Eastern Region Humanitarian Regional Team (HRT) Meeting Minutes Minutes of Meeting – 24 August 2016
Participants UNICEF, WHO, ACBAR, FAO, NPO/RRAA, IOM, DACAAR, NCRO, WHH, UNMACA, IMC, SCI, DRC, UNHCR, ICRC, WSTA, RI, UNICEF, MADERA, IRC, OCHA
Agenda Item and Discussion Action Point By Whom/Status Minutes of previous meeting were reviewed (including action points) and adopted. N/A N/A 1- Introduction and review of previous meeting minutes 1. Action points from the last HRT meeting: I. All partners to provide their inputs on their available response capacity to IOM by COB Tuesday 28 June 2016.
II. WHO, UNICEF, AADA and ARCS to be on alert and standby status to deploy additional OCHA (and partners) to continue resources (staff, medicines, vaccines and ambulances) in case of most likely and worst OCHA/partners advocating non-interference case scenarios in coordination with DoPH-Nangarhar.
III. IOM to share the finalized contingency plan with partners IV. IOM to finalize and share the eligibility card which determines the status of undocumented returnees, eligibility for the humanitarian assistance, status of the assistance if provided. This is issued at IOM Transit Center (TTC) Torkham.
2- Update on Afghan Returnees from Pakistan
I. Undocumented Returnees - IOM
IOM reported on the increasing influx of uncommented Afghan returnees from Pakistan and informed of 79,000 Afghans spontaneous return up to 23 August, 2016. IOM due to limitation of resources is targeting only the most vulnerable returnees in line with the criteria being set as: IOM
A. Returnees in Families Group: 1.Poor Families 2. Single Families and 3. Deported Families B. Individuals Deportees:
dCoordination 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.
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1. Medical Case, 2. Drug Addict 3. Unaccompanied Elderly. 4. Special Case 5. People with Disability 6. Single Female 7. Chronically Ill. 8. Mentally Ill and 9. Unaccompanied Minor.
To get prepared and advocate for additional resources IOM in consultation with the humanitarian regional UNHCR team revised the Contingency Plan being developed in 2015 and concluded it in the Ad-hoc HRT meeting held on 27 July, 2016.
Documented Returnees - UNHCR: UNHCR reported that as of 23rd August 2016, in total 3,630 families (18,275 individuals) have repatriated through UNHCR assistance via Torkham border to the eastern region. In August, the number of UNHCR-assisted families has also been significantly increased compared to July (788 families V 3,630 families). Similarly as of August 2016, the number of UNHCR-assisted returnee families increased over 100% compared to the same period last year (i.e. some 1,800 families returned through UNHCR assistance from January – August 2015).
UNHCR highlighted that in terms of intended destination, 80% returned to Nangarhar, 14% to Laghman, 4.5% to Kunar, only 1 family to Nuristan while the rest returned to central region. In August, the assisted returnees’ figure indicates an average of 160 families returning per day.
In addition, discussion is underway in Pakistan that from September to increase their work processing returning refugee families in Chamkani verification center (VRC) into two-shifts. So that Chamkani VRC will process more families intend to repatriate to Afghanistan. Consequently UNHCR Sub-Office in Jalalabad will also increase the capacity in Samar Khel encashment and will operate instead of five to six days per week. II. Updates on IDPs ( Assessment and Response)
Major conflict during June- July 2016 resulting internal displacement OCHA OCHA underlined the key incidents resulting in conflict-induced displacement as:-
24 June Kot district conflict causing about 1000 families displaced, 02-04 July Hesarak – 7 fam notified as displaced, 17 July, Khogyani Conflict, 850 families notified, 30 July Kot, Achin, Dehbala and Nazyan ANSF cleaning military operations, 14 August conflict in Alishang and Alingar districts of Laghman province, 795 fam displaced, on 14 August Waygal Nuristan conflict, 15 families notified. The key challenges are: 1. Frequent visits of rejected IDPs (Protracted/Backlog) 2. No timely action or information sharing of line department (DoRR) during conflicts 3. Partners’ reports are not in line with OCHA Data Tracking Sheet (DTS) on line database. 4. Increased frequency of conflicts (New) 5. Access to IDPs settled in inaccessible areas United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
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i. Nangarhar: (Nazyan, Achin, Batikot, Chaparhar, Mohmand Dara, Khogyani, Sherzad, Shinwar, Hesarak) with 3,635 HHs pending (mostly protracted caseloads and inaccessible) ii. Kunar: (Barkunar, Ghaziabad, Nari, Shegal, with 87 HHs iii. Remote districts of Nuristan (Barg-e-matal, Kamdesh) 6. Delay in Response – causing secondary displacement and repetition of petitions 7. Exaggerated petitions
OCHA reported of 625 IDPs families jointly responded by the humanitarian organizations in close coordination with DoRR offices in the region. More details will be shared in the forthcoming IDP coordination meeting.
