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Issue 13: Jan/Feb 2010 Key Points  Attacks on aid community decline from late 2009  Displacements in Helmand; expected new military operation in  Severe weather in February causes floods and avalanches  2010 HAP launched  Civilian casualties continue to exceed 2009 levels

I. Humanitarian Overview permanent UN presence in Lashkar Gha, but UNHCR seconded staff to DoRR to assist with IDP registration, Access and UN implementing partners PAT and HAPA verified DSS reports that the number of security incidents during IDP families and distributed assistance. In advance of the January 2010 was consistent with the previous months, operation, additional relief stocks were stockpiled in but higher than in the same period in 2009. The security Lashkar Gha; additional supplies are available in situation appeared less affected by the onset of winter Kandahar if needed. than in previous years, which DSS attributes to mild As of 7 March, UNHCR reported that roughly 900 weather conditions and ongoing military operations. families had returned to Marja and to a lesser extent to Demonstrations in response to reports of civilian Nad Ali; however, returns had peaked around 1-2 March, casualties in IM operations took place in the Eastern, possibly due in part to the large numbers of IEDs on the Southern, and Central regions. In February, security routes back. The IDP Task Force in the Southern region is incidents declined from January levels (although there now turning its attention to how to support returns. IDP were increases in the South and Southeastern regions), representatives had indicated that at this point assistance but were higher than in February 2009. Much of the should not be distributed in Marja town itself because of decrease from January was attributed to severe weather fear of reprisals. There continue to be concerns regarding conditions in parts of the country, and to arrests of senior civilians’ freedom of movement, access to medical care, leaders in Pakistan in mid-February which are and damage to property and livelihoods. considered to have disrupted insurgent activities. An inter-agency mission consisting of OCHA, IOM, DSS reports that there were relatively few attacks against WHO, UNAMA, UNHCR, DSS, and PAT visited the aid community given the number of security incidents Lashkar Gha on 28 February and met with government during this period. However, a number of significant officials, the PRT, and DFID. UN representatives incidents were reported, including abductions of reiterated to the government and the military that their demining and health workers, carjacking of an INGO assistance can only be distributed in response to verified vehicle, attacks on food convoys, and intimidation of aid needs and in a neutral and impartial manner. workers. Anti-UN rhetoric by Armed Opposition Groups (AOGs) was high, and included responses to reports that ISAF and government officials have indicated that they the SRSG met with Taliban leaders, a statement that UN plan to shortly conduct a similar operation in Kandahar offices had been attacked in Helmand (although there is province with a focus on Kandahar city. It is anticipated no UN presence there), and a threatening message that the operation will raise similar issues of temporary disseminated to national and international staff after the displacement and access to civilians remaining in the 18 January attack in . conflict area. Partners in Kandahar are updating the inter- agency contingency plan for the region in advance of the Conflict in Helmand operation. As of 28 February, UNHCR reported that a total of 4,275 Floods and Avalanches families (approximately 27,700 individuals) had been registered as displaced from Marja and Nad Ali in Increased precipitation in February somewhat allayed due to Operation Moshtarak. The concerns about potential drought, but also resulted in a displaced stayed with host families, and 88 percent of the number of floods and avalanches. The most serious displaced – most of whom relocated to the provincial incident was a series of avalanches in the Salang pass on capital of Lashkar Gha – received humanitarian assistance 9 February; according to ANDMA 160 people were killed (NFIs and a one-month food ration). There is no and 1,600 had to be rescued. Line ministries, ISAF, and

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) OCHA : http://ochaonline.un.org/afghanistan Monthly Humanitarian Update Issue 13: Jan/Feb 2010 the Parwan provincial authorities participated in the the affected families by the government. Heavy snowfall rescue operation. Assistance provided to those affected and avalanches in also caused two deaths included floods, blankets, and NFIs from UNICEF, IOM, and one injury in Cheghcheran and Charsada districts, ANDMA, and ARCS; additional mobile health teams and blocked roads to the provincial center and to were also dispatched to the affected area. Other flooding neighboring provinces. and avalanche incidents included the following: Southern region: Heavy rains on 8 February caused Northern region: Flooding of the Amu Darya river flooding in a number of provinces. In Kandahar, the damaged homes, roads, and livelihoods of 250 families in Provincial Disaster Management Committee (PDMC) Qarqin and Khamyab districts of