Afghanistan • Flooding Situation Report #3 5 May 2009

Home , Farkhar District, Guzara District, Kholm District, Kohsan District

HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

Serious flooding is ongoing in North, Northeast, and Western Afghanistan. 10 out of 34 provinces are affected ANDMA has called for mobilization of resources in response to the floods and in anticipation of more to come Gaps are identified in temporary shelter (all affected regions) and machinery for clearing blocked roads (North and Northeast) Stocks are depleted; authorities and aid coordination are calling for replenishment of assistance items in expectation of more flooding in the near future Heavy rains are continuing in affected areas

OVERVIEW

Heavy and continuing spring rains are causing widespread damage in North, Northeast and Western Afghanistan. Flood response is being coordinated by Provincial Disaster Management Committees (PDMCs), with the assistance OCHA, NGOs and UN agencies. Assistance is being distributed by local authorities, the Afghan Natural Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MoRRD), and/or the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS). There are serious concerns about continued flooding, particularly in the north. In the west, response in some areas has been delayed because of insecurity.

The following priority needs have been identified: • Provision of temporary shelter materials for immediate response and for prepositioning • Replacement of depleted stocks of emergency relief supplies in anticipation of more floods • Heavy machinery to clear blocked access roads (particularly in Faryab, Balk, and Samangan provinces in the north and Badakhshan in the northeast).

NORTHERN REGION

Samangan province

Severe flooding starting from late April is reported in several locations in. Flood damage has been reported in the following districts: • Khoram wa Sabagh: local authorities report 10 houses damaged, 45 jeribs of land destroyed, 450m of road damaged in two villages • Aybak district: DMC reports 21 houses damaged in 4 villages • Dara-I-Suf: reports of blocked roads, one woman killed, and 1000 jeribs of agricultural land washed away. • Hazrat-e-Sutan: a visiting PRT team reported on 29 April that 150 houses are damaged, 190 people without shelter, and diarrhea is a problem.

At a DMC meeting on 4 May, there was concern about long-term food security since newly-planted fields have washed away. Drinking water sources have also been contaminated and water tankers are needed. Assessments are ongoing, and a consolidated report of needs will be available on 5 May.

Faryab province

On 3 May, roads from Maymana (the provincial capital) to Gurziwan, Belchiragh, Khawja Namusa, and Almar districts were damaged by rainfall.

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.

Distribution of food and NFIs to 90 families affected by flooding from 19-20 April in Astana valley is ongoing. The Faryab Emergency Committee reports that the following supplies are in urgent need of pre-positioning as stocks have been depleted: 500 tents, 5,000 blankets, 5,000 plastic sheets, 1,000 kitchen sets, 5,000 jerry cans, 2,000 gabion boxes and 500 MT of food.

Balkh province

Cherkent and Keshendeh districts Floods were reported on 2 May. District governors report the following damage: in Charkent, 70 houses damaged, 250 jiribs of agricultural land destroyed, and 10km of road from Tangi-e-Shadyan to Zer-e-Safid Kotal area washed away and the main road to Mazar blocked (alternative road in use); in Keshendeh, 3 people killed, 50 houses damaged, and 400 jiribs of agricultural land destroyed.

At a Disaster Management Committee meeting on 4 May, it was decided that ANDMA will organize rapid assessments of the affected areas. Sufficient food and NFIs are in stock, but additional temporary shelter materials are urgently needed.

Regarding the clearing of damaged roads in Cherkent, the Department of Public Works (DoPW) has two trucks and one bulldozer available but these are not sufficient. DoPW will urgently contact the Afghan Natioal Army (ANA) to find out about their resources and UNAMA and OCHA will contact the PRT and ISAF.

Kholm district On 4 May, flooding was reported in Kholm district. No information on damages is currently available. A team from ANDMA is currently on the ground conducting an assessment.

Mazar city and Chemtal district Delivery of assistance is ongoing to 397 families in Mazar city and 1619 families in Chemtal district affected by floods on 20-21 April. Distribution of assistance in Chemtal has encountered delays while distribution committees are created. A critical gap in shelter for 500 families in Chemtal district will be filled by IOM, which will procure tarpaulins.

NORTHEASTERN REGION

Badakhshan Province

From 1-3 May, floods and avalanches killed 11 people, damaged 180 homes, blocked numerous roads, destroyed irrigation canals and closed the main road between Takhar and Badakhshan provinces. Districts reported to be affected by floods are Shiki, Yaftal, Shuhada, Darwaz Bala, Faizabad, Shari Buzurg, Darayem, Zebak, Wardoj, Raghistan and Kohistan.

At a 4 May meeting of the Disaster Response Management Committee, the following was decided: • The disaster response depot built by the PRT will be activated and the PRT will be asked to hand over control to the DRMC • All NFIs will be stocked in a single location • The donor community will be asked to fund two staff to manage emergency stocks. FOCUS has agreed to pay for one staff.

