THE ANSO REPORT on the Basis of This Report

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

THE ANSO REPORT on the Basis of This Report The Afghanistan NGO Safety Office The Afghanistan NGO Safety Office Issue: 19 February 01st—15th 2009 ANSO and our donors accept no liability for the results of any activity conducted or omitted THE ANSO REPORT on the basis of this report. THE ANSO REPORT -Not for copy or sale- Inside this Issue COUNTRY SUMMARY Central Region 2-4 Northern Region 4-5 The attacks in Kabul on Feb 11th dominated the period. Elements consistent with Eastern Region 6-8 previous trends include the targeting of Government security ministries and the combination of BBIED and small arms within the teams. New elements included Southern Region 8-11 the coordinated deployment of BBIED to multiple sites, the apparent inclusion of Western Region 12-13 14 a non-security Ministry (Education, not assessed as intended target) and the size ANSO Info Page of the force which attacked the Justice Ministry (5 men). Afghan security forces (dominantly ANP and NDS) acted effectively to prevent YOU NEED TO KNOW more than 50% of the attacks from occurring indicating a high level of readiness. It is ANSO opinion that the attacks do not fundamentally alter the vulnerability of • Authoritative statement the city. It remains as easy to breach as it has for the last two years and attacks like made regarding AOG per- this will continue and escalate in complexity and impact. ceptions of NGO operating in Afghanistan Earlier in the report period the UN and NGO community were shaken by an arti- cle appearing on the ‘Al-Samood’ website (known for its association to the Taliban) • Kabul attacks demonstrate improved planning and coor- entitled “Foreign Organizations and their Symbolic Goals”. The well written arti- dination but no strategic cle argued that NGO in Afghanistan specifically are undermining Islam, spreading change Christianity, wasting money and working as spies of foreign embassies. A number • NGO community suffers of NGO and UN agencies were named or had their logo displayed. The piece first 2009 fatality in criminal stopped short of recommending attacks but is considered capable of inspiring case in south Nangahar such amongst radicals, criminals or anyone else with an invalidated grudge. • Use of suicide attacks esca- The 14 day period reported more than 150 AOG attacks including an unusually lating after long lull high eight (08) successful suicide attacks and more than 30 IED’s. In a particularly nasty execution on Feb 8th an AOG beheaded the Head of Refu- gee Affairs in Helmand while more than 50 ANA/ANP were killed in small arms ANSO is supported by ANSO is supported by skirmishes. Approximately 42 civilians died from the conflict in the same period. NGO DATA & TRENDS Against the backdrop of the article on the ‘Al-Samood’ website, noted above, inci- dents involving NGO continued this period with an additional seven (7) incidents bringing the annual total to 25. (13 by same period of 2008) Sadly the period saw the first fatality of the year with an INGO driver being mur- dered outside his home. The case is considered personal and criminal although the general deterioration of conditions in south Nangahar is believed to be producing a more conducive environment for crime. NGO incidents this year have already included 3 RPG/SAF attacks, 2 cases arson, 2 IED’s, 4 armed robberies and 7 abductions. AOG remain the primary cause of NGO incidents (17 vs 6 ACG) and incidents are occurring across a wide geographic area. THE ANSO REPORT Page 2 NGO Incidents KABUL KABUL Year to Date 3 35 This Report Period 1 30 Attention on the security situation 25 in Afghanistan has again focused and commenced using small arms 20 on Kabul, as the capital experi- fire. Following a return of fire by 15 enced co-ordinated attacks against ANP guards, one BBIED deto- 10 nated allowing the second to enter 5 government ministries on Febru- 0 ary 11. The close proximity of the the complex in the ensuing confu- ministries of Education, Justice sion. The second BBIED, once inside also detonated causing a and Interior obfuscated reporting AOG ACG of the intended targets; however it reported ten fatalities. is clear that the Ministry of Justice be the case for several reasons. was the primary objective of At the Ministry of Justice, small Firstly, security forces sealed off the Ministry AOG forces. arms fire by five AOG allowed all of Justice and the immediate vicinity and of the attackers to successfully evacuated staff in a seemingly effective man- enter the building and spread out At approximately 10:10am, AOG ner, thereby limiting the number of casualties randomly killing ten MOJ employ- wearing suicide vests and firing and containing the attackers. Secondly, the ees. The majority of casualties small arms attacked the