Jawzjan province. On organized a joint assessment and verification exercise in 20-21 February, OCHA participated in a verification Dand, Daiman, and Kandahar city districts to distribute mission with government, UN, and NGO partners and food from WFP, NFIs from IOM and ADA, and medical identified a total of 250 families in need of food, shelter, supplies from WHO to 157 flood-affected families. and NFI assistance and the need for further flood Floods were also reported in Panjway, Zaru, Shawali Kot, mitigation efforts. A relief convoy is planned but road and Maywand districts, but assessments and distribution access to the affected area is difficult because of flood were not possible due to the security situation. In damage and insecurity. On 24 February, ActionAid Helmand, ARCS provided 108 flood affected families reported that floods damaged cultivated lands in three with tents, food, and NFIs. In , the PDMC villages in , province. On 23 has requested assistance for flood-affected families and February, a peaceful demonstration took place in UN implementing partners are verifying assessments and , , where residents distributing assistance. requested that the government build proper flood Central Highlands: According to the Bamiyan PDMC, a protection walls along the Amu Darya river. total of 15 people were killed by avalanches in Panjab Northeastern region: In Badakhshan, avalanches killed and Waras districts of Bamiyan in February. UNAMA five people in Argu, Kofab, and Jurm districts and also reported damage from avalanches in Gero and Rabat blocked roads to most villages. The NGO FOCUS also areas of (at least 34 houses damaged, reported that avalanches destroyed six houses in Gharan 200 cattle killed, roads and fruit trees damages), Khedir village, Ishkishm district. In Takhar, the road from district (more than 100 livestock killed, fruit trees and Taluqan to Hazar Sumuch was temporarily closed by canals damaged, and roads blocked), and Sharistan heavy snowfall on 12 February. On 14 February, five district (one person killed, 20 livestock killed, and a houses collapsed due to heavy snowfall in Ibrahim Khil number of houses and roads damaged). area of Kunduz city, killing one person; ARCS and In terms of the expected forecast in the coming months, government departments assisted the affected families. the Food Security and Agriculture cluster has formed an The Panj-Amu River Basin Program (PARBP) is Early Warning Information Working Group which will planning a workshop for humanitarian actors and issue reports every two weeks, available on OCHA’s government actors in late March on the forecast for website (ochaonline.un.org/afghanistan). In anticipation drought and/or floods and implications for humanitarian of further spring floods, OCHA is working with ANDMA planning. and other partners on preparedness activities, and Western region: In February, flash floods in Herat OCHA’s field offices are updating stock lists and province damaged a total of 50 houses in Enjil, Koshki, finalizing contingency plans in the North, Northeast, and Robat Sangi and Zinda Jan districts; affected families West (plans for the East and South are already complete). were provided with food, NFIs, and tarpaulins by NGOs 2010 Humanitarian Action Plan Launch and UN agencies. Flash floods also occurred in three villages of Purchaman district in ; On 17 February, the Humanitarian Coordinator, OCHA, ANDMA reported that six women and six children were and ACBAR held a press conference to launch the 2010 killed. Assessments and aid distribution were delayed by Afghanistan HAP, as well as provide an update on the weather conditions and insecurity; ANA helicopter situation in Helmand. The press conference highlighted support was required as a last resort. When an assessment the need to mitigate the effects of conflict and natural team was able to reach the affected area, ANDMA hazards on vulnerable populations, the need to link reported that a total of 437 families in Purchaman and humanitarian programming to longer-term recovery and 400 households in and near Farah city were identified as development activities, and the importance of support to needing assistance; humanitarian agencies provided food, national and international NGOs who often have the best NFIs, tarpaulins, and winter clothing for distribution to access to the affected population.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 2 OCHA Afghanistan: http://ochaonline.un.org/afghanistan Monthly Humanitarian Update Issue 13: Jan/Feb 2010

