April 13, 2007

 

 

Overview

 

NATO considers beefing up training for Afghan military and police

The 26-nation North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is considering redoubling its efforts to train the Afghan national army and police amid worsening security across the country. US defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters Thursday (April 12) that NATO is looking to add some 3,400 training personnel. He added that fewer than 1,000 trainers would come from the US, and expressed hope the remainder would be provided by the alliance's European members. Gates said some 60 percent of the trainers will train the Afghan police force, while some 40 percent would train the army. Gates, who was speaking to reporters on his way back from a meeting of NATO defense chiefs in Quebec, Canada, said alliance officials, who received the request from the commanders on the ground in Afghanistan about six weeks ago, have agreed the request should be filled. He said alliance members appeared prepared to make a long-term commitment in Afghanistan. He said the goal of the meeting was not to discuss additional troops, but to discuss better coordination of efforts in the restive south. On Wednesday (April 11), the US announced that it was extending the tour of duty for troops in Afghanistan from 12 months to 15 months.

 

At least 90 dead in continuing violence across Afghanistan’s restive south

At least 90 people were killed in separate security incidents across Afghanistan’s restive south during the week. About 35 suspected Taliban insurgents were killed in Afghanistan's southern Zabul province in a US-led coalition airstrike Wednesday (April 11) night. According to provincial officials, fighting broke out late Wednesday night when dozens of Taliban insurgents attacked Afghan security forces in Shahjoy district. Afghan forces called coalition forces for backup air and ground support that left thirty-five insurgents dead in the subsequent fighting. The clash came only a day after a similar airstrike in Sangin district in southern Helmand province, which killed 13 suspected militants after they ambushed US-led coalition forces. Separately, two Canadian soldiers were killed and another two wounded in a roadside bomb attack some 24 miles (38 kilometers) west of the southern city of Kandahar on Wednesday (April 11). At least 29 people were also killed Tuesday (April 10) night in separate clashes in Sangin district in southern Helmand province when Afghan troops called in a US-led coalition airstrike after they were ambushed by suspected Taliban militants. At least 23 people were killed by Monday (April 9) in separate clashes that broke out last Saturday (April 7) across Afghanistan’s restive south and west. The week was particularly bloody for Canadian forces, who lost eight soldiers in two separate attacks, bringing Canada’s total casualties in Afghanistan since 2002 to 53.

 

Relief aid arrives for most Afghan flood-affected victims

Relief aid has reportedly reached most Afghans affected by the recent floods and avalanches as a result of heavy spring rains. Citing Abdul Matin Adrak, director of the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), the UN Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) reported that with the exception of Daykundi and Nooristan provinces, where severe logistical constraints prevented the delivery of aid, relief aid has reached all other flood-affected provinces. The UN World Food Program (WFP) said it had distributed sufficient food in some 77 districts of the 13 flood-affected provinces. Rick Corsino, WFP country director for Afghanistan said, "We have already delivered 1,000 metric tons of food items, which include wheat; beans, ghee and salt, and more are being distributed." However, the WFP said a truck carrying relief supplies to Nimroz province was attacked in western Farah province and another WFP vehicle was attacked in southern Zabul province on Friday (April 6). Officials warn that the flooding season in Afghanistan is not yet over. Rising temperatures, melting snow and heavy spring rains could cause additional flooding. Recent floods and avalanches that began nearly three weeks ago have killed more than 83 people and affected some 75,000 more.

 

Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan threaten to kill abducted medical personnel if demands not met

Taliban insurgents are threatening to kill four abducted Afghan medical personnel and their driver if the government fails to meet their demands to free two Taliban commanders in exchange for their release. Speaking to the Associated Press (AP) over the phone from an undisclosed location, purported Taliban spokesman Shahabuddin Atal said, "If the government does not release our two Taliban commanders, then we will give the same punishment as we did with Ajmal (Naqshbandi)." Naqshbandi, who was taken hostage in March, along with Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, was beheaded after the Afghan government failed to meet the kidnappers demands to release some Taliban prisoners in exchange for his release. Atal said, "We'll kill one of the doctors if the government fails to enter negotiations before April 15."

 

Movement

 

2007 4.2 million refugees have returned to Afghanistan, and 500,000 IDPs returned home since early 2002. Close to 3 million of the refugees returned from Pakistan. 2.6 million Afghans remain in Pakistan, including one million in 74 long-term camps. About 1.5 million Afghans returned from Iran; Taking into account unassisted returns, perhaps 600,000 to 700,000 Afghans remain in Iran—up to 30,000 are in seven camps.

 

Some 28,000 Afghan refugees in Pakistan have returned to their homes under the UN-assisted voluntary Afghan refugee repatriation program since it resumed on March 1, 2007, following a seasonal winter suspension. Pakistani authorities say voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan that are without proof of registration (PoR) will end on April 15, and refugees remaining in the country without PoR will be considered illegal and subject to government action.

 

2006 UNHCR expects to assist 550,000 returnees—400,000 from Pakistan and 150,000 from Iran. However, so far this year only some 60,000 Afghan refugees have repatriated from Pakistan. Unassisted returns are a factor from Pakistan and have been a major contributor to returns from Iran. The tripartite arrangement among UNHCR-Afghanistan-Pakistan is good through 2006; The UNHCR-Afghanistan-Iran Joint Program has been extended into 2007. Repatriation from Pakistan, halted for the winter, recommenced on March 1. UNHCR assisted nearly 9,000 refugees in returning from Pakistan and over 500 from Iran during March. In April 2006, Pakistan will close two long-term camps in NWFP, and two in Baluchistan Province with 250,000 long-term residents. Refugees in Baluchistan can either return to Afghanistan or relocate to Mohammad Kheil camp near Quetta. Refugees in NWFP are moving to Afghanistan or one of ten camps in NWFP—refugees are pushing for a one-year delay.

