1

09 June 2010 REVIEW

Inside This Issue

Economic Stabilization Governance & Participation This document is intended to provide an overview of relevant sector events in Afghanistan from 03 June - 08 June 2010. More Humanitarian Assistance comprehensive information is available on the Civil-Military Overview Infrastructure (CMO) at www.cimicweb.org. Hyperlinks to original source material Justice & Reconciliation are highlighted in blue and underlined in the embedded text.

Security Social Well-Being

For further information on CFC activities related to Afghanistan or inquiries about this publication, please contact the Afghanistan Team Manager: Valeria Davanzo, [email protected] or the Afghanistan Editor: Amber Ram- sey, [email protected]

ECONOMIC STABILIZATION Matthew Hall, [email protected] / +1 757-683-5273 Back to top

Pajhwok Afghan News reports that store owners in sations (NGOs) for the 18-month period between the Faroshgah-e Buzarg Shopping Centre in July 2010 and December 2011 for a variety of de- received grants worth between USD 2,000 and 4,000 velopment and security-related programmes. Much for damages incurred during the coordinated of the aid package will be devoted to strengthening attack on 18 January. The money, provided by the Afghanistan’s educational system. Okada noted that United States Agency for International Development this will be “the first major joint initiative between (USAID), is intended to assist the store owners in the public and civic sectors” and is part of a five- restocking their inventories. The grants were distrib- year USD 5 billion “civilian-aid package.” uted at a ceremony in Kabul by Mayor Muhammad Younus Nawandish and US Ambassador Karl Eiken- Pajhwok reports that the prices of fuel and diesel berry. jumped this week due primarily to delays in trans- port from Uzbekistan. One litre of petrol jumped The Kabul Customs Department received nine new more than 10%, from AFN 48 to 53 (approx. USD warehouses expected to stem the flow of illegal 1.05 to 1.16) while the same amount of diesel goods into Afghanistan, according to Pajhwok. The jumped almost 10% from AFN 42 to 46 (approx. warehouses will provide needed space for the USD 0.92 to 1.01). Other commodities remained unloading and inspection of imported goods. The mostly unchanged. Comparing prices from one construction of the new warehouses, in addition to month ago, there has been a large jump in petrol renovations to existing warehouses, cost USD 1.2 prices, from AFN 40 to 53 per litre (approx. USD to million, which was provided by the United States. 1.16), an increase of just over 33%. One 50-kg bag According to Karl Eikenberry, who attended the in- of sugar rose about 7% from AFN 1,700 to 1,820 augural ceremony, the US has spent USD 150 million (approx. USD 37.36 to 40). Other commodities – on port and custom house renovations. Safiullah including rice, liquefied gas, Indonesian green tea, Mushfiq, the head of the Kabul Customs Depart- and black tea – remained unchanged. The Afghani ment, noted that each warehouse can store up to (AFN) depreciated slightly against the US Dollar 600 tonnes of goods. (USD) over the past month, changing from 46.4 to 46.6 Afghanis to the US dollar. (Comments? Click Kyodo News relays an announcement by Japan’s here) Foreign Minister, Katsuya Okada, that the Japanese government will provide JPY 1.5 billion (approx. USD FOR MORE DISCUSSION CLICK HERE 16.4 million) to Japanese non-governmental organi- 2

GOVERNANCE & PARTICIPATION Ann-Kristin Otto, [email protected] / +1 757-683-4368 Back to top