Iran Deportations (estimated by SHRDO at 1103 families), and the announcement that residents of Cahare Qambar will have The government of Iran announced that foreign nationals to be relocated since the site is located on land owned by living in certain “no-go areas” should be relocated as of 5 the Ministry of Defense. A mapping exercise by UNHCR February. Although an extension to the deadline is being identified 25 informal settlements ranging in size from 5 sought so that assistance can be provided to relocated to 700 families as of late January. Not all of the residents individuals, there is concern that there could be an influx of the informal sites meet UNHCR’s definition of IDPs, of deportees into Afghanistan. UNAMA and UNHCR and there are concerns that the distribution of assistance Nimroz reported that on 2 March 75 Afghan families will attract more migrants from the provinces. Still, were deported from Iran; this is an increase over the assessments by NGOs have identified immediate normal rate of 20-35 families/day and signals a potential humanitarian needs in the settlements and an ad hoc influx of deportees as Iranian authorities order Afghan group has been assembled in Kabul to facilitate the refugees in Sistan Balochistan province to resettle in response. OCHA is monitoring these issue along partners another area of Iran or return to Afghanistan. UNHCR to ensure that those in need receive assistance and that and its partners are reviewing existing contingency plans any relocations are conducted humanely. and preparedness for response to potential mass returns from Iran in 2010. Eastern Region II. Regional Updates OCHA and partners have completed a contingency plan for the Eastern region to improve preparedness and define Southern Region common procedures and responsibilities among On 19 February, the UN Secretary-General approved a humanitarian actors. The plan outlines humanitarian move to Security Phase IV in the South in recognition of response capacity, presents agreed-upon scenarios, and the deteriorating security situation in the region. On 1 analyzes gaps in resources. The plan covers both natural March a number of new regulations were announced disasters and conflict-induced violence and will be regarding the UN presence in the region, including: a updated on a regular basis. ceiling on the numbers of international staff in Kandahar Humanitarian access continues to be a challenge in Bargi and Tirin Kot; no international staff presence in Helmand, Matal area of , and there is still little Zabul, or Nimroz provinces; and a realignment of agency information on the humanitarian situation. At the request programs to focus on emergency operations, humanitarian of the Humanitarian Regional Team (HRT), OCHA will relief, and security activities, and a downscaling of other liaise with the to obtain a list of credible activities. However, it is not anticipated that the change in community leaders with whom the humanitarian security phase will result in major programming changes community can work to identify needs (to be cross- since stringent security measures were already in place in checked with other sources) and deliver assistance. IMC the region. reports that they have been able to provide medical From 14-16 February the polio National Immunization supplies to their clinics in the areas. Days took place. The campaign was postponed in A special round of polio vaccinations was held from 23- conflict-affected areas of Helmand, and additional teams 25 January targeting 402,300 children under five. WHO were deployed to immunize children displaced to Lashkar and MoPH report that the campaign was held in response Gha and Nimroz. Overall, 10.6 percent of the targeted to a recently reported case of polio in Baroo locality in children in the Southern region were not reached in the . February round (the December 2009 total was 12.3 percent). WHO reports ongoing efforts to negotiate Northern Region access with local community leaders, and that access had UNHCR reported that 36 families displaced from South improved in February in some areas of Helmand, Waziristan, Pakistan, arrived to Aybak city in Samangan Kandahar, and Uruzgan provinces. Since the start of 2010 province. The IDPs are staying with host families and three polio cases have been reported in the Southern report that other displaced families are likely to arrive. region, all in Helmand province. UNHCR is conducting an assessment of their needs. Central Region OCHA conducted civil-military coordination activities in The number of informal settlements in and around Kabul the region, including a briefing on the Afghanistan civil- has been rising, and with them comes an increase in military guidelines and humanitarian principles for ISAF reports of humanitarian needs. Recent incidents have RC-N and a meeting with humanitarian agencies on 19 included an influx of people into Bagrami market place January. Participants in the latter meeting agreed to

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 3 OCHA Afghanistan: http://ochaonline.un.org/afghanistan Monthly Humanitarian Update Issue 13: Jan/Feb 2010 establish civil-military coordination fora in both the North poorly distributed. The PDMC requested that it be and Northeastern regions to discuss such issues as the use involved in the coordination of all assistance activities by of white vehicles by the military and humanitarian access. the PRT. In Dai Kundi, it was also reported that U.S. The first civil-military coordination meeting was held in forces have distributed assistance in without Mazar on 11 February. coordinating with the government or others. In February, UNHCR conducted an IDP profiling Western Region exercise in identifying 742 families, In early January, the PDMC reported 120 families mostly displaced from . There are displaced from Langar village, Qadis district, Badghis unconfirmed reports of larger IDP movements within province. The PDMC distributed some assistance, and a Badghis and from Badghis to Herat. The security later assessment by ICRC revealed that further situation in Badghis deteriorated