Update conflict displacement Faryab Province 22 May 2013

Background On 22 April, Anti-Government Elements (AGE) launched a major attack in Qaysar district, making Faryab province one of their key targets of the spring offensive. The fighting later spread to Almar district of Faryab province and Ghormach of Badghis Province, displacing approximately 2,500 people. The attack in Qaysar was well organized, involving several hundred AGE fighters. According to Shah Farokh Shah, commander of 300 Afghan local policemen in Khoja Kinti, some of the insurgents were identified as ‘Chechens and Pakistani Taliban’1. The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) has regained control of the Qaysar police checkpoints. The plan is to place 60 Afghan local policemen (ALPs) at the various checkpoints in the Khoja Kinti area. Quick Response Forces with 40 ALPs have already been posted. ANSF is regaining control in Ghormach district. Similar efforts are made in Almar and Pashtun Kot. Faryab OCCT has decided to replace ALP and ANP, originally coming from Almar district, with staff from other districts. Reportedly the original ALP and ANP forces have sided with the AGE. Security along the Shiberghan - Andkhoy road has improved. The new problem area is the Andkhoy - Maymana road part. 200 highway policemen are being recruited to secure the Maymana - Shibergan highway. According to local media reports the Taliban forces have not been defeated and they are still present in the area. There may be further displacement in view of the coming ANSF operations. Since the start of this operation on 22 April, UNAMA documented 18 civilian casualties in Qaysar district from ground engagements between AGEs and ANSF, IED incidents targeting ANP and targeted killings. Faryab is currently the most conflict-affected province in the Northern region, and providing adequate protection of civilians is the number one humanitarian priority. However, access to many people in need is impeded by insecurity. Security incidents involving humanitarian workers are rampant, and include attacks on UN convoys and NGO offices, abduction of NGO staff and an increased risk of IEDs. Humanitarian space has shrunk considerably following the closure of the Norwegian Provincial Reconstruction Team in October 2012. While humanitarian needs are on the rise, funding has declined and the presence of international humanitarian staff is noticeably lower than in previous years.

Assessments Initial attempts to reach the affected people to assess humanitarian needs failed because of active hostilities. In addition, concern about IEDs planted along one of the two major roads to Qaysar district makes it difficult to reach the civilian population. However, humanitarian assessment teams were able to access Qaysar district centre and met with affected community elders and local authorities. Initial media reports indicated nearly 5,000 families displaced from Qaysar and Almar districts of Faryab province and from Ghormach of Badghis Province. On 5 May, after a humanitarian assessment at the Qaysar district centre, authorities, IDP representatives and elders confirmed 2,033 displaced families in Qaysar. Most of them arrived there from the Khoja Kinti area. On 13 May, Faryab’s Deputy Governor called on humanitarian actors to re-assess the needs of affected families for a second time. The humanitarian team in Qaysar district found that all the IDPs had returned to their places of origin mainly due to lack of housing, food and NFIs during their displacement. According to Qaysar district officials, access to the Khoja Kinti area remains challenging because of on-going sporadic fighting and a high risk of ambush by AGEs. A final verification of beneficiary numbers is impossible due to security access constraints. The Qaisar district governor and Faryab Counter Narcotic Department undertook a mission to Khuja Kenti and Bashbelmast areas and reported that 48 houses were destroyed, 30 livestock dead and

1 Source: Obaid Ali/ Afghanistan Analysts Network (posted: 17-05-2013)

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100 jeribs (20 hectares/50 acres) of agricultural fields destroyed due to artillery shelling. The Governor advised that assessment teams could visit Khoja Kinti area only with armed escort provided by the government but aid organizations declined the offer. Reportedly it is the Qaysar district governor who states an area is insecure and therefore teams cannot go and verify beneficiaries. There is a perception that humanitarian organizations are kept away in order to prevent verification of beneficiaries. The Norwegian Project Office (NPO), through its local network, conducted spot checks and random sampling. A DoRR, NPO and WFP assessment further managed to visit Khoja Kinti area and confirmed food, NFI, health and education assistance needs for the returned IDP families. However, random sampling showed that out of 200 families only 150 were real and in need of assistance. The assumption is that the stated number of 2,033 families is inflated and has to be verified. It appears that names on the list provided by the community development councils (2,033 families) were made up. Therefore, Save the Children is reluctant to distribute NFIs on the basis of that list. The humanitarian situation in Almar and Ghormach districts remains unclear. There is an urgent need to monitor and collect information, but currently there is no access due to insecurity. ICRC and ARCS are following up on needs and access. Needs and Response The priority needs of returning IDPs are food, NFIs and health care. NRC has provided 13 families outside Qaysar district centre with relief assistance. During a meeting on 22 May, it was decided to verify beneficiaries through spot checks, random sampling and house to house surveys. UNHCR said community assistance should be provided regardless of the list, and that assistance will be provided on humanitarian grounds whether or not the families are registered IDPs. Relief stocks are on hand in Maymana, other stocks are available in Mazar and Kabul. WHO has provided sufficient amounts of drugs and medical items to provincial health directorate. Solidarity for Afghan Families (SAF) is the “Basic Package of Health Services” (BPHS) implementer and is working on the ground, and clinics are functioning. UNICEF stated absence of a school tent itself does not generate an emergency. Schools buildings are not reported as damaged. Once assessment figures are clear, UNICEF is ready to assist with NFIs. As humanitarian access to the affected population is still restricted due to on-going conflict, further displacement is anticipated.

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