Western Region (Draft) Minutes of Humanitarian Regional Team (HRT) Meeting

Date: Monday, 6 March 2017 Time: 2 p.m. Venue: UNICEF-WHO-OCHA compound, Hirat Chair: OCHA

Participants: Present: UNHCR, UNICEF, IRC, CRDSA, DRC, ARAA, INTERSOS, UNMAS, RAADA, WHO, WFP, CoAR, HI, INSO, NRC, IOM. Absent: Nutrition cluster focal point, SGBV focal point

Agenda and discussion points: 1. Access and security updates (INSO) 2. Conflict-induced IDPs updates (OCHA) 3. Natural-disaster updates (OCHA) 4. Cluster updates (Clusters focal points) 5. CHF Fist Standard Allocation Update 6. WR ERP finalisation 7. AoB

Introduction OCHA welcomed participants and the coordination meeting schedule for March 2017 was presented with no apparent meeting clash noted. All organizations are encouraged to share any information on upcoming events with OCHA.

Access and security updates (INSO) INSO deliberations show that, in-line with winter trend, the overall security situation throughout the Western Region (WR) continues to remain volatile. The reporting period saw a number of low-key armed conflicts in Hirat, Badghis and Ghor provinces though Farah province experienced intense confrontation. Reportedly, no incidents of direct impact against the UN family and the wider aid community was recorded during February. Farah province continues to remain the concentration of NSAG activities. NASG orchestrated a number of attacks on ANDSF positions in Balabuluk district during which several were killed from both sides. Reports also indicate that eight civilians were killed and 20 others wounded whom fleeing conflict while their car hit by a RCIED. ANDSF conducted a number of clearing operation and air strikes which reportedly inflicted casualties on NSAG. INSO also highlighted that two DoPH supervisors for vaccination campaign in Anardara district were abducted by NSAG after they were returning from a training workshop held Farah city. After negotiation of local elders, they were released unharmed. INSO also updated that restive Zirkoh valley in Shindand district of Hirat remains volatile during reporting period. Infighting between rival groups has escalated which has resulted in casualties on both conflict parties; reportedly, several men were killed and several other were wounded during the clashes. In Badghis province, a number of low-profile armed clashes were reported in Balamughab, Qadis, mugur districts and north of Qala-e-Naw city. No major conflict was reported during this period in Ghor province.

Conflict-induced IDPs updates (OCHA) OCHA updated the HRT participants on the WR displacement trend in February 2017. No mass displacement was recorded during February in Hirat, Badghis and Ghor provinces and the tally shows consistent with the previous month. However, armed clashes in Balabuluk district (Farah) on the last week of February have displaced 700 people (100 families) to Farah city and about 4,200 people (600 families) to Balabuluk villages (Ganjabad, Granai and Bazar-e-Farahrod). The inter-agency assessment team is verifying the affected people in Farah city, however the displaced families in Balabuluk district remain hard-to-reach for verification.  In Hirat, the assessment team has assessed 3,976 people (568 families) of whom 875 IDP (125 families) were verified as in need of humanitarian aids in Herat city. DRC, NRC, WFP PAT, DACAAR, UNHCR responded to the caseloads.  In Badghis, the assessment team has assessed 2,310 people (258 families) in Qala-e-Naw city. 399 people (57 families) were verified as in need of humanitarian assistance. NRC, IRC, UNICEF and UNHCR covered the needs of affected people.  In Ghor province, the assessment team has assessed 1,680 people (240 families) in Chaghcharan and DoLayna district. Of which, 1,120 people were identified in need of assistance. WFP, UNICEF and ACF will assist the IDPs.

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 In Farah, the assessment team has reach out to 2,506 people (58 families) in Farah city. Of whom 408 people (58 families) were verified as in need of humanitarian assistance. DRC and WFP covered the needs of affected people.

