Issue 13: Jan/Feb 2010 Key Points Attacks on aid community decline from late 2009 Displacements in Helmand; expected new military operation in Kandahar Severe weather in February causes floods and avalanches 2010 HAP launched Civilian casualties continue to exceed 2009 levels I. Humanitarian Overview permanent UN presence in Lashkar Gha, but UNHCR seconded staff to DoRR to assist with IDP registration, Access and UN implementing partners PAT and HAPA verified DSS reports that the number of security incidents during IDP families and distributed assistance. In advance of the January 2010 was consistent with the previous months, operation, additional relief stocks were stockpiled in but higher than in the same period in 2009. The security Lashkar Gha; additional supplies are available in situation appeared less affected by the onset of winter Kandahar if needed. than in previous years, which DSS attributes to mild As of 7 March, UNHCR reported that roughly 900 weather conditions and ongoing military operations. families had returned to Marja and to a lesser extent to Demonstrations in response to reports of civilian Nad Ali; however, returns had peaked around 1-2 March, casualties in IM operations took place in the Eastern, possibly due in part to the large numbers of IEDs on the Southern, and Central regions. In February, security routes back. The IDP Task Force in the Southern region is incidents declined from January levels (although there now turning its attention to how to support returns. IDP were increases in the South and Southeastern regions), representatives had indicated that at this point assistance but were higher than in February 2009. Much of the should not be distributed in Marja town itself because of decrease from January was attributed to severe weather fear of reprisals. There continue to be concerns regarding conditions in parts of the country, and to arrests of senior civilians’ freedom of movement, access to medical care, Taliban leaders in Pakistan in mid-February which are and damage to property and livelihoods. considered to have disrupted insurgent activities. An inter-agency mission consisting of OCHA, IOM, DSS reports that there were relatively few attacks against WHO, UNAMA, UNHCR, DSS, and PAT visited the aid community given the number of security incidents Lashkar Gha on 28 February and met with government during this period. However, a number of significant officials, the PRT, and DFID. UN representatives incidents were reported, including abductions of reiterated to the government and the military that their demining and health workers, carjacking of an INGO assistance can only be distributed in response to verified vehicle, attacks on food convoys, and intimidation of aid needs and in a neutral and impartial manner. workers. Anti-UN rhetoric by Armed Opposition Groups (AOGs) was high, and included responses to reports that ISAF and government officials have indicated that they the SRSG met with Taliban leaders, a statement that UN plan to shortly conduct a similar operation in Kandahar offices had been attacked in Helmand (although there is province with a focus on Kandahar city. It is anticipated no UN presence there), and a threatening message that the operation will raise similar issues of temporary disseminated to national and international staff after the displacement and access to civilians remaining in the 18 January attack in Kabul. conflict area. Partners in Kandahar are updating the inter- agency contingency plan for the region in advance of the Conflict in Helmand operation. As of 28 February, UNHCR reported that a total of 4,275 Floods and Avalanches families (approximately 27,700 individuals) had been registered as displaced from Marja and Nad Ali in Increased precipitation in February somewhat allayed Helmand province due to Operation Moshtarak. The concerns about potential drought, but also resulted in a displaced stayed with host families, and 88 percent of the number of floods and avalanches. The most serious displaced – most of whom relocated to the provincial incident was a series of avalanches in the Salang pass on capital of Lashkar Gha – received humanitarian assistance 9 February; according to ANDMA 160 people were killed (NFIs and a one-month food ration). There is no and 1,600 had to be rescued. Line ministries, ISAF, and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) OCHA Afghanistan: http://ochaonline.un.org/afghanistan Monthly Humanitarian Update Issue 13: Jan/Feb 2010 the Parwan provincial authorities participated in the the affected families by the government. Heavy snowfall rescue operation. Assistance provided to those affected and avalanches in Ghor province also caused two deaths included floods, blankets, and NFIs from UNICEF, IOM, and