1 July 23, 2004 Overview

July 23, 2004 Overview

UN says Afghan voter registration climbs to 80 percent of eligible voters The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is reporting that Afghan voter registration has climbed to some 80 percent of an estimated 9.5 million eligible Afghan voters. Manoel de Almeida e Silva, spokesman for UNAMA, told a press briefing in the Afghan capital Kabul yesterday (Thursday, July 22) that as of Tuesday (July 20) Afghan voter registration had reached 7,836,281 with men and women accounting for 59.2 percent (4,637,499) and 40.8 percent (3,198,782), respectively, of all registered voters. He said an estimated 2.3 million Afghan eligible voters in Pakistan and Iran would also be able to take part in the upcoming presidential elections in October and the parliamentary election in April 2005. He added that separate memorandums of understanding had already been signed with Iran and Pakistan that would allow out of country voter registration and polling. Almeida e Silva said despite an increase in the number of people registering, Note: This report has been compiled from publicly available information. Although information has been gathered from reliable sources the currency and completeness of the information reported herein is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Except for Overview section that is rewritten weekly, any changes in the other parts of the report are highlighted in red. Inquiries, updates and comments are welcome and should be directed to PDMIN team at [email protected]. 1 UNAMA was concerned about uneven registration in some areas, especially in the south. He also noted that voter registration for women in some areas of the country, especially the south, was half (20 percent) of the national average of 40 percent. To address the situation, a delegation from the Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB), that includes Dr. Farooq Wardak, the director of the electoral secretariat, and Professor Reginald Austin, the chief technical advisor, who went to the south and reportedly met with the governors of Kandahar, Helmand, Nimroz and Zabul provinces, as well as security officials and representatives of the US-led coalition force. The lack of security, a low literacy rate among women and an insufficient number of educated women to help with the registration process, were identified as key problems in the south. It is important to note that officials had earlier estimated eligible Afghan voters to be numbered around 10.5 million, however, last month these estimates were revised downward to some 9.5 million voters.

Afghan warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum enters presidential race Afghan warlord General Abdul Rashid Dostum, an ethnic Uzbek, announced his plan to run for president in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October 9. Dostum, who has been a military advisor to President Hamid Karzai, made the announcement yesterday (Thursday, July 22) at a large political rally in the northern city of Mazar-I-Sharif shortly after turning in his resignation to President Karzai. Dostum is the first high-profile challenger to Karzai to emerge in Karzai’s reelection bid as President. Monday (July 26) is the last day to file papers for candidacy and candidates are required to announce the names of their two vice presidents. Dostum has yet to name his selections for those posts. Dostum blames Karzai for applying the label of “warlords” to only non-Pashtun commanders and running an “unbalanced” campaign to disarm factional militias. Addressing his supporters at the rally, Dostum said, “Everyone has their dignity. I will defend your rights.” According to the BBC, it appears that Dostum’s decision to run for the president’s office is likely to bring the divisive issue of ethnicity to the forefront of the election campaign. Dostum’s decision to run against Karzai comes less than two weeks after Karzai said he would impose the toughest punishment against warlords that refuse to cooperate in the government’s disarmament campaign. Although Dostum is not likely to win against Karzai, he could possibly try to deprive Karzai 50 percent of the votes required to avoid a runoff vote. Separately, in his efforts to reduce the power of warlords and to improve security, Karzai this week removed three of the country’s powerful militia leaders from their posts as army commanders, and assigned them civilian responsibilities in his government. The three militia commanders, General Ustad Atta Mohammad, General Hazrat Ali and General Khan Mohammad Khan have been removed from their military positions and have been given roles in the provincial government. Atta Mohammad has been appointed as the governor of the northern province of Balkh and Hazrat Ali and Khan Mohammad Khan have been appointed as the provincial police chiefs of eastern Nangarhar and southern Kandahar provinces, respectively.