Depart- actions of the ANP guards outside the Minis- were caused by gunfire; however a ment of Corrections in District try of Education and Interior, served to stop BBIED detonation was also re- Four and the Ministry of Justice in one and possibly two BBIEDs. Thirdly, al- ported. The attackers were killed District Two. At the same time, though parallels have been drawn with the No- by government forces after a four the ANP also engaged a BBIED vember 2008 Mumbai attacks, once inside the hour standoff. in front of the Ministry of Educa- Ministry of Justice, the attackers showed little tion, killing him with an RPG understanding of the interior of the building prior to detonation. Reports also Currently, 28 fatalities have been and were intent on randomly shooting employ- suggest that a further attacker was recorded (including the attackers) ees rather than organising a hostage situation. killed in the street of the Ministry and almost 60 casualties. The Tali- Furthermore, reports suggest that the attackers of Interior by ANP; although it ban promptly claimed responsibil- were ill prepared for a long siege, unlike the remains uncertain as to whether ity for the attacks, saying they attackers in Mumbai. this was a BBIED. were in response to the treatment of prisoners by the government. Although the attackers penetrated the heart of The two successful penetrations the Kabul establishment, further shattering the of government ministries shared a It is facile to argue that the Febru- public’s confidence in the government’s ability similar modus operandi: more ary 11 attacks are an indication of to protect its citizens, the underlying security than one attacker, the use of small the growing presence and sophis- environment remains largely unchanged. The arms fire to overpower static tication of AOG in the capital. It ability of AOG to attack targets in Kabul has guards and the intention to cause is well known that AOG activity been evidenced repeatedly in the past year with maximum casualties following the has been intensifying in Kabul the February 11 attacks and the subsequent breach. At the Department of Province over the past year and security clampdown unlikely to change the Corrections, two BBIEDs ap- furthermore that these groups fact. proached the guarded entrance have long possessed the logistical support and planning capabilities During the past reporting period, a local NGO KEY THREATS & CONCERNS necessary to carry out co- worker was the victim of a theft by an organ- !" Decreased security in and ordinated assaults. around city ised group who had punctured a tyre as a dis- !" IEDs, suicide bombings, traction. The tactic, popular in 2006 around rocket attacks It is extremely fortunate that the Taimani St, may see a resurgence and NGO !" Abduction attacks did not produce signifi- are advised to travel two or three blocks after cantly more casualties. This may being advised of a flat tyre to avoid the area. THE ANSO REPORT Page 3 NGO Incidents PARWAN PARWAN Year to Date 1 This Report Period 0 10 In Parwan, there have been four 8 comparison to no reported in- reported seizures of explosives or 6 IED caches so far this year in stances in the same period of 2008. It is difficult to discern at 4 this stage whether the seizures are 2 KEY THREATS & CONCERNS a result of increased ANP dili- 0 !" History of IED incidents on gence or a general rise in the avail- road between Chaharikar and Bamyan ability and deployment of IEDs. Contributing to the theory that !" Collateral damage from attacks on security forces the placement of IEDs may be on AOG ACG the increase in the province, there !" Demonstrations on main road ture IED detonations in Ghorband and Shin- have been two reported prema- in Ghorband wari this year. NGO Incidents DAYKONDI DAYKUNDI Year to Date 0 10 This Report Period 0 8 6 In Daykundi, NGO are relatively the same period last year; however free to operate with no reports the majority of crimes are related 4 this year of attacks on ANA or to personal disputes or petty theft. 2 ANP forces. Incidences of crimi- 0 nal activity are slightly higher than The absence of AOG attacks could be explained by the scarce government security presence in KEY THREATS & CONCERNS the province, thereby providing AOG ACG !" Free AOG movement few visible targets, as well as the ernment and AOG hold Daykundi. !" Minimum security presence comparatively limited strategic !" Banditry value, with which both the gov- NGO Incidents LOGAR LOGAR Year to Date 0 This Report Period 0 30 Following a VBIED attack on an 25 IMF convoy in Kabul on Febru- was hidden behind a compound wall 20 ary 1, France suffered further and upon detonation, followed by 15 10 casualties when a French officer an ambush using SAF. A further 5 and his Afghan interpreter were French soldier is understood to have 0 killed in an IED explosion.
