July 11, 2008

Overview

Suicide attack near Indian embassy leaves at least 41 dead in Kabul

At least 41 people were killed and more than 140 wounded in a suicide car bomb attack near the Indian embassy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Monday (July 7).  According to reports, a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into two Indian diplomatic vehicles as they approached the embassy gates, killing an Indian military attaché, a senior diplomat, three other Indian nationals and six Afghan police officers.  The attack took place during the morning rush hour, just after 08:30 local time. Most of the dead and wounded were civilians. No one has claimed responsibility for what was one of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban regime. The Taliban has denied involvement.  Some Afghan officials made statements implying that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency was behind the attack. Pakistan’s government denied the charges.  Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the attackers wanted to undermine good relations between India and Afghanistan. The UN, the US, NATO, Germany, the European Union, India and Pakistan were among the many governments and international organizations to condemn the attack and express a commitment to continue the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

UN and Afghanistan appeal for US$404 million to help food-insecure

The government of Afghanistan and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) launched a joint emergency appeal Wednesday (July 9) for more than US$404 million to provide food and other basic needs to an estimated 4.5 million Afghans who are now considered high-risk food-insecure. The appeal follows one launched by Kabul and the UN World Food Program (WFP) in January for US$80 million that, according to the UN's Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), has only reached 33 percent of its target population. The new appeal, in addition to the feeding program, will also provide assistance with health, water and sanitation, shelter and agricultural rehabilitation to be implemented by July 2009. The food aid provided through the appeal will be distributed by the WFP and local partners, largely through food-for-work projects, according to IRIN. About 4.5 million of Afghanistan's 26.6 million people have fallen into the high-risk category of food insecurity because of high food prices, a sharp decrease in domestic agricultural production, and a severe drought that has dried up rivers across several northern provinces, killing countless livestock and destroying crops. Under these conditions, the price of wheat and wheat flour has risen by more than 200 percent across the country over the past year, according to the appeal, and this year's harvest is expected to meet only two-thirds of domestic needs and about 2 million tons of grain will need to be imported.

Red Cross condemns recent civilian casualties in Afghanistan

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) released a statement Wednesday deploring recent attacks in Afghanistan that have reportedly killed or injured 250 civilians. The ICRC called on all parties in the conflict to use more discretion so as to avoid excessive casualties and damage. The agency said that at least 250 civilians had been killed or injured in various security incidents since July 4. "We call on all parties to the conflict, in the conduct of their military operations, to distinguish at all times between civilians and fighters and to take constant care to spare civilians," the statement quoted Franz Rauchenstein, head of the ICRC's delegation in Kabul, as saying. Civilian casualties are a particularly sensitive issue in Afghanistan, where analysts say that when civilians are harmed in US-led coalition attacks, it undermines support for the presence of the international forces. According to the BBC, the UN reported recently that the number of civilians killed in fighting in Afghanistan had increased by nearly two-thirds compared to 2007, when, according to Oxfam, half of the 1,200 civilian deaths were the result of military operations by international and Afghan forces against insurgents. The ICRC's statement noted particular concern over a US-led coalition attack in eastern Nangarhar province on Sunday (July 6). An Afghan government investigation commission reported Friday (July 11) that 47 civilians were killed when a missile from the US planes that were attacking militants went astray and hit a wedding party. Thirty-nine of those killed were women and children, according to the commission. The US originally denied there were civilian casualties, but said Friday that it was launching its own investigation and that it regretted any civilian deaths.