The following responses were also decided on at the meeting: • IOM will contribute 150 family kits and 150 plastic sheets. FOCUS will give 100 blankets and 50 plastic sheets. DRMC and provincial line departments will distribute materials is will. • A team consisting of provincial line departments, UN agencies and NGOs will start to assess the damage to roads and irrigation canals. WFP will consider FFW projects once the assessment results are available. • WHO stated that drugs and mobile health teams are available. • ARC will consider assisting 150 families with non-food items. • Mission East and GTZ will pay for trucks to transport 50 MT of fortified animal food to Yawan, Raghistan and Kohistan districts. • AKDN transported 40MT fortified animal food from the Ministry of Agriculture to Wakhan, Zebak and 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.

Ishkashim districts; however, this might not be sufficient because of the snow.

NFI stocks in the province have been depleted by recent disasters and immediate action is required to fill the gaps.

Kishm district The provision of emergency assistance to approximately 800 households affected by flooding in 12 April is complete and longer-term rehabilitation efforts are underway.

Baghlan province

The following flood damage has been reported: • Jelga, Nahrin and Burka districts: On 1 May, floods reportedly killed 10 people, damaged 300 homes, and destroyed 100 jeribs of farmland and 100 km of road. • Khost and Fring districts: On 1 May, floods damaged 50 households and 100 jeribs of farmland and blocked the main road. • Dehslah district: On 2 May, floods destroyed 400 jeribs of agricultural land and blocked the main road.

A rapid assessment team consisting of the heads of line ministries visited the flood affected districts. The response is anticipated to include blankets, temporary shelter, kitchen items and food.

Takhar Province

On 28 April, floods in Cha Ab district were reported to affect 139 families and damaged 43 houses and 200 jeribs of farmland. ANDMA reported that Kondal village in Farkhar district was affected by floods on 2 May; an assessment is ongoing. The main roads to Khuja Bahuddin, Khuja Ghar, Bahark, Cha Ab, Farkhar, and Ishkamish districts are blocked due to floods. This followed floods in late May that damaged 98 houses and 137 jiribs of agricultural land in Talugan, Cha Ab, and Ishkamish.

The Disaster Management Committee met on 4 May to coordinate the response. HALO Trust and DRRD will start repairing the main roads. Participants were ready to provide assistance but requested the provincial authorities provide more information on necessary equipment, food, and non-food items.

WESTERN REGION

There have been heavy rains in all four western provinces since 1 May 2009. Initial reports from the PDMCs indicate that Chest-I-Sharif and Pashtun Zarghan districts in Herat, Purchaman district in Farah and Chaghcharan, Taiwara, Dawlatyar and Chardasa districts in Ghor have been affected by floods. Government teams are being sent to the field to verify reports and assess needs. PDMCs and OCHA are closely monitoring the situation and will coordinate the response once more information is available

Herat province

On 2 May, the District Governor reported that 267 homes were damaged and 570 jeribs of agricultural land damaged in 13 villages in Chesht-I-Sharif district by flash flooding. ANDMA is scheduled to conduct an interagency assessment on 4 May.

Out of 10 districts affected by floods prior to 20 April, 8 have been assessed and are being provided with needed assistance. An assessment is ongoing in Obe; a planned assessment to Pashtun Zarghun district was delayed because of security concerns. Provision of food and NFIs to an estimated 2,000 affected households is ongoing.

Immediate gaps: Temporary shelter for 1163 households (369 in Kohsan district, 413 in Ghorian district, 87 in Guzara district, and 294 in Gulran district).

Farah province

Flash flooding destroyed 30 shelters in two villages in Gulistan district on 4 April. ARCS conducted a needs assessment and distributed food and NFIs to 30 households in cooperation with local shuras. The area is not

accessible by aid agencies. On 14 April, 6 villages in Khak-I-Shafid district were affected by flash floods and hail. 30 houses were destroyed and 129 partially damaged. The PDMC-Farah conducted a needs assessment and will distribute NFIs contributed by UNICEF and UNHCR.

Immediate gaps: 159 food rations and temporary shelter for 66 households.

Baghdis province

On 4 May, DoRR told the PDMC that unconfirmed reports were received of 4 people killed, 1 injured, and 104 houses damaged in Qadis and Jawand district by recent floods. The PDMC will conduct an assessment. A BRAC mobile team has treated 134 patients in the affected area.

On 1 May, distribution began of food and NFIs to 312 families in Qadis and Moquir district whose homes were destroyed by flash floods on 20 April. The affected area is off limits to the UN for security reasons. The relief was mobilized from stocks pre-positioned for the winter and delivered by a convoy of 5 PRT-donated trucks. It will be distributed by a team from DoRRD, DoRR, ARCS and the Provincial Council. OCHA is closely monitoring the situation.

Immediate gaps: Temporary shelter for 312 households.

Ghor province

A DoRR assessment report issued 5 May indicates 21 shelters damaged and 5 water wells destroyed by floods in Mahajereen village near Chaghcharan center; safe drinking water is a priority.

VI. Contact

Please contact: Wael Haj-Ibrahim, Head of Office [email protected]; +93(0)798560639

Sheilagh Henry, Field Coordinator [email protected]; +93(0)797662502

Deborah Murphy, Reporting Officer [email protected]; + 93(0)795878708