Cluster updates
Protection Cluster update:
Cluster meeting was convened on 25th July 2016. UNHCR updated PC members on IDPs Protection
Monitoring carried out by UNHCR multi-functional team in 13 high IDP sites/villages (i.e. 11 sites in
Nangarhar and 2 sites in Laghman Province). The key issues or pressing needs surfaced out, have been education, access to proper shelter, water, solar lights, individual PSN support and provision of livelihood means. The detailed analysis of the protection monitoring will be presented in the next protection cluster meeting.
UNMACA:
UNMACA informed of 3,382 IDPs consisted of male and female received mine/ERW (Explosive Remnant UNHCR and All of War) risk education facilitated by UNMACA implanting partners "MCPA" in Kunar and Nangarhar to protect the current conflict IDPs from risk of mines and ERW. Beside the above mentioned MCPA MRE team surveyed minefield area, located in Kama district. Moreover OMAR has got the community base MRE project for Eastern region, two MRE teams operating in Behsud and Khogyani districts in Nangarhar.
Similarly DDG (Danish Demining Group) provided mine/ERW risk education for 2597 (33290 individual) refugees at UNHCR encashment center, located in Sumarkhail area of Nangarhar province.
ACAP III project update: UNMACA through Afghanistan Civilians Assistance Program –III is helping the civilians affected the conflicts in the Eastern region:
- 19 immediate assistance packages distributed to 19 war affected families (181 individuals) in Nangarhar. - 27 immediate assistance packages distributed to 27 war affected families (253 individuals) in Kunar.
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- 13 immediate assistance packages distributed to13 war affected families (122 individuals) in Laghman. Moreover psychosocial and physical rehabilitation support (those who are in need) provided to the mentioned above families
Economic Reintegration: On 09 Aug 2016 UNMAC through the ACAP-III distributed 8 cows with feeding materials to those families who have lost their family bread winner in the conflict in Laghman. FAO, WFP ACAP III project have in plan to do the following distribution next week: - 27 immediate assistance packages are going to be distributed to current war civilian affected families in Nangarhar province - 20 immediate assistance packages are going to be distributed to current war civilian affected families in Laghman province
Emergency Shelter and NFI Cluster update:
Cluster Products: - 3W was updated - NFI distribution matrix sheet was updated and shared with the relevant agencies. - The updated available Shelter/NFI capacity stock matrix has been shared with partners - Shelter and NFI Cluster Coordinator is expected to come down to Jalalabad next week. Up on receiving the confirmation/exact date of his arrival, the cluster lead will circulate invitation for an ad-hoc meeting with Shelter/NFI SC members.
FSAC: FSAC meeting was convened on 27 June, where all FSAC partners presented their inputs and activities. Next FSAC meeting will take place on 29 August and national FSAC coordinator will come to the region for the meeting. The meeting will be focused on the proposed agenda of IOM, OCHA and UNHCR, for discussing the issues pertaining to the returnees (documented/undocumented) conflict-induced IDPs, and natural disaster.
Seasonal Food security report has been shared with partners being an action point from the last meeting. Updates were provided on IPC result based on which Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan are in phase 3. Guidelines for CHF 2 standard allocation has been circulated to all FSAC partners in case they apply for any FSAC related intervention.
Under CERF project 3,050 earthquake affected HHs received the assistance (Agriculture and Livestock assistance) in Kunar and Nangarhar. The impact evaluation was conducted by SPs, the result has shown positive impact of HHs life. Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccination campaigned conducted properly in 6
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targeted districts under Khatiz Dairy Union, the cooperatives members livestock vaccinated, the same vaccination completed in Gamberi area as well.
Health WHO/ UNICEF Health cluster updated the floor and informed of having distributed Diarrheal Diseases kits in Kunar, Nangarhar and Laghman. Similiarly provided Truma kits to Nangarhar and Laghman and each of the kit covers 100 major surgeries. WHO also handed over basic unit kits to IOM for the Transit Center and DoPH Laghman. WHO have additional kits and will be provided to health partners/DoPH as need arises.