Torrential rains inundate Afghanistan's central and northern highlands with floods and mudslides The United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is reporting that dozens of villages in Afghanistan’s central and northern highlands have been inundated with floods and mudslides triggered by last week’s (July 13-14) torrential rains. According to OCHA reports, Khamard district of central Bamyan (also spelled Bamiyan) province has been hit the hardest, where some 4,000 of the 7,000 residents in twenty-three villages have been directly affected as a result of the flooding. At least four deaths have been reported and more than 340 houses have been destroyed. Some 60 percent of the harvest has been reportedly lost and sizable farmland is submerged under water and debris. There has been a significant loss of livestock. The landslides have created a natural dam, which is blocking flood flow, posing a threat of water-borne diseases. The natural dam also poses further flooding risk to people and farmland in the event it bursts its bank. According to OCHA, there is an urgent need to dislodge the dam. In northeastern Badakshan province, eight people have been reportedly killed and some 70 families in the districts of Shohada and Jurm have lost their homes. A joint UN and Afghan government assessment team is already in northern Samangan province, where at least 20 homes have been damaged, as well as an unknown area of farmland. Provincial authorities in Bamiyan are seeking international assistance for Khamard district. The government of Denmark has provided some US$18,500 in emergency assistance for road clearance and transportation of relief supplies to the affected population. The Afghan Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, in conjunction with NGOs Solidarites and the Agha Khan Development Network, have sent relief teams with supplies to Khamard who have begun distribution.

Note: This report has been compiled from publicly available information. Although information has been gathered from reliable sources the currency and completeness of the information reported herein is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Except for Overview section that is rewritten weekly, any changes in the other parts of the report are highlighted in red. Inquiries, updates and comments are welcome and should be directed to PDMIN team at [email protected]. 2 Movement 3.5 million refugee and IDP returns since early 2002, with over 2.9 million refugees returning to Afghanistan and over 500,000 IDPs going home. Over 2 million refugees returned from Pakistan; 900,000 returned from Iran. In 2004, 450,000 refugees returned by 20 July - 210,000 from Pakistan, including 100,000 from urban centers. An estimated 242,000 also came from Iran, including more than 50,000 spontaneous returns. July should see 100,000 returns, like May and June. UNHCR (UN High Commission for Refugees) plans for 500,000 to return from Pakistan this year and 500,000 returns from Iran. UNHCR plans to close new post-September 2001 camps near the border in Pakistan by September 2004. About 800,000 refugees remain in Iran and 1.6 million in Pakistan. Remaining in Pakistan are over 100,000 in cities, one million in old camps and nearly 200,000 in new post-2001 camps. Emphasis in 2003 was on repatriation from old camps and cities in Pakistan to rural areas in Afghanistan. 70% of returnees from Pakistan were from cities and 30% from camps. Over a third returned to Kabul, another 10% went to other central provinces, and just over 20% returned to each of the north and east. The Southern region received 6% and the Western region 4%. The 2003 peak months were June with 92,000 and July with 78,000. In 2002 over 2.3 million Afghan refugees returned with 2 million assisted by UNHCR. UNHCR repatriated 1.53 million Afghan refugees from Pakistan, including 125,000 from Baluchistan and 1.4 million from the North West Frontier Province. 82% were from urban areas; only 3% were from new camps. 265,000 refugees were assisted in returning from Iran; and 10,000 refugees from the central Asian republics. UNHCR, the Afghan Ministry for Refugees and Repatriation, and IOM (International Organization for Migration) plan to assist 90,000 IDPs return home in 2004. UNHCR started modest 2004 IDP returns. There are 188,000 recorded active IDPs, with the actual total being, perhaps, some 300,000. Active IDP numbers are 145,000 in the South, 20,000 in the West, 20,000 in the Center, 10,500 in the East and Southeast, and 9,000 in the North. UNHCR assisted 60,000 IDPs to return in 2003. During the first quarter of 2004, WFP provided food assistance to over 2 million Afghans. During a typical week, up to half a million people receive 2,000 to 4,000 tons of food. Several hundred thousand Afghans are employed on work-for-food programs. Routes for Humanitarian Aid and Refugees Country Supply Routes Supply/Return Routes To Comments From