one injury in Cheghcheran and Charsada districts, ANDMA, and ARCS; additional mobile health teams and blocked roads to the provincial center and to were also dispatched to the affected area. Other flooding neighboring provinces. and avalanche incidents included the following: Southern region: Heavy rains on 8 February caused Northern region: Flooding of the Amu Darya river flooding in a number of provinces. In Kandahar, the damaged homes, roads, and livelihoods of 250 families in Provincial Disaster Management Committee (PDMC) Qarqin and Khamyab districts of Jawzjan province. On organized a joint assessment and verification exercise in 20-21 February, OCHA participated in a verification Dand, Daiman, and Kandahar city districts to distribute mission with government, UN, and NGO partners and food from WFP, NFIs from IOM and ADA, and medical identified a total of 250 families in need of food, shelter, supplies from WHO to 157 flood-affected families. and NFI assistance and the need for further flood Floods were also reported in Panjway, Zaru, Shawali Kot, mitigation efforts. A relief convoy is planned but road and Maywand districts, but assessments and distribution access to the affected area is difficult because of flood were not possible due to the security situation. In damage and insecurity. On 24 February, ActionAid Helmand, ARCS provided 108 flood affected families reported that floods damaged cultivated lands in three with tents, food, and NFIs. In Zabul province, the PDMC villages in Chimtal district, Balkh province. On 23 has requested assistance for flood-affected families and February, a peaceful demonstration took place in UN implementing partners are verifying assessments and Shortepa district, Balkh province, where residents distributing assistance. requested that the government build proper flood Central Highlands: According to the Bamiyan PDMC, a protection walls along the Amu Darya river. total of 15 people were killed by avalanches in Panjab Northeastern region: In Badakhshan, avalanches killed and Waras districts of Bamiyan in February. UNAMA five people in Argu, Kofab, and Jurm districts and also reported damage from avalanches in Gero and Rabat blocked roads to most villages. The NGO FOCUS also areas of Miramor district (at least 34 houses damaged, reported that avalanches destroyed six houses in Gharan 200 cattle killed, roads and fruit trees damages), Khedir village, Ishkishm district. In Takhar, the road from district (more than 100 livestock killed, fruit trees and Taluqan to Hazar Sumuch was temporarily closed by canals damaged, and roads blocked), and Sharistan heavy snowfall on 12 February. On 14 February, five district (one person killed, 20 livestock killed, and a houses collapsed due to heavy snowfall in Ibrahim Khil number of houses and roads damaged). area of Kunduz city, killing one person; ARCS and In terms of the expected forecast in the coming months, government departments assisted the affected families. the Food Security and Agriculture cluster has formed an The Panj-Amu River Basin Program (PARBP) is Early Warning Information Working Group which will planning a workshop for humanitarian actors and issue reports every two weeks, available on OCHA’s government actors in late March on the forecast for website (ochaonline.un.org/afghanistan). In anticipation drought and/or floods and implications for humanitarian of further spring floods, OCHA is working with ANDMA planning. and other partners on preparedness activities, and Western region: In February, flash floods in Herat OCHA’s field offices are updating stock lists and province damaged a total of 50 houses in Enjil, Koshki, finalizing contingency plans in the North, Northeast, and Robat Sangi and Zinda Jan districts; affected families West (plans for the East and South are already complete). were provided with food, NFIs, and tarpaulins by NGOs 2010 Humanitarian Action Plan Launch and UN agencies. Flash floods also occurred in three villages of Purchaman district in Farah province; On 17 February, the Humanitarian Coordinator, OCHA, ANDMA reported that six women and six children were and ACBAR held a press conference to launch the 2010 killed. Assessments and aid distribution were delayed by Afghanistan HAP, as well as provide an update on the weather conditions and insecurity; ANA helicopter situation in Helmand. The press conference highlighted support was required as a last resort. When an assessment the need to mitigate the effects of conflict and natural team was able to reach the affected area, ANDMA hazards on vulnerable populations, the need to link reported that a total of 437 families in Purchaman and humanitarian programming to longer-term recovery and 400 households in and near Farah city were identified