Recommended publications
  • 26 August 2010
    SIOC – Afghanistan: UNITED NATIONS CONFIDENTIAL UN Department of Safety and Security, Afghanistan Security Situation Report, Week 34, 20 – 26 August 2010 JOINT WEEKLY SECURITY ANALYSIS Countrywide security incidents continued to increase compared to the previous week with the NER, NR, SR and SER, recording higher levels of security incidents. In the ER a minor downward trend continues to be observed over the last three weeks, in the WR and CR records dropped. The dynamics along the south and south-eastern belt of the country vary again with the SR reasserting as the most volatile area. Security incidents were more widespread countrywide with the following provinces being the focus of the week: Kunduz, Baghlan in the NER; Faryab in the NR, Hirat in the WR, Kandahar and Helmand in the SR; Ghazni and Paktika in the SER and Kunar in the ER. Overall the majority of the incidents are initiated by insurgents and those related to armed conflict – armed clashes, IED attacks and stand off attacks - continue to account for the bulk of incidents. Reports of insurgents’ infiltration, re-supply and propaganda are recorded in the NR, SR, SER, ER and CR. These reports might corroborate assumptions that insurgents would profit from the Ramadan time to build up for an escalation into the election and pre-election days. The end of the week was dominated by the reporting of the violent demonstration against the IM base in Qala-i-Naw city following a shoot out at the entrance of the base. Potential for manipulation by the local Taliban and the vicinity of the UN compound to the affected area raised concerns on the security of the UN staff and resulted in the evacuation of the UN building.
    [Show full text]
  • Watershed Atlas Part IV
    PART IV 99 DESCRIPTION PART IV OF WATERSHEDS I. MAP AND STATISTICS BY WATERSHED II. AMU DARYA RIVER BASIN III. NORTHERN RIVER BASIN IV. HARIROD-MURGHAB RIVER BASIN V. HILMAND RIVER BASIN VI. KABUL (INDUS) RIVER BASIN VII. NON-DRAINAGE AREAS PICTURE 84 Aerial view of Panjshir Valley in Spring 2003. Parwan, 25 March 2003 100 I. MAP AND STATISTICS BY WATERSHED Part IV of the Watershed Atlas describes the 41 watersheds Graphs 21-32 illustrate the main characteristics on area, popu- defined in Afghanistan, which includes five non-drainage areas lation and landcover of each watershed. Graph 21 shows that (Map 10 and 11). For each watershed, statistics on landcover the Upper Hilmand is the largest watershed in Afghanistan, are presented. These statistics were calculated based on the covering 46,882 sq. km, while the smallest watershed is the FAO 1990/93 landcover maps (Shapefiles), using Arc-View 3.2 Dasht-i Nawur, which covers 1,618 sq. km. Graph 22 shows that software. Graphs on monthly average river discharge curve the largest number of settlements is found in the Upper (long-term average and 1978) are also presented. The data Hilmand watershed. However, Graph 23 shows that the largest source for the hydrological graph is the Hydrological Year Books number of people is found in the Kabul, Sardih wa Ghazni, of the Government of Afghanistan – Ministry of Irrigation, Ghorband wa Panjshir (Shomali plain) and Balkhab watersheds. Water Resources and Environment (MIWRE). The data have Graph 24 shows that the highest population density by far is in been entered by Asian Development Bank and kindly made Kabul watershed, with 276 inhabitants/sq.