Iran Mashhad Dogharun, Herat, Badghis & Major refugee repatriation route; Ghor Zabol Nimruz Refugee repatriation route; Pakistan Peshawar Jalalabad, Kabul, Bamiyan & Khyber Pass refugee camps in NWFP, Major refugee repatriation route; Torkham Pakistan Quetta Refugee camps in Baluchistan, Significant refugee repatriation route Pakistan & Kandahar and Herat

Tajikistan Nizhny Pyandzh Sherkhan, Kunduz, Northern Salang tunnel between north and region, & Kabul Kabul; Tunnel closed 7 AM – 5 PM for repairs through September Kyrgyzstan Osh Ishkashim, Faizabad, & NE WFP no longer needs route Turkmenistan Turkmenabat, Kushka Herat, Badghis & Ghor UNHCR no long needs route Turkmenabat, Kerki Andkhoy, Mazar-e-Sharif, & Northern Region UNHCR no longer needs route

Uzbekistan Termez Mazar-e-Sharif and North Friendship Bridge for rail and road

Afghanistan Relief Efforts: United Nations Coordination Regions

Central Region

Location Bamiyan Coordination

Population 2,800 active IDPs in Central and East Central IDP Movement

Food WFP; preparations for winter complete

Health ICRC, IMC, MSF; malnutrition high

NFIs -Shelter IOM, UNICEF, UNOCHA, & OXFAM Water & Sanitation UNICEF

Security New Zealand PRT in Bamiyan; Main phase of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) started;

Comments Flooding reported in Khamard district of Bamiyan; Tents, blankets, mobile clinics, and food for 10,000 for one month required;

East Central Region Security: PRT in Parwan; Location Kabul

Coordination UNHCR

Population 2,800 active IDPs in Central and East Central

IDP Movement UN; currently few returning home from Kabul

Food WFP, IRC, Action Contre la Faim

Health CARITAS, MSF, IFRC, IRC, ICRC

Russian relief center and hospital; improved ambulance service

Non-Food Items - Shelter UNHCR, ACTED, MSF, IRC, ICRC, IOM; housing being built for squatters

Security Main phase of DDR in progress

Water & Sanitation ICRC; Wells, pumps, and clean water considerably improved; chlorination of wells on-going Comments

Eastern Region Security: Coalition operations continue along border with Pakistan; 20,000 refugees reportedly fleeing operations in Pakistan and entering Paktika province; Coalition says it will launch “Lightning Resolve” operation to improve election security; US PRT in Gardez; US PRT in Kunar; US PRT in Ghazni province; Coalition says it will establish more PRTs in east and south to improve security and humanitarian support; Main phase of DDR in progress in Gardez; Location Jalalabad

Coordination UNHCR

Population 5,500 active IDPs in East IDP Movement

Food WFP, IRC

Health UNICEF, MSF, IMC, WHO; ICRC

Non-Food Items - Shelter CWS, UNICEF

Security US PRT in Jalalabad; Main phase of DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration) started; Election workers killed; Explosions reported in city;

Water & Sanitation CARITAS; ICRC, UNICEF

Location Hesarshahi (12 km Sar Shahi east of Jalalabad)

Type IDP IDP

Coordination International Islamic Relief Organization (ISRO) Capacity

Population 9,000 remaining 15,000 Movement IDPs UNHCR assisted 15,000 return home Food Health UNICEF Non-Food Items (NFIs) - Shelter Security Water & Sanitation UNICEF Comments WES activities of UNICEF in this camp completed in 2002 and Immunization activities are going on.