significantly in 2009 humanitarian assistance was not needed. with increased AOG presence and increased conflict between AOGs and IMF/ANSF. A workshop on the new Emergency Response Fund (ERF) for Afghanistan was held in late January in Herat. A land commission was established to identify durable 34 NGOs, IFRC and ARCS, IOM, and 4 UN agencies resettlement options for returnee residents of Sozma Qala participated. OCHA’s ERF manager introduced the goal, transit camp in Sari Pul province. The commission objective, and scope of the Fund and described the determined that 222 families have access to inherited land application process. but a remaining 90 families are landless. UNHCR is working with local authorities to develop a reintegration III. Protection of Civilians strategy for all families. January: January 2010 saw little change in the number or Northeastern Region pattern of civilian casualties as compared to the previous Assessment teams have identified a number of food month. A range of tactics used by Armed Opposition shortages in the region. An inter-agency assessment on 12 Groups (AOGs) resulted in civilian casualties, but more February identified food shortages in Wakhan, Zebak, civilians were killed by IEDs than by any other tactic. Ishkashim, and Wardooj districts of Badakhshan; 2,001 This was not due to any single “mass casualty” incident families in 31 villages were identified as needing — no incident killed more than 5 civilians — but due to emergency food. An assessment lead by ANDMA also the number of IEDs detonated in the presence of civilians. identified 200 families affected by food shortages in The second most deadly tactic for civilians was suicide Lataban area, Taluqan district, . attacks; by far the deadliest of these attacks took place on 14 January in Dehrawud district, Uruzgan province. Central Highlands According to police investigations, the intended target The Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock was a district shura attended by government officials, (DAIL) reports that early frosts led to the loss of an elders, and international military personnel. However, the average of 28 percent of harvests in Bamiyan province attacker prematurely detonated in a crowded commercial and 25 percent in Dai Kundi province. The worst affected area, killing 20 civilians and wounding 13. A 26 January provinces were Waras and Panjab in Bamiyan; Lal suicide attack at the entrance to an international military district of Ghor was also heavily affected. As a result, base in Kabul that wounded 8 civilians demonstrated the there has been increased economic migration of a dangers of locating military bases in populated areas. reported 1000 families from Lal and 2000 families from The month’s two most high-profile insurgent attacks Waras and Pajab to other cities in Afghanistan and to involved multiple attackers taking over major buildings in Iran; others are reported to have sold livestock and other Kabul on 18 January and in Lashkar Gah (Helmand) on assets to purchase food. DAIL estimates that the cereal 29 January. However, the civilian toll was less than deficit for Bamiyan province is 35,500 MT (versus an might have been anticipated, with a total of 2 civilians average of 15,285) and that 40 percent of families do not killed and 38 wounded in these attacks. Other civilians have the purchasing power needed to make up the deficit. were killed and wounded in suicide attacks targeting The PDMC has requested additional food support from government and international forces in Helmand, ANDMA. Kandahar, and Paktya provinces. In an attack displaying At a PDMC meeting in Bamiyan, it was reported that the an exceptional indifference to civilian casualties, on 6 PRT has distributed food via airdrops in late 2009 without January in Nangarhar province a suspected insurgent prior coordination with the PDMC or other bodies; the threw an explosive device in the direction of a crowd of Deputy Governor reported that as a result the food was schoolchildren to which foreign soldiers and Afghan

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 4 OCHA Afghanistan: http://ochaonline.un.org/afghanistan Monthly Humanitarian Update Issue 13: Jan/Feb 2010 police were distributing candy, killing 4 children and working for the government as well as local community wounding 56 children and 12 adult civilians. leaders and tribal elders across the country. AOGs also directly targeted civilians with assassinations, A number of aerial operations conducted by IM forces executions, and abductions. Those assassinated or resulted in numerous civilian casualties in the south and executed included several suspected informants, a retired east. Of concern is the number of civilians who are ANP officer, a mullah, a medical doctor associated with targeted because they are mistakenly determined to be the government, a mayor, a village leader, and a number suspected insurgents. On 21 February, at least 32 civilians of police who were hors de combat or not directly including women and children, were killed and 14 injured participating in hostilities. A larger number of civilians due to an air strike against a three-car convoy traveling in were abducted. Most of these were later released the border area between Kijan District of Daikundi following negotiations with elders, some a still