On 02 June, the Afghan Electoral Complaints Com- gested that parliament was back to work. mission (ECC) published a press release announcing that it had decided to include 188 additional names The resignations of Minister of Interior Hanif Atmar on the preliminary candidate list for the parliamen- and Head of the National Directorate of Security tary elections on 18 September 2010. The ECC said (NDS) Amrullah Saleh following insurgent attacks on that out of 226 contended candidatures only 188 the National Consultative Peace Jirga in Kabul (see individuals were able to prove their eligibility. The Security section) have caused a number of reac- Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced tions, including concerns amongst both the interna- that voters would have the opportunity to protest tional forces and Kabul political circles. While the the inclusion of the candidates from 02 to 08 June resignations of the officials is widely perceived as a with the ECC. According to Tolo TV, ECC member blow to ongoing efforts to ensure improved security Ahmad Zia Rafat told reporters that the remaining and cooperation between the Afghan National Secu- candidates were unable to provide the necessary rity Forces (ANSF) and international troops, they are documents required for candidature, including pro- also seen as worrying signs of President Karzai’s viding a minimum of 1,000 supporter cards with deepening isolation from many Afghans and inter- their registration. nationals alike, the New York Times writes. Both officials had good working relationships with ISAF The five nominees for the newly established Com- and were seen as competent cabinet members and mission for Overseeing the Implementation of the reliable partners. MPs have voiced their discontent Constitution presented their credentials before the over the resignations and have called on Karzai to Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) on 07 reconsider the move, Aina TV reports. Some MPs June, Pajhwok Afghan News reports. Parliamentari- claimed that neighboring countries such as Pakistan ans had gone on strike to protest Karzai’s inaction and Iran had a say in the resignations and had on numerous issues including his failure to introduce pushed Karzai to fire the officials. According to the remaining ministerial nominees or establishing Pajhwok, the current Deputy Minister of Interior the new commission to oversee the implementation Munir Mangal will become the acting Minister of of the constitution. While the Wolesi Jirga has not Interior and Ibrahim Spinzada, currently a member formally ended its strike, the session on 07 June was of the National Security Council, will serve as the attended by approximately 100 Members of Parlia- new head of the NDS. (Comments? Click here) ment (MPs) and remarks by Speaker of the House Mohammad Yunis Qanuni saying that MPs would vote on Karzai’s nominees for the commission sug- FOR MORE DISCUSSION CLICK HERE

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE Amber Ramsey, [email protected] / +1 757-683-4385 Back to top

German Development Minister Dirk Niebel met with oped by Tearfund, an international relief and devel- representatives from 20 non-governmental organiza- opment NGO, to assist small or medium-sized NGOs tions (NGOs) working in Afghanistan to discuss a attempting to set up projects in disaster-prone ar- new NGO facility that the German government plans eas with practical information on how to assess, to launch later this year, according to a press release manage and adapt to risks. The Climate change and published by the German Federal Ministry for Eco- Environmental Degradation Risk and Adaptation nomic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The assessment (CEDRA) was developed through the facility will be in charge of funding NGO projects in experiences of Tearfund in Afghanistan when deal- Afghanistan, part of an attempt by the German gov- ing with changing weather patterns. CEDRA in- ernment to involve NGOs in Germany’s increased volves six practical steps, including identifying envi- civilian activities. Under the new facility, the German ronmental hazards, prioritizing hazards that should government will provide NGOs with EUR 10 million be addressed, selecting adaptation options, ad- from its 2010 budget for projects run by German dressing manageable risks, considering new project private organisations. The majority of projects will locations and a continual review of programmes. be implemented in the northern provinces under the Representatives from Tearfund make it very clear leadership of the German Provincial Reconstruction that the beneficiary community should be involved Teams (PRTs) in Kunduz and Badakhshan. in the process every step of the way. According to Tearfund, “knowing the community, tapping their The Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) information, and understanding their needs can provided details on a new environmental tool devel- help make or break a project.” The CEDRA is being 3 piloted in 10 different countries, with regular im- acres of farmland. The ANDMA is prepared to pro- provements being made based on the experience of vide emergency relief supplies to the affected com- the teams. Tearfund expects that the tool should be munities with more supplies being sent upon com- expanded to other projects within the next five pletion of damage assessments. years. According to the United States Geological Survey Pajhwok Afghan News reports that seven people and (USGS) a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck the hundreds of livestock were killed in Takhar province Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan on 04 June. Paki- when flash floods hit the districts of Rustaq, Hazar stan’s Dawn News says that no casualties were re- Samch, Khwaja Ghar and Ashkamesh. The provincial ported however tremors were felt in Islamabad, head of the Afghanistan National Disaster Manage- Lahore and Peshawar. (Comments? Click here) ment Authority (ANDMA) said that some 500 people were affected by the floods along with hundreds of FOR MORE DISCUSSION CLICK HERE

INFRASTRUCTURE Matthew Hall, [email protected] / +1 757-683-5273 Back to top

Power supply was restored from the Kajaki dam af- centre in Kunduz province was inaugurated by the ter the Taliban agreed to allow Afghan government German Minister of Development, Dirk Niebel, ac- officials to repair supply lines, Pajhwok Afghan News cording to Pajhwok. The centre will provide two- reports. The Taliban allegedly cut the lines two year training programmes to local Afghan youth in weeks ago. The lines transfer power from the Kajaki the subjects of chemistry, geometry and algebra. dam to Lashkar Gah, city, and the districts Niebel promised EUR 430 million per year would be of Musa Qala, Kajaki, and Greshk. According to the spent by Germany on reconstruction projects in Af- Director of the Helmand Department of Energy and ghanistan but did not mention a timeframe. Niebel Water, Ahlullah Obaidi, the dam’s two operational stressed the importance of development projects turbines provide a total of 33 megawatts (MW) of and job creation in defeating the Taliban while electricity. speaking to reporters after the ceremony.

