Humanitarian Regional Team (HRT) Meeting Eastern Region –

Date: Thursday, 03 October, 2013 Venue: OCHA Meeting Room Time: 09:00AM – 11:00AM

Present: UNICEF, UNHCR, IOM, INSO, WFP, FAO, WHO, UN-MACCA, Health Net TPO, NRC and UNOCHA.

1. Security Brief by INSO

OCHA welcomed the participants and as per the agenda requested INSO for an access and security update. Detailed of the incidents are available from INSO.

The International NGOs Safety Office (INSO) called the security situation very volatile with collateral damages on NGO run facilities, threats to NGO staff affecting their activities, NGO clinics turned into voter registration centers and an incident of robbery. INSO mentioned a total of 14 significant incidents, all of which occurred in September, except for two from July – August 2013. The incidents highlight the importance of establishing close ties with local communities, who are well placed to support NGOs in maintaining safe access to the field. It also demonstrates the need for NGOs to conduct and regularly review security risk assessments of the areas in which they operate, or to which they are planning to conduct field missions, taking into account when doing so which opposition groups are present and their perceptions of both NGOs in general, and specific projects.

2. CHAP Planning Process 2014 Update - OCHA

OCHA briefed the HRT on the CHAP planning process: • Mapping of operational presence and capacity of humanitarian actors has been completed for Q3 (3Ws) for each cluster. • Register of needs assessments undertaken has been shared and information collected. • OCHA has delivered information presentations on CHAP 2014 process in Kunar, Laghman and Nuristan. • National clusters are finalising the Needs & Vulnerability Analysis ranking for each Province by sector. To be reviewed by all clusters in October.

OCHA pointed out that while comparing the 3Ws for the period July-September with the April-June we see quite a difference in the number of operational partners/presence on the ground. As OCHA had difficulties getting updated information from the Clusters OCHA contacted all organizations directly. OCHA called upon cluster leads to do a thorough cross-checking in the future by visiting and contacting all the organizations.

FSAC informed of a workshop on IPC to be organized in Kabul on 13 October in which the eastern region will participate as well. The FSAC food survey which was supposed to be completed by 30 September has not been completed yet and this will also be discussed in the workshop.

3. Contingency Planning/Winterization – Update on Planning Process – OCHA/Cluster Leads

OCHA briefed the HRT on steps taken to update the regional contingency plan: • OCHA is in the process of gathering information from ANDMA provincial departments and humanitarian actors in ‘at risk’ areas and population numbers. Information will help provide a target figure for natural disasters. • OCHA also collecting information on available stocks in the region of emergency supplies from all clusters (NFI, shelter, medicines, WASH). • Target population will then be compared to available stocks to provide a ‘gap analysis’. • Winterisation planning is a separate exercise – it will also be included in the contingency plan.

A brief discussion ensued on the topic of winterization:

Coordination Saves Lives The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. http://afg.humanitarianresponse.info/ HRT Minutes | 2

• UNHRC informed members of having 4,000 winter kits available for distribution. The numbers are much lower than last year. Assessments ahead of distribution are taking place amongst IDPs and returnees and distribution will start next week. OCHA requested for a list of the target population which shall be added as an annex to the CP. • Although IOM does not have a specific winterization program if the winter is harsh and there is an emergency, they would be able to respond with winter modules as an additional support to the affected population. IOM mentioned having supplemented the NFI kits of undocumented returnees with a winter clothing module during distribution at the transit center at Torkham border. • UNICEF reported having 5,100 NFI kits prepositioned with RRD in Laghman, Nangarhar and Kunar to cover the whole region. In addition to this UNICEF has a stock of 4,700 jackets/winter clothing for women and children, with 5,500 more in the pipe line. • WFP added having 270 MT food prepositioned. However dispatching food to Nuristan has been problematic with 24 MT food of supplies stuck in Nangalam of Kunar awaiting further delivery to Nuristan. • WHO reported having provided pneumonia kits to the main health centers in all provinces ahead of the winter season.

Action Points: a) UNHCR to share list of target population/families of their winterization programme. b) Organizations to send to OCHA updated information on their stocks and locations.