Northeastern Region Flooding in Badakhshan Province requires small number of tents, blankets, hygiene kits, clothes, and household items; Security: DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration) started in Takhar province; Location Faizabad Organization

Population 11,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast

Movement IDPs 117,000 returned spontaneously in Northeastern region

Food OXFAM, UNICEF, WFP, World Concern

Preparations for winter underway

Health WHO, Merlin, UNICEF, MSF; ICRC

Non-Food Items UNICEF, ACTED, Refugees Int’l, Mercy Corps (NFIs) -Shelter

Security German/NATO PRT in Feyzabad; Water & Sanitation Comments

Northern Region Security: US PRT in Parwan; DDR started in Baghlan; Location Kunduz Coordination

Population 11,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast; 60,000 IDPs from North elsewhere in country;

Movement IDPs IOM targeting 45,000 IDPs to identify those interested in voluntary assisted return home starting 31 March

Food ACF, FOCUS, OXFAM, IOM, Save the Children;

Health WHO, MSF, UNICEF

Non-Food Items (NFIs) – Convoys from Mazar-e-Sharif, Kabul, and Tajikistan Shelter IOM, ACTED, Mercy Corps

Security NATO/German PRT in Kunduz; Main phase of DDR in progress Water & Sanitation UNICEF UNICEF Immunization activities Comments Aid and relief supplies from North, South, and West

Northern Region IDP Camps (Kunduz) Location Bagh-e-Sherkat Amirabad Type IDP IDP Coordination IOM IOM

Camp Capacity 22,000

Population Less than 5,000 between the Less than 5,000 between the two camps two camps

Movement IDPs Largely stopped Largely stopped

Food WFP WFP, ACTED, Focus

Health UNICEF UNICEF Non-Food Items (NFIs) - Shelter IOM

Security Water & UNICEF UNICIEF Sanitation Comments UNICEF has completed WES activities in the camps in 2002

Location Mazar-e-Sharif Coordination UNHCR

Population 11,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast; 60,000 IDPs from North elsewhere in country;

Movement IDPs IOM moving some IDPs home

Food WFP; preparations for winter underway

Health WHO; ICRC. UNICEF Jordanian field hospital

Non-Food Items IRC, IOM, UNICEF, Action Contre la Faim; FAO (NFIs) - Shelter

Security British PRT in Mazar-e-Sharif turned over to NATO; Main phase of DDR started

Water & Sanitation ICRC Comments

Southern Region

Southern region has 145,000 active IDPs; Security: Coalition operations continue along border with Pakistan; Conflicts in Kandahar, Uruzgan, Zabul, and Helmand provinces; Coalition says it will launch “Lightning Resolve” operation to improve election security; Coalition says it will establish more PRTs in east and south to improve security and support humanitarian activities; Location Kandahar Coordination UNHCR

Population 145,000 active IDPs in South Movement of IDPs

Food International staff present and operating

Mercy Corps in southern Kandahar Province

Health WHO, ICRC, CARITAS, Mercy Corps; UNICEF;

NFIs - Shelter UNHCR, Mercy Corps

Security US PRT in Kandahar; main phase of DDR in progress

Water & Sanitation UNICEF

Comments

Southern Region IDP Camps (Kandahar)

Location Kandahar Type IDP

Capacity 90,000 in 39 camps in Panjwai district

Population Survey of IDPs in the Southern Region to be conducted later this month Movement IDPs Food UNICEF Health NFIs - Shelter Coalition operations continue Security UNICEF Water & Sanitation

Comments WES projects of UNICEF in IDP camps completed in 2002 and immunization activities are going on.

Southern Region IDP camps south of Kandahar Location Zhare Dasht (South of Kandhar – 6 camps) Type IDP Camp

Coordination Int’l Save our Souls

Camp Capacity 30,000; expandable to 60,000

Population 36,000

Movement IDP About 4,000 from Spin Boldak to relocate to Zhare Dasht before humanitarian support ends in August this year;

Food WFP

Health UNICEF, MSF; outbreak of diphtheria among under- 18 NFIs - Shelter Security