Local Herat TV reports that a water supply project Twenty-two development projects costing AFN 25.1 was completed in the Payan Aab district of Herat (approx. USD 550,000) were finished in Sar-e Pul province. The USD 125,000 project was funded by province, according to Pajhwok. The projects were the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) implemented under the National Solidarity Program and local residents, with the ICRC providing USD (NSP) and will benefit an estimated 5,000 families. 85,000 and residents providing the remaining USD According to a spokesman for the NSP regional of- 40,000. The project took five months to complete fice, 1,429 development projects have been imple- and 23,000 families now have access to clean drink- mented in the northern provinces, with 1,355 of ing water. those now complete. (Comments? Click here)

A German-funded EUR 350,000 vocational training FOR MORE DISCUSSION CLICK HERE

JUSTICE & RECONCILIATION Ann-Kristin Otto, [email protected] / +1 757-683-4368 Back to top

On 02 June, President Hamid Karzai opened the Na- evidence, the Associated Press (AP) writes. tional Consultative Peace Jirga in Kabul, attended by 1,600 delegates, urging militants to lay down their Reactions to the jirga differ with many Members of arms and join the government’s efforts. The long- Parliament (MPs) doubting the resolution will meet awaited gathering lasted until 04 June and resulted people’s expectations and warning that some of its in the adoption of a resolution outlining steps to provisions would not be in accordance with the Af- push forward reconciliation and reintegration efforts ghan Constitution, Aina TV reports. According to the in Afghanistan. In what is described by the Office of Canadian Globe and Mail, the resolution, while not the President as a first step in implementing the being legally binding, offers a glimpse at what the Jirga proposal, on 06 June, Karzai ordered a review Afghan government is prepared to concede to bring of all cases involving detainees imprisoned for al- the Taliban to the negotiating table. Observers leged links to the armed opposition and called for worry that women’s rights in particular could be the release of those whose cases lacked sufficient compromised by strengthening Islamic Law to lure 4 the Taliban. According to Pajhwok, the European mises the long-term presence of international Union (EU) and the US both welcomed the outcome troops on Afghan soil. The group instead calls for of the gathering, expressing their willingness to sup- the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops in port the peace process in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Afghanistan, Pajhwok writes. (Comments? Click the armed opposition group Hezb-e Islami, led by here) Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, rejected the jirga declaration, claiming that the document legiti- FOR MORE DISCUSSION CLICK HERE

