The Afghanistan NGO Safety Office Issue: 20 February 16th—28th 2009 ANSO and our donors accept no liability for the results of any activity conducted or omitted on the basis of this report. THE ANSO REPORT -Not for copy or sale- Inside this Issue COUNTRY SUMMARY Central Region 2-4 The scope of the planned ANSO DATA: AOG Initiated Attacks (Suicide, CR & IDF only) Northern Region 4-6 650 “surge” has been set at a total 2006 600 6-9 17 000 additional US Forces. 550 Eastern Region 500 2007 450 Initial deployments to War- 387 Western Region 10-11 400 dak and Logar are completed 350 303 300 12-14 with further augmentation in 2008 Southern Region 250 Helmand and Kandahar 200 15 ANSO Info Page 2009 150 planned. Recent events in 100 Wardak are early indicators 50 0 of the more aggressive tactics JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC YOU NEED TO KNOW likely to be used this year, as well as the resultant civil dis- ongoing efforts in this the south) but also the dra- • Increasing IMF presence pleasure to same. province. matic regional expansion of in the Central and South There have been a total 42 The deterioration of secu- AOG efforts in the west Regions civ cas during this 2 week rity in the West was illus- overall (refer to chart on • Continued AOG efforts to period, 24 of which have trated this period by the page 15). influence local sentiment been directly combat related. swift AOG reaction to the The use of a “wave” sui- The killing of 6 nationals (2 IMF killing of a prominent cide attack in Zaranj • Dramatic deterioration in by beheading) with perceived AOG leader in Badghis. (similar to those in Kabul) the western security con- GoA association by AOG in These incidents served to indicates the increasing text Wardak this period is indica- both highlight the resilience utilization and distribution • Suicide “wave” attacks tive of their prevalence and of AOG insitu (along with of this tactic. possible augmentation from ANSO is supported by NGO DATA & TRENDS Along with the second ANSO DATA: Total NGO Incidents NGO fatality this year, this period recorded 2006 AOG intimidation ef- 17 15 forts against NGO in the 2007 North, West, and South- ern Regions, as well as a 2008 short but considerable abduction of NGO staff 2009 in Central. These occur- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 rences, as translated into JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC the consistently high volumes of NGO inci- dents during the opening months of 2009, indicate that the prevailing insecurity fore- casted this year will continue to have a significant impact on NGO safety. THE ANSO REPORT Page 2 NGO Incidents KABUL KABUL Year to Date 4 35 This Report Period 1 30 On 18 February in the Shad 25 Khana area of Mussayi, a minibus were targeted because they 20 worked for an NGO. 15 carrying 11 local NGO workers 10 and three children was stopped by Within four hours both groups of 5 gunmen, believed at this stage to hostages were released unharmed 0 be AOG, with the occupants split and seven people arrested. The into two groups and taken from extremely fortunate outcome of the scene. The abduction took the incident provides an example AOG ACG place at approximately 1500 hrs of the importance of community and was reported to the NGO by engagement by NGO. In commu- hostages could be partly attributed to the the local community. The ANP nities where NGO provide tangi- measured response by the ANP. A more force- was subsequently informed and a ble benefits to the local popula- ful response could have led to an escalation of mission was sent from Kabul. tion and a clear articulation of the the confrontation and possible casualties. There is no evidence to suggest at organisation’s mandate is ex- In other reporting, general threat traffic in Ka- this stage that those abducted plained, NGO should expect a bul remains high following the attacks of 11 degree of ‘community ownership’. February. Unconfirmed threats have been pub- KEY THREATS & CONCERNS In this case, the involvement of licised against virtually all of the major govern- !"Prevailing insecurity for Kabul the local community was essential ment ministries in the last reporting period, City to the retrieval of all the NGO however this should be contextualised within !"Suicide and IED attacks workers unharmed. the current security environment and the gov- !"Abduction/kidnapping In addition, the safe release of all ernment’s attempts to increase security around the ministry complexes. NGO Incidents WARDAK WARDAK Year to Date 0 30 This Report Period 0 Saydabad was again the scene of 25 for spying. 