    [Show full text]
  • DAILY SITUATION REPORT 13 May 2008
    Strategic SSI - Afghanistan DAILY SITUATION REPORT 26 JUNE 2010 SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUES RELEVANT TO SSSI PERSONNEL AND CLIENTS Various Threat Reports were received of possible attacks in Kabul over the past few days, and the insurgent’s intent and capability to conduct attacks in the Kabul City remains elevated. There are daily Threat Reports, but the received reports are mainly generic and lacking detail. It is possible that suicide attacks and indirect fire attacks can be expected in the city, but no time frames and/or specific targets were reported. Any attack in the city can be seen as a success for the insurgents, and they will make maximum use of the propaganda value of such an attack. MAJOR COUNTRY WIDE EVENTS Kidnap: Murder: 25 Jun, Uruzgan Province, Khas Uruzgan District, Bagh Char area, insurgents stopped a vehicle with local civilians on their way to Tarin Kot. They were then kidnapped. During a search operation ANP found eleven beheaded bodies. Privileged and Confidential 1 This information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. You are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this information is strictly prohibited without the explicit approval from StrategicSSI Management. Strategic SSI - Afghanistan Threat Reports Received Last 5 Days BOLO: 22 Jun, Badghis Province, Murghab District, according to the ANA, insurgents emplaced nine IEDs in Dashuri area and also five IEDs in Managan BOLO: 22 Jun, Farah Province, Pusht Rod District, reportedly five IEDs was emplaced in the Charbagh and Panji Gow village areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Afghan Opiate Trade 2009.Indb
    ADDICTION, CRIME AND INSURGENCY The transnational threat of Afghan opium UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME Vienna ADDICTION, CRIME AND INSURGENCY The transnational threat of Afghan opium Copyright © United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), October 2009 Acknowledgements This report was prepared by the UNODC Studies and Threat Analysis Section (STAS), in the framework of the UNODC Trends Monitoring and Analysis Programme/Afghan Opiate Trade sub-Programme, and with the collaboration of the UNODC Country Office in Afghanistan and the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia. UNODC field offices for East Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Southern Africa, South Asia and South Eastern Europe also provided feedback and support. A number of UNODC colleagues gave valuable inputs and comments, including, in particular, Thomas Pietschmann (Statistics and Surveys Section) who reviewed all the opiate statistics and flow estimates presented in this report. UNODC is grateful to the national and international institutions which shared their knowledge and data with the report team, including, in particular, the Anti Narcotics Force of Pakistan, the Afghan Border Police, the Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan and the World Customs Organization. Thanks also go to the staff of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and of the United Nations Department of Safety and Security, Afghanistan. Report Team Research and report preparation: Hakan Demirbüken (Lead researcher, Afghan
    [Show full text]
  • Afghanistan Orbats
    Coalition Combat Forces in Afghanistan AFGHANISTAN ORDER OF BATTLE by Wesley Morgan January 2013 This document describes the composition and placement of U.S. and other Western combat forces in Afghanistan down to battalion level. It includes the following categories of units: maneuver (i.e. infantry, armor, and cavalry) units, which in most cases are responsible for particular districts or provinces; artillery units, including both those acting as provisional maneuver units and those in traditional artillery roles; aviation units, both rotary and fixed-wing; military police units; most types of engineer and explosive ordnance disposal units; and “white” special operations forces, described in general terms. It does not include “black” special operations units or other units such as logistical, transportation, medical, and intelligence units or Provincial Reconstruction Teams. International Security Assistance Force / United States ForcesAfghanistan (Gen. John Allen, USMC)ISAF Headquarters, Kabul Special Operations Joint Task ForceAfghanistan / NATO Special Operations Component CommandAfghanistan (Maj. Gen. Raymond Thomas III, USA)Camp Integrity, Kabul1 Combined Joint Special Operations Task ForceAfghanistan (USA)Bagram Airfield; village stability operations, advisors to Afghan Defense Ministry special operations forces, and other missions2 Special Operations Task ForceEast (USA)Bagram Airfield; operating in eastern Afghanistan Special Operations Task ForceSouth (USA)Kandahar Airfield; operating in Kandahar Province Special Operations Task ForceSouth-East (USN)U/I location; operating in Uruzgan and Zabul Provinces Special Operations Task ForceWest (USMC)Camp Lawton, Herat; operating in western Afghanistan and Helmand Province TF Balkh / 2-7 Infantry (Lt. Col. Todd Kelly, USA)Camp Mike Spann, Mazar-e-Sharif; operating in northern Afghanistan 3 TF Paktika / 3-69 Armor (Lt.
