CONFLICT - INDUCED INTERNAL

DISPLACEMENT - MONTHLY UPDATE

UNHCR FEBRUARY 2 0 1 4

IDPs profiled by the IDP Taskforces in February 2014

During February 2014, 6,885 persons (1,136 families) were profiled by the IDP Taskforces. Of those profiled 493 persons (7%) were displaced in February, 2,276 persons (33%) in January 2014, 849 persons (12%) in December, 369 persons (5%) in November, 2,075 persons (30%) in October, and 66 persons (1%) in September 2013 while 757 persons (11%) were displaced before September 2013.

Total Increase Decrease Total disp laced January February February (all) 2014 2014 2014 647,779 6,885 0 654,664

Regional overview of persons profiled in February

end-Jan end-Feb Region Increase Decrease 2014 2014 North 91,773 1,652 - 93,425 South 183,982 502 184,484 Southeast 16,303 145 - 16,448 East 115,135 917 - 116,052 West 170,458 3,423 - 173,881 Central 70,128 246 - 70,374 Central Highlands - - - - Total 647,779 6,885 - 654,664

Comparison of Monthly Trends (2012-2014)

*Often, due to lack of humanitarian access or other issues, IDPs are not profiled by the IDP Taskforces until at least several months after their displacement occurred. As a result, this graph is constantly updated to reflect new groups profiled by the Taskforce

Snapshot of displacement profiled in February 2014

Faryab: 106 families ( 636 individuals ) were displaced from Ghor Sarepul: 112 families ( 667 individuals ) were Balkh: 49 families ( 283 individuals ) : 11 families ( 66 individuals ) were and Faryab provinces to Maimana city, center of Faryab displaced from Sarepul Province and Bilchragh were displaced from Sholgar district of displaced from Imam Saheb district of province in December 2013 , due to armed conflicts between district of Faryab to Sarepul provincial center to Mazar city. Balkh’s to Sher Khan Bandar area ANSF and AGEs, generalized violence, and intimidations by from July to December 2013 , due to general provincial centre in December 2013 , of the same district in July 2013 , due to AGEs. IDPs have access to the available social services in deterioration of security, targeted persecution due to insecurity and conflict between armed conflict and generalized violence. Maimana city; however lack of documentation is going to be an and extortion by AGEs. The families have access different groups within the local IDPs are living in their relatives’ houses and issue for these families for enrolment of their children in schools to electricity, drinking water, school, clinic, population. The families are living in also houses of the local community. These after seasonal vocations. Majority of the families are living with justice system and other social facilities rented houses but are suffering in the IDPs have access to the basic facilities their relatives and also in free shelters provided to them by the available in the area. Majority of the IDPs are cold weather. The families are in need available in the area such as school, clinic, host community, while few families are living in rented houses. living with their relatives while some of them of food and non-food items as well as markets and drinking water. No assistance Access to potable water is sufficient for majority of the families, are in rented houses. All families families were cash assistance to improve their has been so far provided but will be followed while for few families it is difficult since the underground water provided with NFIs and food packages in situations. No assistance has been so up by UNHCR. in some parts of the city is salty and not good for drinking February, and some were provided with cash far provided, but will be followed up purposes. All families have been assisted with food and NFIs . assistance for shelter . by UNHCR.

Laghman: 34 families ( 233 individuals ) were Badghis: 197 families ( 1,023 individuals ) were displaced from different districts of Laghman displaced in 7 separate groups from Badghis province to provincial center, Mihtarlam city in province and Koshk district of province to January 2014 , due to harassment and the provincial center of Badghis, Qala Naw city, intimidation by AGEs. All families have been from mid-January to mid-February 2014 due to assisted with food and NFIs by UNHCR and WFP, armed conflict between ANSF and AGEs, general while 11 families with cash by DRC. deterioration of security and intimidation by AGEs. All families are living in rented houses in residential areas of Qala Naw city. They all have access to the basic social services available in Qala Naw city. All Kunar: 58 families ( 313 individuals ) in 11 families have been assisted with food and NFIs. separate groups were displaced within Kunar province from December 2013 to February 2014 , due to harassment and intimidation by AGEs. Food and NFIs have been provided to all Farah: 370 families ( 2,400 individuals ) were families while some families have been also displaced in 3 separate groups from different provided with sanitary kits. districts of Farah province and Herat to the provincial center, Farah city between September 2013 and January 2014 due to general deterioration of security, intimidation by AGEs, ⃝ More than 500 persons displaced Nangarh ar: 64 families ( 371 occasional military operations and - as an ⃝ Less than 500 persons displaced individuals ) were displaced in aggravating factor - lack of adequate income 12 separate groups from opportunities. A small number of families will be different districts of Kunar and provided with food, NFIs and tents. Nangarhar provinces to Paktya: 145 individuals : 41 families ( 246 individuals ) were displaced from Ghorband 22 families ( ) Bihsud, Khugyani and district of Parwan province to Kabul in February 2014 , due to armed were displaced from different districts Surkhrud districts of conflicts between AGEs and ANSF as well as the military operations. of Paktya to the provincial center, Nangarhar from December January 2014 Helmand: 72 families ( 502 individuals ) were displaced from There were casualties reported amongst these families before Gardez city in due to 2013 until February 2014 due Nawzad and Sangin districts of Helmand to the provincial displacement. Most of the families are living in rented houses. Majority general deterioration of security, to harassment and center, Lashkargah in January 2014 due to conflict between of the heads of household work as daily wage labours, however due to harassment as well as intimation by intimidation by AGEs, some of the ANA/IF/ANP and AGEs as well as existence of landmines cold season they do not have access to regular source of income. These AGEs. The families are living in rented which was due to families in their village. The majority of the families have access to IDP families have access to basic social services including potable water, houses and have access to the working with the Afghan basic services available in Lashkargah city, while some health and education available in the city. The primary needs of these available basic social services. Families Army. All families were families have difficulties in fetching water from water points families are assessed to be food and non-food items as well as livelihood are going to stay in this location until provided with food and NFIs to their accommodations due to far distance. All families opportunities. Some very vulnerable families amongst the group were the security situation in their place of while some of them received were assisted with Food and NFIs by WFP and UNHCR. assisted with NFI packages and tents by UNHCR. origin improves. Families were sanitary kits. provided with NFIs by UNHCR.