4. Cluster Updates – Regional Clusters: a. Health – UNWHO/HNTPO: WHO reported of six confirmed polio cases (3 in Nangarhar and 3 in Kunar) so far in 2013 in the Eastern region. WHO stated that Chapa Dara district of Kunar which due to insecurity was missing in the past was covered in the last campaign. WHO announced that the next polio campaign is going to be launched on 6-8 October.

b. Food Security & Agriculture – FAO/WFP:

Nuristan – Agencies discussed the situation of the road blockage from Kunar to city creating a significant increase in food prices affecting food security: • WFP referred to the challenges of food delivery to Nuristan and highlighted that 24 MT food of supplies has been awaiting further delivery in Nangalam since 3rd of August. WFP added that food is usually delivered to Asadabad by truck, and then shifted to small pickups of local transporters. • FAO informed the group of having planned of distribution of 125 MT of fertilizer for Nurgram and Waygal districts of Nuristan which will be distributed through MADERA, IP of FAO to 2500 beneficiaries.

Nangarhar – Agencies discussed the difficulty of accessing several districts: • IOM referred to challenges in and Hesarak districts where a number of flood affected families could not receive food while the NFIs were distributed by ARCS. IOM added that it seems that ARCS is also unable to cover remote districts and thus a number of very remote and insecure districts such as Hesarak, Sherzad and Khugiani may be fully neglected. • WFP stated that even its PAT monitor cannot undertake assessments in Hesarak and Shirzad districts and thus delivery of food supplies cannot take place. WFP added that support from the community in their areas are essential and should be involved as they can play a vital role in paving the way for safe delivery of humanitarian assistance. • OCHA suggested a separate discussion on this issue with ARCS and other organizations.

Action Points: a) OCHA to follow up with ARCS and key organizations on the coverage of remote/insecure districts.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | http://afg.humanitarianresponse.info/ HRT Minutes | 3

c. Protection - UNHCR: UNHCR informed the group of having supported 266 displaced families or 1417 individuals during the month of September. An assessment is ongoing for 494 additional families. UNHCR expressed their concern regarding an increase in displacement and access due to insecurity. It is a concern for the protection cluster members, especially as the situation may deteriorate with the elections.

5. Civil Military Update – Update on recent ANA/ISAF Dialogues – OCHA/INSO

OCHA briefed the HRT about reinstating the civil military working group and progress so far: • Bi-monthly discussions now taking place at Gamberi military base in between ANSF, ISAF and OCHA, UNAMA and INSO. • Meetings now chaired directly by the ANA Head of the Emergency Response Unit with counterparts from other sections. • Briefings will be provided on ongoing/completed military campaigns, update on incidents raised and discussion around contingency planning & humanitarian assistance efforts. • HRT members to contact OCHA if they would like the group to raise any specific issues.

The main points of the last CivMil meeting were shared with HRT members: • 2nd phase of military campaign to take place soon in Chapa Dara district. • Military campaign to start shortly to try and re-establish access to Parun in Nuristan. • ISAF to conduct Civil Military training. May call on UN agencies and NGOs to support facilitation of specific modules • ANDMA to join next discussions to discuss better coordination of needs assessment by ANA and distribution of humanitarian assistance • ANA emergency response unit willing to provide security information to agencies for insecure areas (refer to INSO for follow up)

HNTPO informed the group that on Oct.03, 2013 in Durbaba a voter registration team had entered the health facility and started setting up for carrying out their activities. INSO took note of this incident and will follow up with UNAMA, MoPH and government authorities together with OCHA.

6. AOB:

• Joint Needs Assessment – Metherlam IDP/Returnee Township. OCHA & UNHCR seeking technical support from partners to cover different sectors: UNHCR highlighted that the plan is for the assessment to be conducted after Eid over a one day mission by two teams having the technical expertise of all clusters. NRC showed readiness to take part in Shelter and Education, UNICEF in WASH, WFP/PAT food security and UNHCR/APA will cover protection and shelter needs while WHO will check with the BPHS implementer for Laghman. IRC may also take part in the assessment.

• ERF pooled fund managed by OCHA has received new contribution from Canada (US$4M). Emergency proposals welcome especially for Nuristan.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | http://afg.humanitarianresponse.info/