Water & Sanitation UNICEF wells

Comments New camps designed to attract IDPs from Spin Boldak

Type IDP Camp IDP Camp IDP Camp

Coordination Cordaid Cordaid Cordaid

Camp Capacity

Population 1,700 4,500 16,000 Movement IDP Refugees in no- man’s land

Food Caritas Caritas Caritas

Health Caritas-UNICEF Caritas_UNICEF Caritas-UNICEF NFIs - Shelter Security Water & Sanitation Comments UNICEF is doing immunization activities

Southern Region IDP Camps (Spin Boldak--Near Afghan-Pakistan Border Chaman Area)

About 20,000 IDPs in the Spin Boldak area; Government has ordered that Spin Boldak humanitarian assistance end in August; 4,000 IDPs to go to Zhare Dasht, several hundred to return home, and nearly 16,000 to remain in Spin Boldak area without humanitarian assistance; Location Al Rashid (Spin Ben Rashid Maktum Rabita Alam el Islam Boldak) (Spin Boldak) (Spin Boldak) Type IDP Camp IDP Camp IDP Camp

Coordination UNHCR UNHCR UNHCR Camp Capacity Population 1,100 Movement IDP Food WFP WFP Distribution interrupted in mid-May

Health UNICEF and MSF UNICEF and MSF UNICEF and MSF

NFIs - Shelter Security

Water & Sanitation Trucks and water tanks Trucks and water tanks UNHCR supplying limited quantities

Comments New camp New camp New camp

Type IDP Camp IDP Camp IDP Camp

Coordination International Islamic NGO from United Arab International Islamic Relief Organization Emirates Relief Organization

Camp Capacity 6,000

Population 6,000 Movement IDP Food WFP WFP WFP

Health UNICEF and MSF UNICEF and MSF UNICEF and MSF NFIs - Shelter Security

Water & Sanitation Trucks and water tanks Trucks and water tanks Trucks and water tanks

Comments New camp New camp New camp

Western Region 20,500 active IDPs; Security: Limited disarmament taking place among competing local factions in Chaghcharan, capital of Ghor province; 600 Afghan Army troops sent to ensure order; UN withdrew; Location Herat Province Coordination UNHCR; ICMC

Population 70,000 or less in 5 remaining camps down from 200,000 to 360,000 depending on estimates Movement IDPs

Food WFP, IRC, CARITAS, UNICEF, World Vision, IOM, Action Contre la Faim

Health WHO, MSF, MDM, Order of Malta, CHA, IbniSina, HRS; ICRC; UNICEF

Non-Food Items (NFIs) – UNHCR, Iranian Red Crescent, UNICEF, IOM, Shelter Blankets and fuel being distributed; Ockenden Int’l, MSF, IMC

Security US PRT in Heart; Main phase of DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration) begun;

Water & Sanitation UNICEF

Type IDP Camp IDP camp IDP camp

Coordination ICMC ICMC ICMC

Camp Capacity 100,000

Population New arrivals from 11,000 16,000 Badghis and Ghor Movement IDPs IOM assisted IDPs return home IOM assisted 23,000 IDPs to in North-West for 2003 total of return home from Mashlakh 23,000 and Shaydayee in 2003; MSF reports Shaydayee to close— remaining IDPs to be shifted to Maslakh Food WFP; food-for-work program WFP; general food vice distribution distribution to end April; Shift to food-for-work program vice distribution Health WHO, IMC, MSF, MDM, HRS, UNICEF CHA, IbniSina; ICRC-UNICEF MSF (NFIs) - Shelter IOM, UNHCR distributing UNICEF, UNHCR additional tarps and blankets Security Water & Sanitation UNICEF UNICEF Comments Western Region IDP Camps (cont.) Location Minaret 1 & 2 Rawza Herat City Type IDP camp IDP camp IDP camp

Coordination ICMC ICMC Camp Capacity

Population Less than 2,000 Less than 500 remain Less than 5,000

Movement IDPs

Food MDM doing food supplements Health UNICEF UNICEF UNICEF

Non-Food Items UNHCR and NGO (NFIs) - Shelter providing tents Security UNICEF Water & Sanitation UNICEF UNICEF Comments Officially closed

