Southern Region Humanitarian Regional Team (HRT) Meeting Minutes Minutes of Meeting – 25 May 2015
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Southern Region Humanitarian Regional Team (HRT) Meeting Minutes Minutes of Meeting – 25 May 2015 Participants OCHA (Chair), UNHCR, UNAMA,WFP, MACCA, UNODC, MM, ANCC, IOM, SHAO, ICRC, DRC, SWABAC, MoPH, AHDS, OHW, HI, HRDA & SCI, Agenda Item and Discussion Action Point & by whom Status of Action Point Opening by recitation of Holy Quran – Sanaullah Atif - ICRC N/A N/A Minutes of previous meeting was reviewed (including action points) and adopted. 1. Humanitarian overview in Southern Region - OCHA Security situation - The current security situation is volatile across the region, particularly Hilmand and Uruzgan provinces where AGEs started attacks on various ANSF check post. This has resulted displacing people in affected areas and increasing civilian casualty. Reportedly, the conflict has affected humanitarian activities in Sangin, Musa Qala, Nawzad and Marja districts in the north and south of Hilmand province. Since last few days armed conflict is ongoing in Musa Qala which has resulted stopping activities of two health facilities (Musa Qala district hospital and Kani Manda BHC). According to ACTD Nawzad CHC and Puza CHC in Sangin districts are closed since last one week, additionally, ACTD informed that there are threats to Sra Qala BHC in Khanishin and some other clinics in Sangin, Musa Qala and Nawzad district to be closed due to fighting between AGEs and ANSF. According to ground information received to OCHA from Marja district that on 23 May AGEs attacked on various check post of ANSF in Kare Saday area in the district. This has resulted in displacement of people inside Marja and from the district to Lashkar Gah. Reportedly, civilian casualty has taken place during the fighting and the injuries have been evacuated to provincial hospital and EMERGENCY FAP. Uruzgan: Situation in the province is more volatile than ever during last many years. AGEs have gained control of many areas in Dehrawod, Khas Uruzgan, Chora, Shahid assas and Tirinkot districts through continues attacks on ANSF check posts. Two of AHDS health facility staff were abducted by AGEs in Dehrawod and still remain captive. Health facilities in Khas Uruzgan are closed from last 10 days. Health facilities in Dehrawod, Chora and Shahid assas districts are also warned to stop activities. District governor of Khas Uruzgan district was assassinated by AGEs. AGEs through night letters have warned 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/ Document Title | 2 government officials and NGO workers to quit jobs or they will be killed. Ongoing conflicts might result mass displacement. Floods incident owing to heavy rains and heal rock falls, happened in Shahjoy district of Zabul. OCHA called emergency Coordination meeting and formed a joint assessment team. The team identified 370 families affected. 350 out of total 370 were assisted by ARCS and ANDMA for food and NFI assistance. IOM and NRC distributed NFIs and Cash for Food to remaining families as filling gap. (Three killed, Infrastructure and agriculture farms were washed) UNHCR: Confirmed reports about displacement taken place inside Marja district of Hilmand and Dehrawod district of Uruzgan. He informed that 200 – 250 families are initially reported to be displaced inside Marja and 80 to 100 families in Dehrawod district of Uruzgan. Conflicts are ongoing in both areas. Moreover, he mentioned that if situation remains same volatile as it is then it will become too hard for IDP- TF to identify the already assisted and newly displaced families. HI: Showed concern for displaced population in those districts which are mostly under AGE’s control and suggested that, International community should establish a proper mechanism and planning at higher HI suggestion for inclusion of level to push government to include condition for easy access and response to conflict affected population humanitarian access to conflict OCHA/ALL while peace talks with AGEs. affected population to be shared at OCHA: HoO commented that structures to discuss and identify access in response is currently being the higher level implemented place at both Country and regional level. This includes initial meetings at both levels. HI was concern about the inclusion of access in response at higher level with widespread ownership and support to regional operations. This includes feedback from Country level meetings and agencies to raise these Put access as agenda point in next OCHA concerns through their respective HQs. HRT meeting UNODC: Suggested to put access strategy for next HRT meeting