Natural-disaster updates (IOM) IOM provided an update on the impact of the recent rains on the WR on 4 and 18 Febuary in Injil, Guzara, Adraskan, Kushk, Chesht-e-Sharif, Kohsan, Pashtunzarghun, Farsi, Karukh and Obe districts. In accordance with pre-existing coordination arrangements, the ANDMA-led joint assessment teams have assessed the affected people and identified 396 households as in needs of immediate ES-NFIs and Food as well as WASH supplies. The reports from the joint team also indicate that floods have killed seven people in Hirat province. ANDMA, IOM, IRC, NRC, ARCS and WFP assessed and assisted the affected families. No gap in response was reported. Reports of damages in Badghs and Ghor were also received, a total number of 23 houses were damaged in Qala-e-Naw, Abkamari, Mugur disricts and six people were killed. Elsewhere in Ghor province, snowfalls killed four people and damage four houses in Chaghcharan city and Lal Wa Sarjangal district. ANDMA in Ghor and Badghis assisted the affected families with cash modality. No incident of floods affecting people was reported from Farah province. IOM is leading the regional coordination for tracking assessment, impact and response to flooding with OCHA providing support on information sharing.

Cluster updates (Clusters focal points) FSAC Cluter FSAC focal point updated the HRT participants that there is no food gap in the WR; however due to access constrains, response to displaced people in hard-to-access areas (e.g. 600 families in Balabuluk district) remains a challenging gap. WFP informed that they are trying to reach out to affected people in hard-to-reach areas through their PAT Monitoring (namely Access Team) for potential assessment and response. WFP also briefed the participants about a two-day reports and proposal writing training workshop conducted for NGOs and FSAC partners in Hirat in February. He stated that the workshop was successful with full participation. WFP also informed that their Protection Officer is visiting Herat city and his objective is to focus on returnees and deportees from Iran to the WR. The Protection Officer will meet key agencies bilaterally.

Health Cluster Health Cluster focal point updated the HRT members that during February three cases of measles outbreaks were recorded in the WR. Two of the outbreaks were reported in Injil district and the other case was reported from Pasaband district of Ghor province. The health teams could reach the affected people and provided the children with vaccinations. The outbreaks were contained. There is no medicine gap in the WR.

WASH Cluster WASH cluster focal point in the WR briefed the participants that there has been no major issue or gap in WASH during February. He also updated that UNICEF has received 150 emergency latrines for the WR to respond to the emergency caseloads.

ES-NFIs Cluster ES-NFIs alternate from UNHCR updated the participants that the natural disaster affected people were responded with no gap in ES-NFIs in the WR. UNHCR also informed that they are distributing blankets for 3,000 families in the WR. Each family is receiving three pieces of blankets, and the distribution is expected to finish on 15 March.

Protection Cluster Protection Cluster focal point updated that, based on the information received from DoRR Hirat, the Government has increased the allocation of land plots for protracted IDPs in Maslakh informal settlement from 3,000 plots to 10,000 plots which will be adequate to cover the needs of all IDPs. No further concerns was reported by Protection Cluster.

CPiE sub-cluster CPiE updated HRT that since 5 February, the Iranian authorities has paused the process of deportation to Islam Qala border. Reportedly, the halt in cross border movement was attributed to repairing of the detention center in Khorasan province of Iran though it is yet to be confirmed. According to IOM in Hirat, the deportation from Milak crossing point in Zaranj city (Nemroz) has been increased to two-fold. An average of 100 returns per day was recorded in Zaranj city which now has risen to 200 per day.

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Therefore, no humanitarian response was reported from Islam Qala border. UNICEF updates that the participants that they established 10 Child Friendly Space (CFS) in Kamar Kalaq Informal Settlement of Herat city for the protracted IDPs children. Accumulatively, 399 children benefit from the programme.

Action points  WFP to feedback HRT on the progress of response to about 4,200 people (600 families) displaced in Balabuluk district, Farah  ES-NFIs to update HRT on the IDPs tracking in Herat city base on joint post monitoring report.

CHF Fist Standard Allocation Update OCHA briefed the participants on CHF first standard allocation for 2017. OCHA highlighted that all approved CHF funding is allocated in coordination with the Clusters and in alignment with the operational objectives articulated in the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), which have been developed through a comprehensive consultative process to determine priorities based on inter-sectoral needs analysis. The funding will be allocated to address key priorities outlined under the following four allocation envelopes: 1. Increasing access to life saving basic health and nutrition services; 2. Addressing basic needs of undocumented returnees and their hosts; 3. Response to neglected needs exacerbated in a deteriorating humanitarian and protection environment; 4. Emergency Response Preparedness. OCHA encouraged I/NGO to apply for CHF fund and fill the gap in response in the areas where it is inaccessible for the majority of I/NGO.

WR ERP finalisation The ERP was finalized by HRT members.

AOB None.

Next HRT Meeting: 6 April 2017 at 2.p.m

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