessment. The provincial ARCS warned more rain is possible, emphasizing the urgent need for assistance so the vulnerable are not affected by more flooding. (IRIN, May-26)
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	Dozens of Taliban militants were reportedly killed in a 12-hour firefight with Afghan and NATO-led forces backed by close air support in Bala Murghab district in Badghis province on Sunday (June 1). (BBC, KT, ABC, Jun-2) Three border security officials were killed in northwestern Badghis province when their vehicle hit a landmine during a routine patrol on 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 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 March 23. (UNNS, KT, AFP, Mar-24) Two Afghan deminers working for the Mine Detection and Dog Center were gunned down in Balkh on March 24. (KT, AFP, Mar-24) A bomb wounded four people near a shrine in Mazar-i-Sharif on 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	One NATO soldier was killed in Nahri Sarraj district in Helmand on Tuesday (June 24) when an explosion hit a patrol. (ABC, BBC, Jun-25) On Wednesday (June 25), one coalition soldier was killed and three others wounded when a bomb struck their vehicle in Helmand. (BBC, AP, Jun-25) As many as 11 Taliban were killed in a clash with Afghan police in Shah Wali Kot district in Kandahar province on Tuesday. The militants had attacked a police post late on Monday (June 23), killing three policemen. (KT, BBC, Jun-24) A suicide bomb attack aimed at a US-led coalition military convoy killed one soldier and five civilians, including three children, in Gereshk district in Helmand province Friday (Jun-20). (BBC, CNN, Jun-20) Afghan and NATO-led forces with close air support killed as many as 100 Taliban militants and wounded dozens of others in a major military operation in Kandahar’s Arghandab district on Wednesday (June 18). The operation was aimed at freeing several villages the militants had seized control of earlier in the week. (CNN, ABC, Jun-19) Taliban militants conducted a successful prison-break of Kandahar’s Saraposa prison on June 13, freeing as many as 1,200 prisoners, including 400 Taliban members. Fifteen Afghan guards were killed during the attack. (IHT, MSNBC, Jun-16) An Afghan policeman and a soldier from the NATO-led forces were killed and five policemen and three foreign soldiers wounded in separate attacks by Taliban militants in Zabul province Friday (Jun-13). (Reuters, Jun-13)
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF
Comments	In Kandahar on Saturday (May 24), the ISAF helped open a new causeway spanning the Tarnack River, north of Mola Kuchi Kalay village, to improve road transport between Dand district and Kandahar city. (NATO, May-28) The British Royal Air Force financed and oversaw the construction of a 10-room school in the Kandahar village of Mulla Abdulla Kariz, which is set to open soon. (GoUK, May 27) 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 Provincial officials are seeking 1,733 tons of food aid to feed some 100,000 most vulnerable people affected by rising food prices in Ghor province. (IRIN, May-19) Islamic Development Bank (IDB) distributed food aid to some 2,500 families in Herat. (FP, Apr-22) WFP has delivered 553 metric tons of food assistance to 12,800 winter-affected families in the western region. (UNAMA, Feb-19) The UN Food and Agriculture Organization, in cooperation with the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, has donated 20 tons of concentrated animal feed to winter-affected farmers in Herat. (UNAMA, Feb-19)
Health	At least 17 people have been reportedly killed in Gulran district in western Herat province by “Charmak” disease after consuming contaminated flour. There have so far been 200 confirmed cases of the disease known as hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD), also known as 'camel belly.' (IRIN, Reliefweb, May-15) Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), with the help of US-led coalition forces, carried out a Medical Civic Action Program (MEDCAP) in Shewan, Farah province on August 30 and treated more than 811 people, including 576 women and children. (USG, Sep-2)
Non-Food Items (NFIs) – Shelter