Southern Region Humanitarian Regional Team (HRT) Meeting Minutes Minutes of Meeting – 30 March 2015

Participants

OCHA (Chair), UNHCR, UNAMA, MACCA,WFP, UNICEF, MM, AURC, HAPA, INSO, IOM,, NRC, HI, WHO SERVE, HRDA, ALO, SHAO, ICRC & DRC, HESDO, SCI, AHDS, SWABAC, MEDAIR,

Agenda Item and Discussion Action Point & by whom Status of Action Point Opening by recitation of Holy Quran – Haji Dost - UNHCR N/A N/A Minutes of previous meeting was reviewed (including action points) and adopted.

1. Humanitarian overview in Southern Region - OCHA Security situation - Security is still volatile in the region particularly in Helmand, Kandahar, Zabul and Urozgan provinces. The military offensive which was started in Feb is still ongoing in Helmand. According to the reports received from Helmand, ANSF cleared Trekh Nawar area in Marja/Nad Ali district in the south of the province but in Sangin the operation is challenged by AGEs. Additionally, during March OCHA received information on the ground that AGEs abducted some five staff of an humanitarian partner in Urozgan province. The staff have been taken to unknown place and the abductors demanded releasing their people from Urozgan provincial prison.

Health - As it is well-known the current military operation is a challenge for humanitarian workers particularly health staff who travel inside the districts and villages. This has resulted in interrupting some polio vaccination movements in those areas where fighting is ongoing. During the month, a health staff who was on his way home, was fatally wounded by a VBIED. Additionally, the main highways between Lashkar Gah and northern districts (Sangin, Musa Qala, Nawzad, Kajaki and Washir) are partially closed owing to IEDs and armed clashing. This resulted in delaying transportation of patients and increased threats of IEDs to health staff and assets. However, all health facilities are functioning including emergency health services (ambulances). Reportedly, a BHC which was invaded by unknown gun men in Baghran district in the north of Helmand resumed and regularly providing health services to people. Interims of health supplies, enough stocks are available in all clinics where offensive is ongoing. According to health cluster, from 05 Feb - 23 March, 188 measles cases have been reported to Mirwais provincial hospital which 177 out of them are from Kandahar province. Reportedly, seven deaths are Coordination Saves Lives

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recorded owing to measles cases. According to WHO 85 cases reported from Kandahar city and the figures 188 measles are very high number of cases across the region. The main reasons for increasing the cases are low coverage of vaccination, public awareness and inaccessibility of people to health services in white areas. During OCHA field mission to Urozgan, we found that there are many white areas in Gizab district where there is no health services and people don't have access to district administration center (DAC) owing to IEDs along the public routs. Therefore, an urgent intervention of health cluster is needed to consider those white areas particularly Tala and Sra Nawa villages which are located more than 100km far from the DAC.

WASH, FSAC, Nutrition, Protection - During the last field mission of OCHA to Urozgan province, we found the people who are living if far away villages in Gizab district faced with lack of food and safe drinking water this has resulted in increasing food insecurity and water born dieses in the district. Particularly, those people who are living Tala and Sra Nawa villages are in dire need of food and WASH facilities. OCHA received information from Helmand that IDPs who are displaced since February need an urgent intervention of protection cluster meeting to consider the protection issues. Particularly, those widows and orphans who are still deprived from humanitarian assistances and other basic needs such as nutrition, education and health services. Reportedly, the people who are displaced to Lashkar Gah and Grishk have left everything behind even some groups lost their heads families who are the most vulnerable. Therefore, an assessment is needed for those women and children who lost husbands and fathers and the assessment may assist humanitarian partners to find out the actual figure of most vulnerable for further assistances. According to initial information of ANDMA from Zabul province this year was found very dry due to no rain and snow in the province. This has resulted in affecting livelihood particularly agriculture which is the main source of incoming for Zabul people. ANDMA informed this may impact in increasing food insecurity and minimum acute malnutrition cases in the province.