Refugee Locations in Pakistan UNHCR is caring for 200,000 refugees in Pakistan, including 127,000 people in nine camps and one transit area in Baluchistan Province , as well as 67,000 in seven camps in Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP). UNHCR plans to close all post-September 2001 new camps near the border by September 2004—six camps in Baluchistan and six camps in NWFP; Over 20,000 refugees reported fleeing Pakistani anti-foreign fighter operations and entering Afghanistan’s Paktika province; Baluchistan Province Location Baluchistan Province Coordination

Population 137,000 people in 9 camps and one transit area

Movement of Refugees Afghans in no-man’s land relocated to Zhare Dasht and Mohamed Khele; Plans to close other camps in vicinity of Chaman before September; Extra inducements offered this month for refugees to return to Afghanistan;

Food WFP

Health Medicins du Monde; MSF, AMDA

NFIs – Shelter Security Sufficient security that allows UN and NGOs to conduct full operations implemented in camps after threat in June;

Water & Sanitation IFRC, Medicins du Monde; Action Contre la Faim Comments

Refugee Camps in Baluchistan, Pakistan

Location Mohamed Khele 1 & 2 Roghani (new) (16 km (85 km southwest of from Chaman) Quetta) Type Refugee Camp Refugee Camp

Coordination UNHCR/Rotary Intl. UNHCR

Camp Capacity 80,000 17,000 - full

Population 37,000 Pashtuns 17,000

No-man’s land 8,000 refugees have been relocated from no- man’s land

Refugee Movement

Food WFP, CRS, ARC WFP

Refugee Camps in Baluchistan, Pakistan (cont.) Location Landi Karez (5 km Tor Tangi (20 km Lejay Karez (75 Latifabad (10 km from from Roghani) from Chaman) km from Quetta) – Mohammad Kheil) new Type Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Refugee Camp

Coordination UNHCR UAE Red Crescent UNHCR UNHCR

Camp Capacity 10,000 10,000 8,600

Population 16,500 10,000 5,700 6,350 ethnic minorities

Refugee Movement From Quetta

Food WFP WFP WFP

Health MSF AMDA AMDA NFIs - Shelter Security

Water & Sanitation IFRC, MDM, Oxfam IFRC, MDM IFRC, MDM IFRC

North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan

; Location North West Frontier Province Coordination

Population 70,000

Refugee Movement 1,404,000 refugees have returned; some old camps beginning to Food WFP Health Non-Food Items (NFIs) - Shelter Security Security continues to be a problem in Kurram Agency Water & Sanitation

Comments

Refugee Camps in NWFP, Pakistan 37,600 were in Shamshatoo; 35,000 among five remaining camps Location New Shamshatoo (60 km Kotkai (Bajur Agency 120 Barkali (Bajur Agency) southwest of Peshawar) Km northwest of Peshawar) Type Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Refugee Camp

Coordination UNHCR

Camp Capacity 75,000 20,000

Population 26,000 16,000 1,000 Refugees returning to Refugee Movement Afghanistan; 5,000 from Shalman

Food WFP, IRC WFP WFP

Health

NFI - Shelter CRS UNICEF Security

Water & Sanitation UNICEF

Comments Primarily for Pashtuns

Old Bagzai (Kurram Bassu (Kurram Agency) Asgharo (Kurram Location Agency) Agency) Type Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Refugee Camp

Coordination UNHCR UNHCR UNHCR

Camp Capacity 10,000 12,200

Population 18,000 among three 18,000 among three 18,000 among three Kurram Agency camps Kurram Agency camps Kurram Agency camps Refugee Movement

Food WFP; WFP WFP Health NFIs - Shelter IRC Private trucks deliver Private trucks deliver food Private trucks deliver food Security food due to security due to security situation due to security situation situation Water & San CRS

Comments Established camp for For Shiite refugees, mostly Relocated refugees from Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Tajik and Hazaras Jalozai and urban Turkmens Peshawar