August 1, 2008

Overview

Well over 100 dead in violence across Afghanistan

At least 136 people, mostly militants, were killed in multiple security incidents across Afghanistan this week. In the latest violence, 16 people, including five soldiers from NATO-led forces and some civilians, were killed in separate incidents across Afghanistan's south and east overnight on Friday (August 1). Four soldiers from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and a civilian were killed on Friday by an improvised explosive device (IED) in eastern Kunar province. A similar IED explosion in the eastern province of Khost on the same day killed one ISAF soldier. Three Afghan civilians were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Zaranj district in southwestern Nimroz province on Friday. Five Afghan policemen were killed and two others wounded when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Panjway district in southern Kandahar province on Thursday (July 31). Also on Thursday, suspected Taliban insurgents shot dead a tribal chief and his three sons, abducting seven other people in Kandahar's Arghandab district. On Monday (July 28) and Tuesday (July 29) nearly 30 Taliban insurgents, including a bomb maker, were killed in incidents across the country’s north, south and east. In addition, some 90 people, including more than 70 insurgents, were killed in security incidents over the weekend.

Bomb injures at least two outside Pakistan's consulate in western Afghanistan
At least two people were injured in a bomb blast outside the Pakistani consulate in the western Afghan city of Herat on Thursday (July 31). Police said that the bomb was placed on a bicycle and remotely detonated. One of the injured was an Afghan guard at the consulate while the other injured person was a civilian, according to the BBC and Agence France-Presse. Reuters news agency reported three people were injured in the blast. "A bomb placed on a bicycle exploded near the Pakistan consulate. One policeman, guarding the consulate, and a woman passer-by were wounded," a senior security official told the BBC. The explosion shattered some of the building's windows, but did little other damage, the BBC reported. No one has immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, however, the Taliban has been blamed for such attacks in the past. Violence has increased in Afghanistan's south and east, but Herat has been relatively free of violence.

Pakistan denies reports its spy agency behind attack on Indian embassy in Kabul
Pakistan is denying reports that its powerful spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, was behind the July 7 bombing that killed 41 people near the Indian embassy in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Citing unnamed US officials, earlier this week The New York Times reported that members of Pakistan's ISI were involved in the July 7 bombing. According to the report, US conclusions were based on intercepted communication between Pakistani intelligence officers and militants who carried out the attacks. Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Sadiq described the New York Times report as "total rubbish." Speaking to the Associated Press over the phone from a summit of South Asian leaders in Sri Lanka, Sadiq said, "The foreign newspapers keep writing such things against ISI, and we reject these allegations."

Australia criticizes some NATO nations for "underwhelming" response in Afghanistan
Australia is criticizing some NATO nations for their "underwhelming" response to the ongoing security situation in Afghanistan. In a televised speech on Wednesday (July 30), Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon urged certain nations reluctant to send additional troops to Afghanistan to make some financial contributions to expand the Afghan National Army. He said Australia is committed to fighting extremists and terrorists that make this world unsafe. He also called for support for Pakistan's military and said Australia will consider sending military advisers to Pakistan if requested by the Government of Pakistan. However, Pakistan's government is unlikely to accept any outside help in this matter, at least publicly.

Aid Agencies in Afghanistan warn of worsening security

The Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR), an umbrella organization of more than 100 Afghan and foreign non-governmental organizations, is warning that due to deteriorating security across the country many aid agencies may not be able to operate in parts of the country that were once considered safe. A statement by ACBAR noted that insurgent violence has surged by 50 percent compared to last year, adding that worsening insecurity could have a serious impact on civilians. The group also noted that nearly 1,000 of the 2,500 people killed so far this year have been civilians. ACBAR said that although civilian casualties were mainly caused by insurgent attacks, airstrikes by the foreign forces were also responsible for some civilian deaths.

