Western Region Minutes of Humanitarian Regional Team (HRT) Meeting

Date: Wednesday, 18 January 2012 Time: 10 am Venue: UNICEF-Herat Chair: OCHA

Participants: WVI, DACAAR, NPO/RRAA, ICRC, IFRC, ARCS, IRC, NRC, INTERSOS, IOM, UNAMA, CAID, WFP, FAO, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO, WASSA, ANSO.

Agenda and discussion points:  Review of previous meeting action points  Consolidated Appeal for 2012 - direction of HRT meeting for 2012  Update on drought and winterization responses  Review of IDP and return trends  AoB

Opening remarks and review of outstanding action points OCHA welcomed the participants and wished them a happy new year. There were no outstanding action points from the previous HRT. The minutes were endorsed.

Consolidated Appeal for 2012- direction of HRT meeting for 2012 OCHA gave a brief presentation about the CAP 2012 (attached). The section devoted to the Common Humanitarian Action Plan is focused on protection with the strategic objectives targeting those impacted by conflict, natural disasters and return both within and from outside of Afghanistan. An advocacy role by humanitarians to ensure that MDGs targets are on course is also envisaged in the Appeal. OCHA stated that these objectives will be an integral part and guide the agenda of future HRTs as well as the work of the regional clusters. A strong suggestion was made to ensure a link between humanitarian and development work and avoid the repetition of cyclical crises. A clarification was also requested as to the role of OCHA in ensuring the HRT targets these objectives: OCHA would wear the hat of inter-cluster facilitator to push for these nationally agreed strategic objectives and monitor regional progress in addressing them, reinforcing best practice and advocating for gaps and shortages to be addressed. This work would rely on functional regional clusters and on the HRT itself developing a baseline of information to match progress against and contributing to field-based monitoring.

A review of regional clusters, chairs and timing of meetings was conducted and gaps in information identified (see Annex attached). A recommendation was made by WHO, and supported by UNICEF and WFP, to combine the existing regional nutrition cluster with health.

Action Points  Regional status of clusters to be update by OCHA;  OCHA, in consultation with regional clusters, to develop a work plan for the HRT and to present it at the next HRT meeting;  OCHA to meet with UNICEF and WHO to understand feasibility of merging regional clusters.

Update on drought and winterisation responses WFP briefed participant on the distribution of 24,000 MT of food to Hirat (17,593 MT), Badghis (1,910 MT), and Ghor (4,689 MT) during 11 months of 2012 (see Annex attached). Currently, no dispatches are feasible to Jawand and Murghab districts in Badghis province as no implementing partner has been found by WFP. As a result of a request from the Provincial Governor of Ghor, WFP has re-allocated 319.6 Mt from the allocation made for Pasaband districts to cover some of the needs in Du Layna district; another 200 Mt will also be re-routed from the distribution of Taywara district to Charsada. OCHA raised the issue of

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the remaining needs (as identified in the EFSA and the basis of the WFP/EMOP allocations) in all four districts and asked WFP whether any advocacy was being made by the regional FSAC to cover them. OCHA also mentioned that the gap in Charsada and Du Layna is the result of lack of proposal for drought response proposed by ACF and Afghan Aid under the CAP 2011 drought revision. Furthermore, OCHA also enquired as to the reason for the inclusion of the urban areas of Hirat city (> 46,000 people), as well as neighboring districts (Injil, Guzara and Pashtun Zarghun) in irrigated areas in the distribution plan. WFP clarified that this was done as a result of the EFSA. Furthermore, WFP confirmed that drought IDPs in Hirat, Ghor and Badghis provinces will be covered under the new EMOP, while these needs will be covered under the allocation of their Protracted Relief and Recovery allocation for Farah.

ARCS informed that the Italian Red Cross has provided 8,000 food aid rations. ARCS intends to target drought affected in Muqur district in Badghis, Farsi district in Hirat and Taywara district in Ghor province of WR. They will coordinate with WFP to prevent any duplication in current distributions.

Action Points  WFP to meet with ARCS and coordinate drought response food allocations.  FSAC (WFP) to advocate for outstanding requirements for Ghor NGOs funding to cover Charsada and Du Layna districts of Ghor province.

Winterisation: UNHCR has almost completed its distribution across the WR with only 200 families left in Hirat. For current status of response please refer to Annex 2.

Conflict induced-IDPs Badghis: ANSARI, a local NGO and DoRR will assess 84 conflict-induced IDP families of Bala Murghab districts residing in Qadis district reported; ANSARI NGO is willing to assess them with DoRR. IRC assisted 23 NFIs for 39 households in Robat Naw village of Injil district and 61 NFIs for 61 natural disaster induced IDP households in Dashan village of Guzara district.

Natural disaster- IDPs IRC informed that 62 natural disaster displacements reported from Aziz Abad village of Shindand district were provided with NFIs. IOM informed that 277 drought affected families in Dahan-e-Kamar Kalagh areas, Hirat were assessed by IOM and ANDMA, and NFIs distribution for 445 families natural disaster affected in Farah province is ongoing. WFP responds to the food component in FFW scheme. WHO expressed interest in being part of the IDP Task Force monitoring efforts.

Action Points  IDP TF chair to ensure WHO attends IDP-TF meeting.

Returns from Iran UNHCR reported 18,635 returnee individuals from Iran for the year 2011, a significant increase compared to 2010 figures.

Any other Business • An Emergency Response Fund (ERF) workshop will be facilitated by OCHA during the first week of February 2012, the exact date will be communicated in due course. • OCHA also informed that t Mrs. Heba Aly, Associate Humanitarian Reporter of IRIN will visit WR on the last week of January 2012 to look at humanitarian response to drought and winterisation. • WHO should interest in supporting the health needs of IDPs residing in WR.

Action Points  Regional cluster leads to advice on possible visits and engagements of Mrs. Heba’s visit to WR.

Next HRT Meeting: February 23, 2012

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Annex 1 - WFP distribution status as of 18 January 2012

Cooperating Province District Allocation Distributed Partner Ab Kamari NPO/RRAA NPO/RRAA Muqur Badghis Qala-I- Naw NPO/RRAA Qadis NPO/RRAA 1,911 MT 0 MT n.a. Bala Murghab Jawand n.a. Tulak DRRD DRRD Saghar Lal Wa Sarjangal DRRD Dawlat Yar DRRD DRRD Chaghcharan 4,689 MT 0 MT DRRD Charsada Ghor Du Layna DRRD Shahrak DRRD DRRD Taywara Pasaband DRRD Gulran DAIL DAIL Koshk Koshki Kohna DAIL Kohsan DAIL DAIL Ghoryan Zanda Jan DAIL Guzara DAIL

INTERSOS Karukh Hirat Pashtun Zarghun DAIL 17,593 MT 79.7MT

delivered to Obe DAIL Adraskan Chishti Sharif DAIL DAIL Hirat Injil INTERSOS Farsi SDP SDP Shindand Adraskan DDA

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Annex 2 - UNHCR winterisation assistance:

Allocation Distributed % Date expected to be complete IP Badghis 700 700 100% Completed ARAA Ghor 1,500 1,500 100% Completed ARAA Farah 1,250 1,250 100% Completed VARA Hirat 3,300 3,100 94% Completed SSOAR Total 6,750 6,550 97%

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