Western Region Minutes of Humanitarian Regional Team (HRT) Meeting

Date: Monday, 29 May 2017 Time: 9 a.m. Venue: UNICEF-WHO-OCHA compound, Hirat Chair: OCHA

Participants: Present: CRS, INSO, FAO, ACBAR, DACAAR, WFP, ARAA, RAADA, DRC, IRC, IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF, AHDAA, ICRC, WVI, NRC, Christian Aid, NRC, DoRR, Absent: Health Cluster focal point, GBV focal point, HLP-TF

Agenda and discussion points: 1. Access and security updates (INSO) 2. Conflict-induced IDPs updates (OCHA) 3. Cluster updates (Clusters focal points) - Nutrition - FSAC - Heath - Protection, HLP-TF, EWG, and CPiE - ES/NFI - WASH - Nutrition 4. AoB

Access and security updates (INSO) INSO updated the participants on the security situation of the Western Region. During May, in Badghis province Non-State Armed Group (NSAG) conducted large attacks on Dara Boom Bala area of Qadis district along the highway and at the crossroads with Muqur and Balamurghab districts and captured some Check Posts (CP). ANSF sent reinforcements, to retake the location. Similar attack took place in the Jawaleq area of Qadis district. In Abkamari district, fighting were recorded in the Mubarak Shah area, north of the District Centre. Although they are all part of the same tribe, there are tensions between those supporting NSAG and those supporting government. NSAG supporters trying to ensure that the Government do not access the pistachio forests. In Hirat province, a VBIED was discovered in the industrial area the intended target remained unclear unconfirmed reports indicates that the intended target might have been the airport or IMF compound. ISK claimed its first attack in Herat City. An IED detonation in front of a Shia bakery on 12 May killing and wounding a number of people. Several episodes of violence in Adraskan District, spilling over Guzara District, between intra NSAG and ANSF and NSAG have been recorded. This is a continuation from the previous month with IEA trying to expand their presence in Adraskan but facing opposition from rival groups and ANSF. ANSF conducted a number of clearing operations against NSAG in Adraskan district, in areas bordering Guzara and Pashtunzarghun districts. In Ghor province, NSAG have been trying to increase their presence in Du Layna and Shahrak District and to gain control of the main roads (two CPs along the DoLayna-Pasaband districts main road still in place; one temporary CP along the Chaghcharan-Herat main road, in Shahrak district). They also attacked some ANSF positions in both Du Layna and Shahrak. As a result, ANSF conducted a large clearing operation in Shahrak and took Masjed Negar from NSAG on 21 May. Situation is calm since this operation in the southern districts but this will not last. As OCHA’s mandated to coordinate civil military actions, OCHA Head of Sub-Office, regularly meet with J9 to advocate for potential reduction of civilian casualties during RS operations. OCHA updated that J9 is comprised of a small team and uninvolved in humanitarian activities in the Western Region. In Farah province the situation is relatively calm with no major push recorded since the announcement of the spring offensive.

Conflict-induced IDPs updates (OCHA) OCHA updated the HRT members on the Western Region displacement trend in May 2017. The tally shows consistent displacement with the previous months. The inter-agency joint assessment teams are verifying the conflict-affected people in Farah city, Herat city, Qala-e-Naw city and Chaghcharan city to identify the basic needs of affected people. No displacement was reported in hard-to-access areas.  In Hirat, the assessment team has assessed 344 families of whom 107 families were verified as in need of humanitarian aids in Herat city. DRC, NRC, WFP PAT, DACAAR, UNHCR responded to the caseloads.

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 In Badghis, the assessment team has assessed 337 families in Qala-e-Naw city. 214 families were verified as in need of humanitarian assistance. NRC, IRC, UNICEF and UNHCR have covered the needs of affected people.  In Ghor province, the assessment team has assessed 249 families in Chaghcharan and DoLayna district. Of which, 99 families were identified in need of assistance. WFP, UNICEF, ARAA and ACF assisted the IDPs.  In Farah, the assessment team has reach out to 350 families in Farah city. Of whom 54 families were verified as in need of humanitarian assistance. DRC and WFP covered the needs of affected people.