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

Several Taliban fighters were killed in a clash with US-led coalition forces backed by air support in Sayed Abad district (also spelled Sayadabad) in Wardak province on Tuesday (July 22) as troops searched several compounds to locate a Taliban leader suspected of conducting attacks on coalition forces. (BBC, Reuters, Jul-23)

On Sunday (July 20), an Afghan soldier was killed in an attack by Taliban militants in Wardak. (Reuters, Jul-21)

Two French aid workers working for the NGO Action Against Hunger were abducted by unidentified gunmen Friday (July 18) in Nili in Daykundi province. (MSNBC, Jul-18)

Comments

IOM provided shelter materials to 21 vulnerable families in Bamyan province the week of July 20. (IOM, Jul-25)

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	*Taliban insurgents killed three Afghan police officers in an ambush in Logar province on Wednesday (July 30). (Reuters, BBC, Jul-30)*
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 Ghazni province on Saturday (July 26), Afghan soldiers killed two Taliban insurgents. (Reuters, Jul-27)* *Coalition troops killed three Taliban fighters in Paktia province on Saturday. (Reuters, Jul-27)* In Khost province, up to 70 Taliban were killed in an airstrike in Spera district on Sunday (July 27) after more than 150 militants attacked a government building with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. (Reuters, BBC, Jul-27, 28) *On Sunday in Khost, one security guard was killed and six were wounded when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives at the gate of a road construction firm. (Reuters, Jul-27, 28)* A roadside bomb targeting a convoy carrying an Afghan lawmaker killed three of his bodyguards and wounded three others Monday (July 28) in Paktia province, but the lawmaker survived. (Reuters, AP, BBC, Jul-29) *Three civilians were killed Monday when a rocket fired from an unknown location hit a residential area in Nuristan province. (Reuters, Jul-28)* *A suspected bomb maker and four family members were killed in an accidental explosion in Kunar province on Monday. (Reuters, Jul-29)* *In Ghazni, several Taliban fighters were killed overnight Wednesday (July 30) in two separate clashes. (BBC, Reuters, Jul-30)* *In Kunar province on Friday (August 1), four ISAF soldiers and a civilian were killed by an IED. (Reuters, BBC, CNN, Aug-1)* *In Khost on Friday, one ISAF soldier was killed by an IED. (Reuters, Aug-1)*
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	NATO and Afghan forces killed four Taliban insurgents and wounded six others in a joint security operation in Nuristan province on Saturday (July 12). The defense ministry said dozens of insurgents were killed and dozens more wounded on Sunday (July 13) in a counter-attack by the Afghan army. (Reuters, Jul-13)
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	*In Baghlan province, two civilians were wounded in a blast outside a government building in Pul-i-Khumri city on Monday (July 28). (Reuters, AP, BBC, Jul-29)* *A civilian was killed in a roadside explosion in Takhar on Monday. (Reuters, AP, BBC, Jul-29)* *On Tuesday (July 29), a suspected Taliban bomb maker and four other people were killed in an accidental explosion at a house in Takhar province. (Reuters, BBC, AP, Jul-29)*
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	*In Kandahar province on Saturday (July 26), two children were killed and a man was wounded when NATO-led forces opened fire on a fast-approaching vehicle. (BBC, Reuters, Jul-27, 28)* In Helmand province, four civilians were killed and three were wounded Saturday (July 26), when NATO-led troops fired at a vehicle that failed to stop at a checkpoint. (BBC, Reuters, Jul-27, 28) *In Helmand’s Musa Qala district, Afghan troops killed three Taliban in a clash on Saturday. (Reuters, Jul-27)* *Afghan and foreign troops backed by air support killed or wounded more than 10 Taliban insurgents in a joint operation in Kandahar on Monday (July 28). (Reuters, BBC, AP, Jul-29)* *Afghan soldiers killed or wounded five insurgents in Helmand’s Marja district during a clash on Monday. (Reuters, BBC, AP, Jul-29)* *A roadside bomb killed two Afghan soldiers in Helmand’s provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, on Monday. (BBC, AP, Jul-29)* *In Nad Ali district of Helmand on Monday, a British soldier on foot patrol was shot dead. (Reuters, AP, Jul-29)* *In Kandahar’s Panjway district, five Afghan policemen were killed and two others were wounded when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb on Thursday (July 31). (Reuters, Aug-1)* *In Kandahar’s Arghandab district on Thursday, suspected Taliban insurgents shot dead a tribal chief and his three sons and abducted seven others. (Reuters, Aug-1)* *In Nimroz province, three Afghan civilians were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Zaranj district on Friday (August 1). (Reuters, Aug-1)*
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	Two people, one Afghan guard and one civilian, were injured in a bomb blast outside the Pakistani consulate in Herat city in Herat province on Thursday (July 31). The bomb was placed on a bicycle and remotely detonated. (BBC, Reuters, Jul-31)
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF
Comments

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
Food	WFP, CRS, ARC
Health	UNICEF, MSF
Non-Food Items (NFIs) - Shelter	CRS
Security
Water & Sanitation	IFRC, MDM
Comments