UN envoy to unveil new aid program for Afghanistan

The UN Secretary-General's special envoy to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, is to unveil a new plan on foreign aid spending in the country. Speaking to the BBC Sunday (July 6), Eide said, "I think... we spend too much of our money in our home countries instead of spending it in Afghanistan."  Eide advocates spending aid money through the Afghan government in return for more transparency and a crackdown on corruption.  Afghan reconstruction aid has been marred by serious allegations of abuse, waste, corruption and lack of transparency.  According to a World Bank report released last month (June 2008), some 70 percent of the aid was spent outside the Afghan government and much of it went back to donor countries in the form of consultant fees.  Since assuming his position as the head of UNAMA, Eide's top priorities are to institute greater transparency in the expenditure of foreign aid and increase coordination between NATO and the Afghan government, as well as other humanitarian actors in the country. Separately, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recommended in a report this week that UNAMA expand its field presence by opening six new provincial offices over the next year, keeping staff security as the highest priority.
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 percent of returnees from Pakistan were from cities and 30 percent from camps. Over a third returned to Kabul, another 10 percent went to other central provinces, and just over 20 percent returned to each of the north and east.  The Southern region received 6 percent and the Western region 4 percent. 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 percent were from urban areas; only 3 percent 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	There have been at least six attacks on World Food Program (WFP) food convoys in 2008, and WFP has temporarily suspended food delivery to Daikundi province.(IRIN, May-28)
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)
NFIs -Shelter	IOM, UNICEF, UNOCHA, & OXFAM
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF
Security	Coalition forces killed a militant leader in Wardak province’s Sayad Abad district on Monday (July 7). (DPA, Jul-8) Several militants were killed on July 4 during an operation in Ghazni province, according to coalition reports. (AP, Jul-7) On Wednesday (July 9), two Afghan policemen and six Taliban insurgents were killed and four other insurgents were wounded in a clash in Ghazni. (Reuters, Jul-9)
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	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	At least 41 people were killed and 141 injured when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into two vehicles approaching the gates of the Indian embassy in Kabul on Monday (July 7) morning. (BBC, IHT, Jul-7) On Thursday (July 10), the NATO-led ISAF reported that its troops had killed a Taliban insurgent in Logar province who was suspected to have been involved in planning suicide bombings. (AP, Jul-10)
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	On Wednesday (July 9), Afghanistan and UNAMA launched a joint appeal for US$404 million to ensure food security for 450,000 households, give livestock and agricultural assistance to 300,000 farming families and protect about 550,000 women and children from malnutrition. The appeal is designed to cover these and other projects through July 2009 and follows a US$77 million joint food appeal that was fully met earlier this year. (IRIN, Jul-9) Malaysia and Australia will soon launch a joint initiative to train 30 “master teachers” who will train Afghan teachers in modern education methods. (GoAustralia, Jul-10)

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 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	In Kunar province’s Narai district, police said Taliban insurgents launched a rocket attack late Monday (July 7), but missed the foreign troop base they were targeting and hit a playground, injuring five children. (DPA, Jul-8) A roadside bomb struck a NATO-led military convoy in Kunar on Tuesday (July 8), killing one US soldier and injuring four other ISAF soldiers. (AFP, Jul-8) An Afghan government commission determined Friday (July 11) that 47 civilians were killed on Sunday (July 6) in a US fighter aircraft attack targeting a group of militants in Nangarhar province. Afghan officials said one missile went off course and hit a wedding party. The US said Sunday there had been no civilian casualties, but following Friday’s report said it was investigating the incident and regretted any civilian casualties. (Reuters, Jul-6, Jul-11) The 18-year-old son of veteran Taliban leader Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani was killed in a clash with coalition forces in Paktia province on Thursday (July 10) near the Khost border. (The News, Jul-11) In Paktika province on Friday, two ISAF soldiers were killed and one was wounded when their patrol struck an improvised explosive device. The soldiers’ nationalities were not released. (AFP, Jul-11)
Water & Sanitation	CARITAS; ICRC, UNICEF
Comments

Northeastern Region

Location	Northeastern Region
Coordination
Population	9,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast
Movement IDPs
Food
Health	WHO, Merlin, UNICEF, MSF; ICRC
Non-Food Items (NFIs) -Shelter	UNICEF, ACTED, Refugees Int’l, Mercy Corps
Security	The casualties from a July 4 US-led coalition airstrike in Nuristan province are being disputed. The US military said missiles were fired at two vehicles carrying insurgents and an unknown number of militants were killed. The Afghan Defense Ministry reported that about 20 Taliban insurgents were killed. However, local Nuristan officials said the attack killed 15 civilians and wounded seven. Karzai has ordered an investigation of the incident. (AP, Jul-6) In Nuristan on Wednesday (July 9), insurgents attacked two Afghan security checkpoints and kidnapped four policemen. (Reuters, Jul-9)
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)