Cluster updates (Clusters focal points) FSAC Cluster FSAC cluster focal point presented the report of MAIL on condition of precipitation and agriculture in Badghis province. The information show that the level of precipitation in the current season (2017) is recorded lower than the normal trend in Badghis province, and the rain-fed lands have been affected by insufficient water. The reports also indicate that as a result of low precipitation, insufficient fodder is available for livestock with the lower price of livestock than the normal market price. The information show that the production of wheat has been below normal trend this year which may impact the food security of the province since the production of wheat is insufficient for the population of the province. In a separate note, FSAC update that based on information received from farmers from Obe district, flash flood affected agriculture lands of 116 families. OCHA recommended that FSAC to do a rapid assessment of damages to the farmers and update the HRT members accordingly for potential recovery assistance.

Health Cluster As the Health Cluster focal point was frequently absent in the HRT meeting, the HRT members recommended OCHA to meet with Health Cluster focal point to discuss Health Cluster related issue and find out why Health Cluster focal point is absent in the coordination meeting.

Nutrition Cluster Nutrition Cluster focal point updated the participant that providing service to conflict-induced IDPs is at Cluster’s top priority. The WVI CHF funded Nutrition project by the name of Emergency Nutrition Response for IDPs in Hirat province has ended, in coordination with Nutrition Cluster, WVI is conducting a Nutrition Assessment in Herat city informal settlement for potential extension of the project. The assessment report will be shared with HRT through OCHA. The nutrition project (November 2016 to April 2017) covers IDP informal settlement in four districts of Hirat namely Injil, Guzara, Zendajan districts as well as Herat city. The service is covered by four health mobiles and five static health facilities in the above-said districts.

WASH Cluster Based on the decision of OCT meeting convened on 21 May, an assessment team was mobilized and assessed the WASH needs of IDPs in Polisra IDP settlement in Herat city. DoRR updated that the DoRR-led assessment team assessed the WASH needs of IDPs in the Polisra and recommended that 172 families are in need of drinking water and WASH supplies. The WASH Cluster will address the needs of IDPs in Polisra.

ES-NFIs Cluster ES-NFI focal briefed the participants about the ES-ENF meeting held during the month. In the meeting, the members raised the issue of assistance package harmonization; therefore, ES-NFI Chair asked the members to share their NFI package details with ES-NFI cluster for better comparison and further action with National ES-NFIs. In the ES-NFI meeting, the ERM partners updated that the ERM7 package which includes food, health, NFI, Shelter, transportation, hygiene components in cash modality. The new package covers greater needs of affected people in cash modality than ERM6.

Protection Cluster Protection Cluster focal point updated the participants about probable forced eviction of 48 IDP families in Naw Abad area. The PC focal point briefed that the families received a warrant letter from Independent Directorate of Local Governance, which is dealing with land grapping in Hirat city, requested the IDP families to leave the area. Reportedly, the Naw Abad informal settlement is a disputed land and it is unclear whether the land belongs to Government or a private land. The HLP-TF conducted a number meeting with provincial authorities in order to advocate Human Right based evocation of IDPs. After a serious of meetings, the provincial authorities promised to observe the human rights of IDPs in case of relocation to a new place.

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CPiE sub-cluster CPiE focal point also updated that since 5 February 2017, the deportation process is on-hold at Islam Qala border, and still no clear reason from the Iranian authorities was presented. However, the returns from Milak crossing point in Zaranj city (Nemroz) has been increased by two-fold. The main concern CPiE is human trafficking and child recruitment by NSAG. DoRR updated that Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the coordination of DoRR is following up the issue with Iranian Foreign Affairs, DoRR will get an update from MoRR and update HRT through OCHA accordingly.

Action points  WFP to feedback HRT on the impact of Agriculture land of 116 families in Obe district of Hirat province for potential recovery assistance.  WFP to update HRT on the WR precipitation.  OCHA to have bilateral meeting with Health Cluster focal point to discuss the Health Cluster issue.  Nutrition Cluster to share the finding of Nutrition Assessment with OCHA for further dissemination.  WASH Cluster to address the WASH needs of 172 families in Polisra.  DoRR to get an update from MoRR on the status of Islam Qala border deportation pause and share the information with OCHA for further dissemination.

AOB None.

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