 UNHCR asked further clarification about areas and number of families lost their elders. In response OCHA informed that this was an initial information received from Helmand and suggested that Protection cluster should conduct a joint assessment to Identify protection related cases as a result of ongoing conflicts in Province  IOM informed that they have received a call from ANDMA informing about drought affecting population in Zabul province and asked OCHA if ANDMA Zabul has sent a letter regarding the incident. Furthermore IOM informed about unconfirmed reports received from Nimroz province regarding unknown number of families flew to Iran from unknown district due to safe drinking water shortage issue arising due to water level going down in Helmand River.  OCHA replied that OCHA was also contacted by phone and was informed about this incident but ANDMA has not sent a letter stating the issue yet. Moreover OCHA stated that recently there was snow fall and rains in Zabul province so it would be early to declare Zabul as drought affected because the spring rain fall has still to come. Regarding Nimroz issue OCHA replied that water level going down in Helmand river is very common during the period of May to August every year. Since there United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

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were many rain falls in Helmand Province therefore, it is unlikely for water level to go down so early in Triangulate families displacement OCHA river. However, OCHA will disseminate the information with partners in the field for further clarification issue with partners in Nimroz

2. CM Coordination officer presentation on Access – CM-Coord officer OCHA Kabul

UNOCHA CM-Coordination Officer presented presentation and informed that HCT under the leadership of HC is working on access strategy and asked HRT participants to provide suggestions and feedback for further improvements of access strategy.  UNICEF CPiE staff informed that in many programs gender equity is not considered and is targeting specific gender due to access. Moreover, he stated that misperception of people about CM-Coordination presentation to be OCHA programs is another key challenge for reaching communities. He added that useful ideas can be shared with HRT participants extracted from two main access strategies of ICRC and polio for making new access strategy.  NRC access focal point while commenting on access issues stated that they have had very useful awareness programs about humanitarian works through radios as well as Madrasa students training program about humanitarian activities, but due to shortage of fund none could go on. He added that when there are options for actions then no one is willing to support it.  DRC stated that trust building within a community is key element for access, which can be done by implementing needs base programs within communities  WFP informed that they have access team in place and agreed with NRC comments for having difficulties with allocation of resources when it comes to response. He added that besides security access has many more constraints and all should be considered in access strategy  UNHCR protection staff stated that politician should also be involved while discussing access because in some ways they are also creating problems in humanitarian response.  UNAMA ASC stated that to ensure staff safety and security they have remained cautious for staff movement and mentioned about availability of flights for UN staff movement to provinces to meet with their partners and stakeholders in the field. 3. CHF Presentation –HFU Program officer OCHA Kabul A representative of OCHA’s Humanitarian Financing Unit in Kabul introduced the Afghanistan Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF), a funding tool at the disposal of the Humanitarian Coordinator to support the objectives of the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and to address priority gaps in the humanitarian response. The CHF is disbursing funding twice a year through the Standard Allocation process and on an ad-hoc basis through the CHF Reserve mechanism. All allocations are accompanied by a strategy paper, CHF presentation will be shared with OCHA outlining the clusters, geographic areas and program activities that are prioritized for funding. To become all HRT participants eligible to apply for funding under the CHF, national and international NGOs are required to pass the CHF Due Diligence Process, a review of the organizations’ institutional and administrative systems and programmatic capacity, followed by a comprehensive Capacity Assessment to determine the application of the policies and manuals in place.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

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The eligibility process chart and instructions, together with the Initial Application Form and Checklist of documents to be submitted can be found on the OCHA Afghanistan website: http://www.unocha.org/afghanistan/eligibility-process. The Humanitarian Financing Unit can be contacted on [email protected] for further information and guidance.

After the presentation UNICEF recommended that looking to the low capacity of National NGOs based in SR, OCHA should make the due diligence process flexible for National NGOs and added that the fund should also cover cost for capacity building of National NGOs, otherwise SR will remain deprive of CHF funding. WFP asked about cluster role in due diligence process and proposal reviews. HFU unite staff replied that clusters have key role in proposal reviews and due diligence process. 4. Cluster update

Nutrition UNICEF informed that Nutrition annual plan is finalized for 2015 and the cluster meetings will be held regularly.