SECURITY Rens De Graaff, [email protected] /+1 757-683-4302 Back to top

Afghan Minister of Interior Hanif Atmar and National practiced violent intimidation against civilians and Directorate of Security Chief Amrullah Saleh stepped led kidnappings and executions of government em- down from their positions on Sunday, taking the ployees and village elders, says ISAF. Zergay was blame for an attack by Taliban insurgents on the killed in a raid last week in the Zhari district of Kan- first day of the National Consultative Peace Jirga, dahar. Afghan and coalition troops had been track- reports the Los Angeles Times. The resignations cre- ing his whereabouts for several weeks and initiated ate concerns that the Afghan National Security a raid on 28 May for his arrest. Zergay and several Forces (ANSF) will be unprepared to take over re- members of his security detail were killed in a fire sponsibility of security operations when foreign fight during the raid. ISAF stated that his death was troops begin to pull out of the country at the end of a "major loss for the Taliban." the year, says Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Atmar, who has served in his position since 2008, was re- According to The Herald, a bomb exploded outside form-minded and admired by US officials; Saleh the provincial governor’s office in Kandahar city on served as the intelligence chief since 2004 and 05 June. One policeman was killed and 14 civilians played a major role in rebuilding the Afghan intelli- were wounded in the attack. The governor was not gence service. Even though the attacks on the first present at the time of the explosion. According to day of the jirga did not result in fatalities, Karzai was the police, the explosives were strapped to a bicycle forced to interrupt his opening speech to reassure outside the governor’s office. So far, no one has delegates when a rocket-propelled grenade landed claimed responsibility for the attack. close to the jirga's tent. According to Afghan law enforcement officials, the militants were able to rent Private Afghan security firms are under scrutiny by a house less than a mile from the Kabul Polytechnic US officials for allegedly bribing the Taliban with US University campus, where the jirga took place, and dollars (USD), the New York Times reports. For bury weapons in the yard a few weeks prior to the months, reports have emerged suggesting person- event. A Ministry of Interior spokesman also said nel from these firms, many with close ties to gov- that two militants were able to get past security ernment officials, pay off the Taliban for safe pas- checkpoints by disguising themselves as a husband sage while escorting NATO and US convoys. Accord- and wife with a baby and launch at least two rocket- ing to investigations, some firms may even engage propelled grenades before security forces shot and in orchestrated clashes to increase the demand for killed them. their services. Investigations are ongoing according to the New York Times report. (Comments? Click CNN reports that the top Taliban commander in Kan- here) dahar province has been killed along with seven mili- tants. Mullah Zergay orchestrated insurgent activities in two districts of Kandahar and was a man who FOR MORE DISCUSSION CLICK HERE

SOCIAL WELL-BEING Valeria Davanzo, [email protected] / +1 757-683-4271 Back to top

Shamshad TV reports that the municipality of Kabul responsibility as well as a broader public health ap- is counting on the participation of residents to help proach. According to the report, a large number of remove garbage from the city. Due to a serious lack residents have complained about piles of garbage of equipment and resources, the municipal mainte- spread throughout the city, with fears that they nance department is facing difficulties providing ade- may be responsible for spreading diseases such as quate and regular waste collection services. Volun- cholera. teers are invited every Friday to take part in collec- tion activities. This effort is led by a sense of civic Pajhwok Afghan News reports that Afghanistan is 5 experiencing a number of negative effects caused by Badakhshan province, where maternal mortality air pollution, particularly in Kabul. The head of the figures are estimated to be at 6,000 deaths per Department of Environmental Safety of the Ministry 100,000 live births, despite being better equipped of Public Health (MoPH) informed Pajhwok that an than other provinces and less exposed to violence, average of 3,000 Kabul residents die every year the province encounters severe access difficulties, from pollution-related illnesses, mainly respiratory, especially during the winter. From the point of view heart and lung disease. The health representative of many international organizations, maternal mor- also explains that Kabul is the most affected region tality problems may be partially explained by a no- in the country in part due to the massive population ticeable decrease in funding for health programmes. living in the province and the capital city. The dep- For instance, according to the Assistant Director- uty head of the Afghanistan National Environmental General for Health Action in Crises at the World Protection Agency (NEPA) explained that while Health Organization (WHO) the decrease in funding counting about five million inhabitants, Kabul was for the health sector – more specifically the mater- originally developed to hold 500,000. In addition, nal health sector – is having serious repercussions the province does not have sufficient funding to allo- on the provision of health services. Figures from the cate to pollution reduction and environmental pro- Ministry of Finance estimate that only 6% of the tection. USD 36 billion donated between 2002 and 2009 was poured into health programmes, yet representatives The Afghan Director of Reproductive Health at the from the MoPH claim the problem is not a result of MoPH informed the Integrated Regional Information insufficient funds, but ineffective spending and lack Network (IRIN) that “maternal mortality is a national of national institutional capacity. Additionally, the problem.” According to IRIN, disparities exist within MoPH argues that its capacity is too low to monitor the country with some provinces facing serious secu- programmes implemented by foreign agencies. rity concerns, while others face a lack of health fa- (Comments? Click here) cilities or medical expertise. However, local officials say the most evident problem seems to be the lack of infrastructure, particularly roads. In the case of FOR MORE DISCUSSION CLICK HERE

The Civil Military Fusion Centre (CFC) is an Information and Knowledge Management organisation focused on improving civil-military interaction, facilitating information sharing and enhancing situational awareness through the web portal, the Civil-Military Overview. CFC products are produced from fused information from governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, international organisations, academic insti- tutions, media sources and military organisations. By design, CFC products or links to open sourced and inde- pendently produced articles do not necessarily represent the opinions, views or official positions of any other organisation.