    [Show full text]
  • Bakwa District Groundwater Study
    Bakwa District Groundwater Study December 2009 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Uhl, Baron, Rana & Associates, Inc. of Lambertville, New Jersey and Basic Afghanistan Services of Kabul, Afghanistan Bakwa District Groundwater Study Farah Province, Afghanistan Disclaimer The authors’ views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Government. BAKWA DISTRICT GROUNDWATER STUDY FARAH PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.0 Background .................................................................................................. 2 2.0 Summary of Previous Studies and Reports .................................................. 2 3.0 Topography, Surface Water Drainage, and Groundwater Use ..................... 3 4.0 Field Inventory Summary ............................................................................. 4 5.0 Geologic and Hydrogeologic Overview ........................................................ 5 5.1 Principal Aquifer ................................................................................ 5 5.2 Hydraulic Characteristics ................................................................... 6 5.3 Groundwater Level Overview – Present and Historical ..................... 6 5.4 Estimates of Static Groundwater Reserves and Annual Recharge ... 6 5.5 Groundwater Flow Conditions ........................................................... 8 6.0 Groundwater Quality Overview ...................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Paktia Province
    UNHCR BACKGROUND REPORT PAKTIA PROVINCE Prepared by the Data Collection for Afghan Repatriation Project 1 September 1989. PREFACE 'lhe following report is one in a series of 14 provincial profiles prepared for the United Nations.High Ccmnissioner for Refugees by the Data Colloc:­ tion for Afghan Repatriation Projoc:t. 'lhe objoc:t of these reports is to provide detailed information on the conditions affoc:ting the repatriation. of Afghan refugees in each province so that UNHCRand its inplementing partners may be better able to plan and target progrannnes of relief and rehabilitation assistance. Each of the provinces featured in this series is estimated to have at least 35 percent of its pre-1978 pc::>J;Xllationliving as refugees. Together, these 14 provinces - Baghlan, Farah, Ghazni, Helmand, Herat, Kandahar, Kunar, Iaghman, u:,gar, Nargarhar, Nimroz, Paktia, Paktika and Zab..11-- acx::ount for ninety percent of the Afghan refugee population settled in Iran and Pakistan. '!he Data Colloc:tion for Afghan Repatriation Projoc:t (DCAR)was :fumed by UNHCRto develop a database of information on Afghanistan that would serve as a resource for repatriation planning. Projoc:t staff based in Peshawar and Quetta have corxlucted interviews and surveys in refugee camps through­ out NWFP,Baluchistan and Punjab provinces in Pakistan to carpile data on refugee origins, ethnic and tribal affiliation and likely routes of refugee return to Afghanistan. In addition, the projoc:t field staff undertake frequent missions into Afghanistan to gather specific infonn­ ation on road conditions, the availability of storage facilities, trans­ portation and fuel, the level of destruction of housing, irrigation systems and fannland, the location of landmines and the political and military situation at the district (woleswali)and sub-district (alaqadari) levels in those provinces of priority concern to UNHCR.
