MONITORING RESPONSE TO COVID-19 ALONG THE REGIONAL TRANSPORT NETWORK COUNTRY PROFILE: Afghanistan1,2 General information Party to the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Yes Asian Highway Network Party to the Intergovernmental Agreement on the No Trans-Asian Railway Network Party to the Intergovernmental Agreement on Dry Yes Ports SECTOR POLICY MEASURES SOURCES GENERAL ON Zero duty for five medical/hygiene items, applied retroactively from 28 March 2020, for two UN OHCA Bulletin: https://vosocc.unocha.org/ FREIGHT months. Cross-border transport, including freight, was temporarily suspended by neighboring countries since 16 March 2020. Afghanistan coordinated with neighboring countries to GetFile.aspx?file=100611_ TRANSPORT resume transit/traffic of essential goods and supplies to the extent possible, through selected AFGHANISTAN%20- %20COVID-19%20- important road transport border-crossing points (BCPs), giving priority to imports of essential %20CIQP%20Bulletin%20 commodities. 2.pdf INTERNATIONAL Two main crossing points for bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan were opened UN OHCA/WHO: https://www.humanitarianre ROAD on 11 April 2020. Cargo trucks are allowed to pass through after safety measures, and the crossing points would be opened three days a week. sponse.info/sites/www.hum TRANSPORT anitarianresponse.info/files/ In early March, Afghanistan's other neighbors – Islamic Republic of Iran, Tajikistan, documents/files/daily_brief Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan - announced the closure of their borders temporarily, with _covid- some exemptions. Commercial traffic and the return of citizens of Afghanistan continues 19_01_april_2020.pdf according to the Afghan Border Police. By 11 April 2020, 10 road transport border-crossing stations (BCPs) have been fully or UN OHCA Bulletin: partially open for imports and exports; with Iran (Nemroz BCP, Islam Qala BCP, and Abo https://vosocc.unocha.org/ Nasir Farahee BCP), Pakistan (Torkham BCP, Wesh BCP), Tajikistan (Takhar BCP, GetFile.aspx?file=100611_ 1 DISCLAIMER: the following overview of the transport-related measures has been prepared by the secretariat based on the information collected from official governmental sources and specialized press. Even if is continuously updated, due to the fluidity of the situation, it may not reflect the latest status of the measures. If you would like to share your first-hand information on the current situation, your submissions are welcome. While they may not be directly reflected in the country profiles, they will form the basis for our policy analysis and advice to the Governments concerned. 2 18 May 2020. MONITORING RESPONSE TO COVID-19 ALONG THE REGIONAL TRANSPORT NETWORK Sherkhan Bandar BCP), Turkmenistan (Torghondi BCP, Andkhoy BCP), Uzbekistan AFGHANISTAN%20- (Hairatan BCP). %20COVID-19%20- %20CIQP%20Bulletin%20 2.pdf UN OHCA/WHO: According to the information on 14 May 2020, the Milak crossing (Nimrroz) is officially open https://www.humanitaria to commercial traffic. The Islam Qala-Dogharoon land border crossing (Hirat) remain open for nresponse.info/sites/ww both sides’ commercial traffic. Pakistan continues to facilitate the movement of cargo trucks w.humanitarianresponse and containers into Afghanistan. The Torkham and Spin Boldak crossing points would open .info/files/documents/file five days a week (workdays) for commercial purposes. s/daily_brief_covid- 19_14_may_2020.pdf INTERNATIONAL N/A RAIL TRANSPORT SHIPPING N/A (INTERNATIONAL) AVIATION Kabul International Airport is open for all cargo flight operations. UN OHCA Bulletin: https://vosocc.unocha.org/ (INTERNATIONAL) GetFile.aspx?file=100611_ AFGHANISTAN%20- %20COVID-19%20- %20CIQP%20Bulletin%20 2.pdf .