WASH About WASH UNICEF informed that cluster meetings are conducted in all provinces, So far 304 conflict displaced families were assisted with hygiene & maternal kits. UNICEF has also received safe drinking water request for 304 displaced families which is under consideration.

Health: WHO informed that health cluster meetings are conducted quarterly and stated that the measles outbreaks has become a concern, the last case was reported by ICRC from Mirwais hospital. Polio Immunization campaign for 50,000 missing children at the region level will be conducted from 15 to 17 April. Since start of the year 2015, one polio confirm case has been found in Registan district of Helmand. UNICEF has developed Micro plan for Kandahar, Helmand and Uruzgan provinces as a response for increasing number of Measles outbreaks.

Protection: UNICEF: CPiE is facing with lack of funds. Only one Child protection project is ongoing in 15 informal settlements of Kandahar. UNHCR informed that joint assessment team has identified 20 families in Uruzgan, 66 families in Kandahar displaced owing to conflicts. In Helmand province the assessment has been delayed due to some obstacles. He added that so far 304 families in Lashkargah and 70 in Nadali have received Food Inform NRC if there is need for Food and NFIs assistance. items distribution to conflict UNHCR NRC informed that they can distribute food items to displaced families and asked UNHCR to inform NRC displaced families when there is need for FIs.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

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FSAC: WFP informed that, since Islamic relief has closed its operations in SR, therefore the FSAC cluster meeting has not been conducted. WFP together with FAO is working to assign another co-chair for FSAC cluster. 5. AOB - N/A. 6. Next HRT meeting will be convened on 27 April 2015 at 10:00 hrs Inform participants through email OCHA

Attendance Sheet SR HRT Meeting ‐ 30 March 2015

S/No Name Agency Position

1. Nadeem Bashir UNOCHA HoSO, SR 2. Romy Maria BLICKLE UNOCHA HFU Program officer, Kabul 3. Sean (Johnny) RIDGE UNOCHA Humanitarian Affairs and CM Coord Officer, Kabul 4. Sayed Abdullah Agha OCHA HAO/OIC 5. Ahmad Wali Raisi OCHA HAO 6. Sharifullah Hussaini OCHA Admin 7. Hashim Agha Mercy Malaysia Project Coordinator 8. Mateen Ahmad SWABAC Admin Officer 9. Dr. Enayatullah Safi HAPA Field Officer 10. Marten Konert INSO RSA South 11. Ahmad Dost UNHCR Sr. Protection Associate 12. Abdul Wahid Hilali IOM PA/FC 13. Jailani Khan Nasar SCI DRR/EP Coordinator 14. Mohammad Naeem Idrees HRDA Program Assistant 15. Mohammad Sabir Khan HI/PRC PRC Manager

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

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16. Simon Hermes UNAMA Head of Office 17. Rahmatullah Qadiri UNAMA Civil Affairs Assistant 18. Dr. Veeda Nizami AHDS Project Manager (ABC Proj) 19. Dr. Salam ARPD Project Manager 20. Ahmad Shakeb WFP HoP 21. Abdul Latif SERVE Assistant Manager 22. Jan Mohammad NRC Access Focal point 23. Dr. Haroon ALO Country Program Manager 24. Dr. Kamwak WHO NHC/ HoO 25. Khalid Samim SHAO Program Officer 26. Sanaullah Atif ICRC Eco Sec F/O 27. Dr. Emal UNICEF Health Specialist 28. Sibghatullah Fazli DRC Deputy Area Manager 29. Hamidullah DRC Emergency Response Officer 30. Amenullah MACCA OPS Assistant 31. Abdul Khaliq UNICEF CPO/ Eme FP 32. Ghousuddin Frotan HESDO Hindara Director 33. Jaime Abraham MEDAIR P.C/ OIC

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

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