WHO informed of eight clinics being closed as seven in Nangarhar (Abdulkhel, Mamand, Pekha, Papeen, Oghhz and Bandar in Achin district and one in Hesarak) while the Korangal BHC is also closed in Kunar. It was added that the clinics that were closed in Bargimatal and Kamish districts of Nuristan have been reopened and now resumed the services. During the fighting in Waygal district of Nuristan the clinic in Want was occupied by the military (ANSF), but as a result of the negotiation with government authorities and ANA, they left the clinic after one day.
In Hesarak due to the fighting a clinic run by ADAA has been closed and the area is under the control of NSAA, however ARCS clinic has been functioning. There are controversial reports that access to the district center has been blocked and has resulted in shortage of medicines and other commodities in the markets. However, it was informed that there are alternative routes such as through Azra district of Logar and are usually used for the supply and the situation in terms of market and basic needs is not that serious. But government supply and access to the district is by air only.
The Health cluster reported of eight outbreaks recorded in the region during the last two months: 1. CCHF-3 2. Chicken pox- 1 3. Viral Hepatitis: 2 4. Meeasles-2 Below table show the outbreaks on district wise S/N outbreak Investigation date Province District No. of Cased 1 Chicken Pox 07/06/2016 Nuristan Waygal 22 2 CCHF 18/06/2016 Nangarhar Kot(Jaba) 1 3 Viral hepatitis 26/06/2016 Laghman Qargahae 8 4 Measles 29/06/2016 Laghman Mehtarlam 8 5 Acute viral Hepatitis 04/07/2016 Laghman Qarghae 8 6 CCHF 03/07/2016 Nangarhar Rodat 1 7 Measles 02/07/2016 Laghman Mehtarlam 8 8 Measles 25/07/2016 Nuristan Parun 13
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It was informed that EPI activities have been banned in Alokhil, Shikh Sahib and Noorlam Sahib in Laghman due to unknown reasons.
WHO current health stock is as: Trauma Kit-1, Diarrheal Disease Kit-1, Basic Unit- 13, and Pneumonia Kit-15.
Nutrition: From Nutrition program 22 districts has been supplied with food, and asked UNHCR colleagues if there is still need can inform UNICEF that the program will be extended there. Vaccination campaign will start on 29 August, during this campaign vitamin A and deworming tables (Mebendazole) will be distributed. 150 health staff provided with training.
WASH: WASH interventions of different cluster members continues to IDP/Returnees in most of the districts of ER. Two solar projects are in pipeline for the region targeting the high return areas. This year more attention is given to the remote and most affected districts for WASH interventions. Nangarhar has high rate of open defecation. DACAAR is implementing Community-led Total Sanitation (CLTS) program in Kama with the financial support of UNICF.
IRC informed of having an ongoing WASH project in Kama district with key interventions of digging wells for provision of clean drinking water and hygiene promotion.
NPO/RRAA added of having WASH projects in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces of which some have recently been completed and some are ongoing.
OCHA reiterated the importance of WASH cluster members’ participation in the needs assessment of IDPs and thanked DACAAR for taking part in most of these assessments.
5. CHF update: OCHA updated the HRT on second standard allocation and reminded of the deadline i.e. 27 August. OCHA advised cluster leads to extend all possible assistance to the agencies submitting proposals in line with CHF strategy. OCHA also underlined that agencies should ensure to submit proposal in line with the strategic objectives of Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP 2016) in close coordination with relevant clusters.
The second standard allocation is US$ 23 Million. There are five (5) strategic envelops for the CHF Allocation: 1. Emergency support to address a worsening malnutrition crisis; 2. Emergency trauma care for conflict casualties; 3. Address urgent assistance gaps and reduce ERW casualties among conflict displaced;
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4. Essential humanitarian support to address residual needs of the most vulnerable natural disaster affected; 5. Strengthen Coordination and Needs Assessment). i. Nutrition (envelop 1) in link with health –Health (envelop 2) – US$4.0 million ii. IDPs for: (WASH, Protection, Food Security& Agriculture, Refugee Population {Health and WASH}) – US$5.5 million iii. ES/NFIs and Food Security & Agriculture (envelop 4) – US$ 4.0 million iv. Assessments (envelop 5) – US$1.5 million
Highlights on Civil Military Dialogues: OCHA briefed the HRT on the regular CM coordination with ANA and regular meetings taking place. OCHA requested NGOs to share if there is any issues of violation (military intrusions to their premises, health facilities) share it through INSO and UN agencies through OCHA to be tabled with the military in the forthcoming meeting planned for 30th August. IV. AOB
5. Next HRT. TBC
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