 

2005 plans called for 400,000 Afghan refugees to return home from Pakistan and 200,000 from Iran, down from an earlier 350,000 estimated from Iran. 453,000 returned from Pakistan. 67,000 from Iran were assisted and over 210,000 returned on their own to Iran for a total of nearly 280,000, and a combined Pakistan and Iran total of 733,000—close to the original projection.

 

2004 plans were for one million to return. Actual returnees were around 850,000, with 385,000 from Pakistan and 460,000 from Iran, including 80,000 spontaneous returns. Pakistan closed camps in South Waziristan and all new camps, with remaining new refugees going to Mohamed Kheil camp in Baluchistan Province.

Emphasis in 2003 was on repatriation from old camps and cities in Pakistan to rural areas in Afghanistan. 70% of returnees from Pakistan were from cities and 30% from camps. Over a third returned to Kabul, another 10% went to other central provinces, and just over 20% returned to each of the north and east. The Southern region received 6% and the Western region 4%. The 2003 peak months were June and July.

 

In 2002 over 2.3 million Afghan refugees returned with 2 million assisted by UNHCR. UNHCR repatriated 1.53 million Afghan refugees from Pakistan, including 125,000 from Baluchistan and 1.4 million from the North West Frontier Province. 82% were from urban areas; only 3% were from new camps. 265,000 refugees were assisted in returning from Iran; and 10,000 refugees from the central Asian republics.

 

 

Afghanistan Relief Efforts: United Nations Coordination Regions

 

 

 

 

 

Central Region

 

 

East Central Region

 

 

Eastern Region

 

 

Northeastern Region

 

 

Northern Region

 

 

Southern Region

 

 

Southern Region IDP camps

 

Location	Zhare Dasht - South of Kandahar – 6 camps
Type	IDP Camp
Coordination	UNHCR
Camp Capacity	30,000; expandable to 60,000
Population	125,000 IDPs in south; 48,500 at Zhare Dasht
Movement IDP	An estimated
Food	WFP
Health	UNICEF, MSF;
NFIs - Shelter
Security
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF
Comments	Support for Spin Boldak camps terminated in 2004.

 

Western Region

 

Location	Western Region
Coordination	UNHCR; ICMC
Population	According to the IFRC, flash floods and avalanches in early March have affected some 200 families in Herat city; 918 families in Gulran district; 35 families in Cheshte Sharif district; 150 families in Shindand district, 6,500 families in Badghis/Jawand and Murghab districts, and 20 families in Gour district. (IFRC, March 23)   12,000 IDPs, mostly in Maslakh camp
Movement IDPs	IOM
Food	WFP has sent 127 tons of food assistance for some 3,515 flood-affected families in Badghis province. (OCHA, Nov. 23) IRC, CARITAS, UNICEF, World Vision, IOM, Action Contre la Faim; WFP;
Health
Non-Food Items (NFIs) – Shelter	UNHCR sent 50 tents, 1,000 blankets, 500 plastic sheets, 20 jerry cans and 500 lanterns for flood victims in Badghis. (OCHA, Nov. 23) UNHCR, Iranian Red Crescent, UNICEF, IOM, Ockenden Int’l, MSF, IMC;
Security	Suspected Taliban ambush and kill six de-miners and a passerby woman in Farah province (MSNBC, ABC, Apr. 7)
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF
Comments	Provinces of Herat, Badghis and Ghor have also been affected by the floods. (OCHA, Apr. 6)

Refugee Camps in Pakistan

 

Location	Long-term camps in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Baluchistan Province, and by capital, Islamabad; Mohamed Kheil 1 & 2 camps (85 km southwest of Quetta)
Type	Refugee Camps
Coordination	UNHCR.
Camp Capacity	About one million mostly long term Afghans in 74 camps—down from about 200 camps.
Population	Estimated 2.6 million Afghan refugees remain in Pakistan; 63 camps in NWFP, 10 in Baluchistan; and one million elsewhere; Many occupants are long-term residents or were born in Pakistan;
Refugee Movement
Food	WFP, CRS, ARC
Health	UNICEF, MSF
Non-Food Items (NFIs) - Shelter	CRS
Security
Water & Sanitation	IFRC, MDM
Comments	The Pakistan government has identified existing camps in Dhir and Chitral in the northern part of the country as relocation sites for Afghans who can not return to Afghanistan following recent camp closures in NWFP and Balochistan. (UNHCR, Feb. 21)   2,161,984 Afghans were registered between October 2006 and yesterday. Of the total, 1,368,316 were registered in North West Frontier Province; 454,726 in Balochistan; 240,698 in Punjab and Islamabad; 92,189 in Sindh; and 6,055 in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir (PcK). More than 2.87 million Afghans have returned home from Pakistan since 2002, including over 133,000 in 2006. (Feb. 16, Reuters)   As of February 2, 2007, over two million Afghan refugees in Pakistan have registered in a US$6-million refugee registration campaign jointly carried out by the UNHCR and Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). (UNHCR, Feb. 2)   Pakistan will close four Afghan refugee camps in its border areas, Girdi Jungle and Jungle Pir Alizai in southwestern Balochistan province, and Katchagari and Jalozai in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), by August this year. The camps house about 230,000 people. Katchagari and Jungle Pir Alizai will be closed by June 15, while Jalozi and Girdi Jungle will be closed by August 31. (BBC, UNHCR, Feb-09)