20 the majority of incidences across 15 the province. Two attacks were For the year to date, Wardak has 10 recorded in the district against experienced a 60 percent increase 5 IMF convoys, although no casual- in the number of security inci- 0 ties were reported and in the dents from the same period in Tangi area of Saydabad, two locals 2008. However the figure for were reportedly killed by AOG January and February 2009 only AOG ACG represents one half of all security incidents in the province for Au- KEY THREATS & CONCERNS gust 2008. If this trend is set to firms that the ‘fighting season’, as it has be- !"Attacks along main routes continue, and there is no evidence come commonly known, will be lengthier and !"De-facto AOG control to suggest it will not, then Wardak more violent than in all previous reporting !"Prevailing instability throughout will experience a significantly years. province higher number of incidents throughout 2009. This also con- Please Note: Monthly graphs provided in this report are inclusive as of 25 February 2009. THE ANSO REPORT Page 3 NGO Incidents LOGAR LOGAR Year to Date 0 This Report Period 0 30 Logar, in combination with War- 25 dak, is being viewed with intense On 21 February, IMF forces 20 interest due to its strategic loca- raided a compound in the Deh 15 tion as a gateway to Kabul and Naw area of Muhammad Agha 10 host to elements of the new IMF district, killing one local national. 5 0 build-up. If events of the last By the next morning, several hun- week are an indicator of future dred people had gathered to pro- test the death of the individual trends, then the expected increase AOG ACG in kinetic contact between IMF and the incarceration of four oth- and AOG forces is all but guaran- ers. Reports suggest that there was teed. little if any ANSF presence at the other two held for questioning. demonstration and protestors If events of a similar nature occur again, as were seen with rifles and RPGs they almost inevitably will, then the provincial KEY THREATS & CONCERNS calling on the provincial authori- authorities will face an increasingly vocal and !" ties to release the men and to de- AOG freedom of movement possibly belligerent reaction. The issue of civil- mand an end to IMF raids with- !"Clashes between AOG/security ian casualties and the presence of IMF forces forces out prior local consultations. Two in areas previously without an international !"Abduction/kidnapping of the four locals arrested the security presence will place the local authorities night before were released and the NGO Incidents KAPISA KAPISA Year to Date 0 20 This Report Period 0 The eastern districts of Tagab and 15 Alasay, as well as Mahmudi Raqi, 18 February, IMF forces raided a 10 represent 80 percent of the secu- compound in Daram Daram, 5 rity incidents recorded in the within Tagab, arresting a local Kapisa for 2009. The overwhelm- man and seizing two weapons. A 0 ing majority of reports are a result further two locals were injured in of IMF/ANA operations or AOG the incident and treated at a local attacks on ANP checkpoints. On hospital. AOG ACG The western districts of Kapisa - Hesa Awal Kohistan and Hesa a result of a higher level of development and KEY THREATS & CONCERNS Duwum Kohistan – have few re- greater socio-economic opportunity. This in !"Collateral damage resulting from ported incidences beyond general turn provides a more secure operational envi- clashes low levels of criminality, largely as ronment for NGO. NGO Incidents BAMYAN BAMYAN Year to Date 0 10 This Report Period 0 Bamyan is a safe operating envi- 8 ronment for NGO. Any threat ernment and IMF security pres- 6 from AOG or ACG remains ence. Heavy snow falls between 4 minimal in the province which Yakawlang and Bamyan centre 2 maintains a relatively scarce gov- and generally cross the province 0 have severely hampered road KEY THREATS & CONCERNS travel throughout the province as !"Weather related road hazards witnessed on 25 February when AOG ACG !"AOG presence in Kahmard, Say- the main road between Yakawlang ghan, and Shibar and Bamyan centre was closed. THE ANSO REPORT Page 4 NGO Incidents PANJSHIR Year to Date 0 This Report Period 0 village of Chelena in the south and Dangana in Panjshir, as has historically been the east, combined with the northern road elements, whether ACG or AOG, the case, remains a secure opera- closed due to heavy snow, has meant that Pan- into the area. Tightly controlled tional area for NGO. The Panjshir jshir remains the most peaceful province in access through the main access Valley serves as an important bar- Afghanistan. rier to the movement of hostile point into the province near the NGO Incidents FARYAB FARYAB Year to Date 0 This Report Period 0 12 Although having experienced a 10 few incidents in this reporting of Ghormach and Bala Murghab 8 in Badghis.