    [Show full text]
  • Why Farah? a Short History of the Local Insurgency (II)
    Why Farah? A short history of the local insurgency (II) Author : Thomas Ruttig Published: 7 June 2018 Downloaded: 24 February 2019 Download URL: https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/wp-admin/post.php?post=23850&action=edit&meta-box- loader=1&_wpnonce=7ecfa80954&_locale=user The Taleban have been a persistent and growing force in Farah since 2001, rebuilding their strength quietly after the US invasion and then seizing territory in remote districts. Insurgents now challenge pro-government figures for control of valuable trade and smuggling routes, assisted by the disarray among their opponents as the provincial government is hobbled by frequent changes of leadership and mismanagement. AAN co- director Thomas Ruttig with input from Graeme Smith provides background to the Taleban’s latest attack on Farah. This is the second of two dispatches that analyse the recent Taleban attack on the city of Farah. The first dispatch, focused on the attack and its immediate aftermath. This second dispatch situates the attack within the broader framework of post-2001 developments in Farah. Mujahedin stronghold and post-2001 Taleban area of retreat The Taleban were never fully defeated after 2001, maintaining armed groups in many parts of Afghanistan. This included Farah province, where the Taleban retained a strong presence, particularly in the area of Shiwan village (sometimes written ‘Shaiban’) in Bala Boluk district. According to UN information seen by AAN, “thousands of Taleban” remained there after the fall of their regime in 2001, with “no efforts made by central government or Coalition Forces to 1 / 7 disarm these inactive Taliban” (emphasis added by AAN).
    [Show full text]
  • Afghanistan Protection of Civilians Annual Report 2019
    AFGHANISTAN ANNUAL REPORT ON PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT: 2019 i AFGHANISTAN ANNUAL REPORT ON PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT: 2019 ii AFGHANISTAN ANNUAL REPORT ON PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT: 2019 in Afghanistan 2019 Civilian Casualties by Province iii AFGHANISTAN ANNUAL REPORT ON PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT: 2019 This report and all Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in ArmedConflict Reports referenced herein are available on the UNAMA web- site at: http://unama.unmissions.org/protection-of-civilians-reports In the blast from a Taliban attack on a Ministry of Defence compound in downtown Kabul on 1 July 2019, one boy and six civilian men were killed and 144 civilians were injured. The blast had a severe impact on surrounding houses, businesses and schools. Six schools in the area were affected, with classrooms damaged and education materials destroyed. Photo: Haroon Sabawoon / AMA iv AFGHANISTAN ANNUAL REPORT ON PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT: 2019 “This report documents the plight of civilians in the Afghan conflict during the past year, and makes rec- ommendations to all parties concerned for reducing civilian casualties. With more than 100,000 civilians killed and injured since the United Nations began systematic documentation of civilian casualties in 2009, the time is long overdue to put an end to the human misery and the tragedy. The best way to halt the killings and maiming of civilians is to stop the fighting. With civilian casualties continuing at rec- ord high levels, there is more need now than ever before to use all our efforts to bring about peace.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Targeting Civilians a Coward Act'
    Eye on the News [email protected] Truthful, Factual and Unbiased Vol:XI Issue No:202 Price: Afs.20 www.afghanistantimes.af www.facebook.com/ afghanistantimeswww.twitter.com/ afghanistantimes TUESDAY . FEBRUARY 21. 2017 -Hoot 03, 1395 HS By Farhad Naibkhel KABUL: While expressing his deepest sympathy with the vic- tim-families of the recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan, the Chief Ex- ecutive Officer (CEO), Abdullah Abdullah said “the only solution to end tragedy in the both sides is the honest approach of Islamabad in fight against terrorism.” Presid- ing the Council of Ministers meet- ing on Monday, Abdullah said, “the fundamental solution to the ongoing insurgency is the sincere cooperation of Pakistan in the per- il, as threat tricks would never give ing, it is completely unfair to lay group to eliminate them from the fruits.” Pointing toward increase blame on Afghanistan for support- country. “Terrorist groups in Af- of shelling in the past couple of ing terrorists. He added that Af- ghanistan are hiding in the areas days, he said “I would like to as- ghanistan has always had a friend- under Taliban presence. We need AT News Report sure our people that we all are unit- ly foreign police and preserved cor- to destroy Taliban insurgents to sador in Islamabad to Pakistani they call “76 Pakistani Taliban work of the quadrilateral meetings. edly stand with our Afghan Na- dial relations with the neighbors. destroy other groups,” he under- KABUL: The government of Af- officials, a list of 32 camps where fighters living in Afghan soil”. “The Foreign ministry warned that it tional Defense and Security Forc- “Taking this into account, this is lined.