being province and Charchine District of Uruzgan province. held, and some were ultimately executed. Around 45 displaced people were returning to their villages of origin after having fled the area during a Pro-Government Forces (PGFs) killed and wounded previous ANSF operation. On 22 February, the DSRSG civilians in a range of incidents, including aerial attacks, issued a press statement calling upon all parties to the escalation of force shootings, mortar attacks, and raids. conflict to take all necessary measures to avoid civilian The most deadly incident for civilians for which PGF casualties. were responsible took place in Helmand province: In , violent demonstrations were held on 12 UNAMA remains concerned about the impact of and 13 January in response to a night raid. The first Operation Moshtarak on the civilian population in the demonstration in particular was extremely violent, with south, including civilian casualties. Reportedly at least 45 demonstrators burning buildings and firing on security civilians were killed and at least 90 civilians were injured forces. During each demonstration, Pro-Government since the start of the Operation, including through night Forces fired into the crowd. As a result, eight civilians searches, mortar and aerial bombardment. On 14 were killed and 16 others injured on 12 January, and five February, 12 civilians were reportedly killed by IM others were injured on 13 January. forces' rockets that landed short of its target in Marjah town. As a result, IM forces temporarily suspended the A number of “escalation of force incidents” in which use of the artillery rocket system. AOG activities in PGFs fired (erroneously) on suspected attackers took Marjah also resulted in civilian casualties through the use place in Farah, Ghazni, Kabul, Kandahar, Kunduz, and of IEDs as well as intimidatory tactics that resulted in Paktya provinces. Particularly upsetting to Afghans was a limiting their movement out of the theatre of operation. 28 January incident in which an international military convoy shot and killed an imam in Kabul. V. Funding February: In February as in January, the reported civilian Emergency Response Fund death toll in 2010 was higher than in the same period of 2009. The increase compared to 2009 is presumably due Application templates and guidance materials for the in part to the sustained use of asymmetric tactics used by Emergency Response Fund (ERF) have been developed AOGs and the ongoing operations jointly conducted by and are available on OCHA’s website. The ERF team is Afghan and international military forces, including aerial also conducting trainings for NGOs in Kabul and in the attacks. The winter lull traditionally witnessed in previous regions. The ERF Review Board has also been formed, years also did not occur. with UN representatives WHO, WFP, and UNICEF and NGO representatives Merlin, ACF, and Mission East The Suicide and IED attacks accounted for the majority of fund is now fully operational and is expected to start civilians killed by AOGs in February, particularly in the making disbursements shortly. Southern region. Several suicide attacks targeted high profile government officials and pro-government CERF Underfunded Allocation community and tribal elders in the south, central, western, Afghanistan received an $11 million allocation in the first northeastern and eastern regions of Afghanistan. On 26 round of grants from the Central Emergency Response February, a complex attack in Kabul reportedly resulted Fund (CERF) for underfunded humanitarian emergencies in the deaths of 17 people, including 13 civilians, many of in 2010. The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) them foreigners. Reportedly, 44 civilians, the majority of endorsed the recommendation from the clusters that $3 whom were Afghans, were injured. Assassination and million each should be allocated to agriculture, nutrition, intimidatory tactics also continued against civilians and health activities and $2 million to nutrition. The selected sectors were chosen based on 2009 funding

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 5 OCHA Afghanistan: http://ochaonline.un.org/afghanistan Monthly Humanitarian Update Issue 13: Jan/Feb 2010 levels, thematic priorities in the overall response, and Contact Details capacity to implement. Individual clusters selected priority areas/activities and implementing partners for Wael Haj-Ibrahim, Head of OCHA Afghanistan proposals, which were submitted to the CERF Secretariat [email protected], phone: +93- (0)798993290 on 12 February. Deborah Murphy, Reporting Officer, OCHA Afghanistan VI. Coordination Update [email protected], phone: +93- (0)795878708 Jacco Snoeijer, Desk Officer, OCHA NY HCT Membership [email protected], phone: +1-212-963-0909 ACBAR coordinated the election of new NGO members Elisabeth Byrs, Spokesperson, OCHA Geneva of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT). Noor [email protected], phone: +41 22 917 26 53 Education Center, Afghanaid, and Solidarites will join Oxfam and NRC as NGO members of the HCT. Merlin, Stephanie Bunker, Spokesperson, OCHA NY AREA, and CARE are the outgoing NGO members. [email protected], phone: +1-917-367-5126

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 6 OCHA Afghanistan: http://ochaonline.un.org/afghanistan