Comparison of monthly trends

November 2013 December 2013 January 2014

⃝ More than 500 persons displaced ⃝ Less than 500 persons displaced

Analysis of Displacement Profiled in February 2014

Protection-related information specific to each new displacement, where available, has been included in the Snapshot on the preceding page.

Displacement trends witnessed in previous months continued. Large numbers of families were displaced in Badghis and Faryab due to armed conflicts between ANSF and AGEs, generalized violence, and intimidation by AGEs. Displacement in Faryab has raised challenges around humanitarian access, as actors struggle to access populations in need while conflict is ongoing. Displacement also continued in the East, in Paktiya, Nangahar and Kunar; however, in the East the displacement was due to intimidation and harassment by AGEs, rather than armed conflict. Displacement in Farah took place at even higher rates than usual, due to military operations as well as intimidation from AGEs.

The overwhelming majority of IDPs are living with their relatives or others in the host community, or have been permitted by the host community to live in existing buildings. However, this does not mean that they are not vulnerable; rather, living conditions are frequently over-crowded and may be insufficient to protect from the cold weather. In addition, some IDPs may be required to pay rent which they struggle to meet. Difficulty in accessing water was another issue reported by numerous IDP groups.

IDP Returns

No IDP returns were recorded in February 2014.

IDP location from 2011 - 2014

The National IDP Policy *Each month, UNHCR endeavours to address a different theme relevant to internal displacement. Suggests for topics are most welcome and should be made directly to RA Kabul.

The Government of Afghanistan, led by the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation and supported by UNHCR, has developed a National Policy on Internally Displaced Persons, which was endorsed on 7 December 2013 and officially launched on 11 February 2014. The National IDP Policy seeks to ensure the protection of the rights of displaced persons, find solutions for people affected by conflict and natural disasters, and set out the roles and responsibilities of the different government ministries, humanitarian and development actors, and other partners.

A core element of the National IDP Policy is an acknowledgement of the central responsibility of the Government of Afghanistan towards IDPs. This includes the responsibility to prevent conditions leading to displacement, minimise unavoidable displacement, and to mitigate and resolve its adverse effects without delay. This responsibility exists regardless of the cause of displacement, and applies whether displaced persons are living in settlements, with host families, in rural or in urban settings, and inside or outside their province of origin. The Policy also recognizes that all Afghans, including displaced persons, have the right to freedom of movement and residence. This means that, according to the Policy, Afghans have the right to integrate in the place where they are living, return to their place of origin, or relocate to a new place. Under no circumstances will displaced people be encouraged or compelled to return or relocate to areas where their lives will be at risk. Communities hosting IDPs will also be supported.

A central, and practical, element of the National IDP Policy is that in Provinces hosting IDPs, the Provincial Governor will convene and lead a Taskforce, aimed at identifying and implementing durable solutions for IDPs in their Province. Once convened, the Governor’s IDP Taskforce will undertake a “stocktake” of available information on its IDP communities. MoRR, UNHCR and other humanitarian and development actors will assist as far as possible by providing existing data and analysis, and there will also be scope to carry out additional profiling should significant gaps in information be identified. In addition to conducting a desktop review, the Governor’s IDP Taskforce will also meet with IDP representatives, host community representatives, Government ministries, humanitarian actors, development actors and donors in order to obtain their views and input on durable solutions for the IDPs within that Province.

Once all the relevant information and views have been gathered, the Governor’s IDP Taskforce will analyse the information in order to recommend durable solutions for the IDP communities in its Province. These recommendations will then be prioritised, based on factors such as the vulnerability of different groups; the likelihood of a solution being achieved; and the availability of funding. Finally, this information will be incorporated into a Provincial Action Plan, which sets out in detail how durable solutions for IDPs might be achieved in that Province. While the Governor’s IDP Taskforce is responsible for drafting the Provincial Action Plan, consistent and ongoing support will be provided by MoRR, DoRR, UNHCR and other humanitarian actors. The Provincial Action Plan is an essential tool to guide the Government, at a practical and local level, towards attaining solutions for IDPs.

Currently, MoRR, supported by UNHCR and other humanitarian actors, is developing a Road Map in relation to implementation of the National IDP Policy. This includes a large element of training, interactive workshops and capacity building for those actors who would benefit from such support, followed by a period where Provincial Governors would set up the Taskforces and draft the Provincial Action Plans described above. There are a number of challenges and constraints, including the upcoming 2014 elections, as well as difficulties around humanitarian access. However, UNHCR welcomes the National IDP Policy and, together with other humanitarian agencies, stands ready to help and assist Afghanistan in seeking solutions for the internally displaced.