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	A severe drought has been reported across northern Afghanistan, with the situation being worst in Faryab, Jowjan, Samangan, Saribul and Badghis provinces. Higher-than-normal summer temperatures and a lack of crucial rainfall have left northern rivers at record low water levels, hindering agricultural production and potable water sources. With the added issue of rising global food prices, farming families are unable to purchase basic food items. The governor of Faryab says the province is on the verge of a humanitarian crisis without immediate food aid. Badghis officials say almost all livestock and crops have been lost and more than 200 families are fleeing each day. There are no accurate figures for casualties or losses. Part of a US$404 million joint UN-Afghan appeal announced on July 9 will be used to feed drought-affected populations. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Jul-10)
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	Abdul Hamid Akhundzada, an insurgent the Taliban had recently named the shadow governor of Faryab province, was killed Wednesday (July 9) in Faryab along with at least one other insurgent. While Reuters said he was killed in a raid by Afghan security forces, the AP reported that a group of villagers attacked the insurgents because they had tried to abduct aid workers. (Reuters, AP, Jul-10)
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)
Food	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)
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	A Canadian ISAF soldier on foot patrol died Monday (July 7) after a bomb attack on the unit’s foot patrol in Kandahar province’s Panjwaii district early Sunday (July 6). (AFP, Xinhua, Jul-8) Police in Helmand province said a clash in Nawa district killed seven Taliban militants and two policemen on Saturday (July 5). Five other policemen were wounded. (AP, July-6) An Australian soldier was killed and two others were wounded in Uruzgan province on Tuesday (July 8), when a roadside bomb exploded, according to the Australian military. (Reuters, Jul-9) US Col. Peter Petronzio, commander of the US Marine unit deployed to Helmand province’s Garmser district in late April to help British troops reclaim Garmser district, which had been taken by the Taliban, on Wednesday (July 9) attributed the provincial governor as saying that coalition forces have killed at least 400 insurgents in the offensive so far. Petronzio described the district as stable, but not yet secure. (Reuters, Jul-9)
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 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)
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	Islamic Development Bank (IDB) distributed some 12,500 blankets and 150 tents to some 2,500 families in Herat.  (FP, Apr-22)
Security
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF
Comments	In Herat, 576 people, in Badghis 228 people, in Ghor 45 people and in Farah some 33 people have died as a result of the harsh winter weather, including severe cold and heavy snow, bringing the overall death toll to 882.  Dozens of people have had their hands or feet amputated due to frostbite.  (UNOCHA, AP, Feb-21)

Refugee Camps in Pakistan

Location	Long-term camps in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), NWFP, Baluchistan Province, and by capital, Islamabad; Mohamed Kheil 1 & 2 camps (85 km southwest of Quetta)
Type	Refugee Camps
Coordination	Afghanistan, Pakistan and UNHCR on August 2 extended the tripartite agreement governing the voluntary repatriation of registered Afghans from Pakistan through December 2009. The agreement provides a legal and operational framework for the process. To date, more than 3 million Afghans have returned from Pakistan under the voluntary repatriation program since 2002. This year, more than 300,000 Afghans have returned. (UNHCR, GOP, Aug-2) The Kacha Garhi Afghan refugee camp was officially closed on July 26, 2007.  Kacha Garhi, set up in 1980 and located in Hayatabad in NWFP, had 64,000 registered Afghans.  The closure followed two years of negotiations, as many refugees initially did not want to repatriate.  By the camp's closure, some 37,000 refugees had been repatriated by the UNHCR.  Most refugees were originally from Afghanistan's eastern and central provinces of Nangarhar, Laghman, Kabul, and Logar. (UNHCR, July-27)
Camp Capacity	About one million mostly long term Afghans in 74 camps—down from about 200 camps.
Population	2.05 million registered Afghans remaining in Pakistan; 63 camps in NWFP, 12 in Baluchistan; and one million elsewhere; Many occupants are long-term residents or were born in Pakistan; (UNHCR, Aug-2) Jungle Pir Alizai (Balochistan): 36,000, originally scheduled to close June 15. Kacha Gari (NWFP): original population of 64,811, officially closed July 26 – 37,000 repatriated. (UNHCR, July-27) Jalozai (NWFP): 109,934, originally scheduled to close August 31.  UNHCR on August 22 requested Pakistan to temporarily suspend the camp’s closure due to insufficient time for some 100,000 people to move and settle into new places in the face of the fast approaching Ramadan and winter season. (UNHCR, Aug-22)  The deadline was extended to April 15 due to the impending winter. According to IRIN, at least 352 have left Jalozai so far in March.  (IRIN, Mar-20) Girdi Jungle (Balochistan): 17,844, scheduled to close August 31. (IRIN, June-14)
Refugee Movement	UNHCR’s Voluntary Repatriation Center in Hayatabad, Peshawar, began repatriation of Afghan refugees on July 6. (The News, Jul-8) Pakistan wants some 2 million Afghan refugees to return home by 2009.  (AP, June-14)
Food	WFP, CRS, ARC
Health	UNICEF, MSF
Non-Food Items (NFIs) - Shelter	CRS
Security
Water & Sanitation	IFRC, MDM
Comments