as agenda point and further added that ICRC can play a vital role in paving road through negotiation and mediation with AGEs. 2. Presentation on Conflict induced IDPs and Protection issues in Region - UNHCR UNHCR Protection staff delivered a presentation on Conflict induced IDPs in the region and how the IDPs verification and response mechanism works. The presentation included locations & figures of IDPs in each province. Overall 27498 (220359 individuals) were recorded as of end of May 2015 through IDP profiling and other verifications. Kandahar 7062 families/53574 individuals Hilmand 15314 families/129972 individuals Share Conflict induced IDPs OCHA Zabul 1846 families/12903 individuals presentation with HRT members Uruzgan 3276 families/23810 individuals The main reasons for displacement in the region were called Conflict, Night raids, Military Operations (active operation/Fear), Contamination of lands/roads by Landmines, Force recruitment by AGEs & Inter- tribal/ethnic competitions. The main challenges in the IDPs verification process faced are; Lack of Transportation for assessment Team, Insufficient support by the Authorities, Baseless interference of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | http://afg.humanitarianresponse.info/ Document Title | 3 authorities/Community, Exaggeration on the figures of PoC by Community Leaders with the support of authorities and authorities/Community elders demand share during the assessment In response to authentication of data collected through using PMT (a lengthy form used by UNHCR for identification of conflict IDP families, UNCHR responded that their focal points at provincial level are well trained for filling PMT form and also UNCHR conducts quarterly IDP profiling to cross check the figures are locations of IDPs with the available record. The 801 identified conflict IDP families are not included in total figure, because UNHCR Western region was controlling Nimroz province. However, recently Nimroz province IDPs issues have been handed over to UNHCR South and will be followed up. 2. Presentation on Victim Assistance/ Inclusion project – HANDICAP Int. Handicap International (HI) through presentation briefed participants about Victim Assistance/Inclusion project in 3 districts of Kandahar province, through one of its interventions HI is to support greater synergies and alignment among stakeholders via enhancing cooperation, coordination and information sharing in order to ensure that needs of mine/ ERW victims and other people with disabilities are taken into consideration, developing more inclusive programs, disability mainstreaming into development Share Victim Assistance/ Inclusion activities and underpinning the move towards full participation and equal opportunities of mine/ERW project presentation with HRT victims and other people with disabilities. Therefore, HI Kandahar Office disseminated a presentation on members Victim Assistance. HI commenting on questions asked about rights and advocacy for disabled people, said that they are working to do awareness through establishing handicap people committees and inform them about their rights as well as unite them for getting their rights. 4. Cluster update Protection: HRDA: Informed that the CFS project in 18 locations of Kandahar is ongoing. Child protection trainings which includes 15 components are delivered to 1,500 children (girls & boys) by 45 facilitators. The project will close by the end of August 2015. ICRC informed about distribution of 628 emergency health kits to conflict displaced families in Kandahar, Hilmand, Uruzgan and Zabul provinces. DRC informed about starting distribution of Cash for NFIs assistance to 130 conflict displaced families in Marja and Lashkargah district of Hilmand. The food assistance will be distributed by WFP. HI requested all organizations to cover Handicap Int. in their programs so that they can also be benefitted. ES & NFIs: IOM informed about distribution of NFI kits to 20 floods affected families in Shahjoy district of Zabul. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | http://afg.humanitarianresponse.info/ Document Title | 4 ANCC stated that they are running NSP community development projects in Hilmand, Zabul, Uruzgan and Nimroz provinces. Moreover, he informed that their activities were somehow disturbed by AGEs in Nawbahar and Daichopan districts of Zabul. The issue was solved through involving community OCHA elders and now their routines activities are back to normal. Health: AHDS informed that the BPHS project in Kandahar which has been run by AHDS since last five years will be handed to a new NGO named BARAAN by the end of June 2015. The new arriving NGO