    [Show full text]
  • Chronology of Events in Afghanistan, October 2003*
    Chronology of Events in Afghanistan, October 2003* October 1 Afghan boys' escape from bonded labour to end in reunion with father. (Agence France Presse / AFP) Two Afghan brothers who escaped harsh bonded labour in Pakistan will be reunited with their father after four years, the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) said. An uncle of the boys had taken them from their Wardak home four years ago and brought them to northwest Pakistan where they were put to work in a carpet factory. After a month of hard labour they escaped. "From the information given by the boys and their father in Afghanistan it is not clear if the boys were kidnapped or handed over by their father to their uncle to put them on work in Pakistan," Younis said. Thousands of Afghan refugee children work at carpet weaving looms hidden in shanty homes across Pakistan. The exact number is not known as no count has ever been carried out, said an Islamabad-based official of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The United Nations' refugee agency said the number was large. "We do not have any figure.... (but) it is clear that a large number of Afghan refugees including children work in brick kilns and other sectors in Pakistan," UNHCR spokesman Jack Redden said. After escaping from Attock they ended up in a shelter run by Pakistan's largest charity Edhi Trust in the nearby garrison town of Rawalpindi in August 2000. The boys were discovered in Peshawar last July by a Red Cross worker who forwarded a tracing request to ICRC Kabul, which was able to trace the boy's father in three weeks.
    [Show full text]
  • World Bank Document
    AFGHANISTAN EDUCATION QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM-II Public Disclosure Authorized MINISTRY OF EDUCATION PROCUREMENT PLAN FY2008-10-11 Public Disclosure Authorized Procurement Management Unit Education Quality Imrpovement Program-II Revised Procurement Plan EQUIP II (Revision Ref.: 04 on 15-05-10) General Public Disclosure Authorized 1 Project information: Education Quality Improvement Project II (EQUIP II) Country: Afghanistan Borrower: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Project Name: Education Quality Improvement Project II (EQUIP II) Grant No.: H 354 –AF Project ID : P106259 P106259 Project Implementing Agency: Ministry of Education of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan 2 Bank’s approval date of the procurement Plan : 17 Nov.2007 (Original:) 3 Period covered by this procurement plan: One year Procurement for the proposed project would be carried out in accordance with the World Bank’s “Guidelines: Procurement Under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits” dated May 2004; and “Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers” dated May 2004, and the provisions stipulated in the Legal Agreement. The procurement will be done through competitive bidding using the Bank’s Standard Bidding Documents (SBD). The general description of various items under different expenditure category are described. For each contract to Public Disclosure Authorized be financed by the Loan/Credit, the different procurement methods or consultant selection methods, estimated costs, prior review requirements, and time frame are agreed between the Recipient and the Bank project team in the Procurement Plan. The Procurement Plan will be updated at least annually or as required to reflect the actual project implementation needs and improvements in institutional capacity. II. Goods and Works and consulting services.
    [Show full text]