April 25, 2008

Overview

European Union reiterates long-term commitment to Afghanistan
Javier Solana, the European Union's (EU) foreign policy chief who arrived in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Monday (April 21) on a day-long visit, said the EU is fully behind Afghanistan's reconstruction, peace and stability. He said Afghanistan had made significant progress in areas such as education and healthcare. He said, "We the people in Europe will continue to be helping the people of Afghanistan to get what they deserve, the stability, prosperity and peace." He said that despite progress, difficulties remain. Solana said security and governance were the biggest problems facing Afghanistan, adding that a donors' conference in June in France will focus on these key issues. Upon his arrival in Kabul, Solana also visited the European Police Mission (EUPOL), where some 230 EUPOL officials have been training the upper echelons of the Afghan security forces. Following his meeting with President Hamid Karzai, Solana also met Gen. Dan McNeill, commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and Kai Eide, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

Denmark and Netherlands evacuate embassies in Afghanistan due to security threat
Denmark and the Netherlands have evacuated their embassies in Kabul, amid an increased security threat following the republication of a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad by Danish newspapers and the release of a film by a Dutch politician insulting Islam. Erik Laursen, a spokesman for the Danish Foreign Ministry, said in the capital, Copenhagen, that staff from its embassies in Algeria and Afghanistan have been evacuated to secret locations in the capitals of both countries where they continue to work. He said the decision was based on credible intelligence indicating an "aggravated" terror threat. The Danish embassy in Kabul has five Danish employees and a number of Afghan nationals. Bart Rijs, a spokesman for the Dutch foreign ministry, told the BBC that 15 Dutch staff and 35 Afghan employees at its embassy in Kabul have been moved to an undisclosed location amid a significant security threat, adding, "it cannot be excluded that this has some relation with the film of Mr. Wilders." Geert Wilders, a Dutch member of parliament, released a film on the internet last month (March) deemed insulting to Islam. The Danish Security and Intelligence Service has reportedly highlighted greater security risks against its interests in North Africa, the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Attacks across Afghanistan leave at least 39 dead and dozens wounded
A series of attacks, clashes and suicide bombings across Afghanistan this week left at least 39 people dead and dozens wounded. A number of suicide bombings across Afghanistan on Wednesday (April 23) left at least 13 people dead and dozens wounded. At least nine Taliban militants were reportedly killed in a clash with Afghan police in southern Kandahar province on Tuesday (April 22). Six Afghan police officers were killed Monday (April 21) when Taliban militants attacked a police checkpoint in Arghistan district in Kandahar. A roadside bomb struck a US military vehicle earlier on Monday in Kandahar, causing minor injuries to two of the soldiers. Seven Taliban militants were reportedly killed in a clash with Afghan and foreign forces in Garmser district in southern Helmand province on Sunday (April 20). According to the Afghan defense ministry, troops were backed by close air support. Also on Sunday, four Taliban militants were killed in a clash with Afghan army troops when they ambushed their patrol in Kandahar province. A roadside bomb struck an Afghan army patrol in southern Zabul province on Sunday, wounding five soldiers.

Afghan rights commission calls for extension of transitional justice plan through 2009
Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) has called upon the Afghan government and the international community to extend "The Peace, Reconciliation and Justice Action Plan in Afghanistan," commonly known as the "transitional justice action plan," until December 2009. Launched in December 2005, the transitional justice action plan is aimed at addressing human rights violations and war crimes committed by various warring parties from the 1979 Soviet occupation to the fall of the Taliban in late 2001. Farid Hamidi, AIHRC Commissioner, told the UN Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) on Wednesday (April 23) that the action plan, which is due to expire this year has not been implemented effectively, adding that the program should be extended until December 2009. He said, "Afghanistan does not have a way to achieve peace other than through an effective implementation of this action plan." According to a survey interview conducted by AIHRC, some 75 percent of the 6,000 Afghans interviewed said those responsible for rights abuses and war crimes must be brought to justice and some 60 percent of the respondents rejected amnesty for criminals. In a report titled "A Call for Justice" released by AIHRC in 2005, 69 percent of respondents said they or their immediate family members were direct victims of human rights violations in the past two decades. Commenting on the situation, Nora Niland, head of the human rights unit in the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said, "the voices of the Afghan people have not been heard as made evident in 'A Call for Justice,'" adding that the transitional justice action plan must be fully implemented and should not be limited to criminal procedures and trials. According to AIHRC, the action plan has lacked political will and its targets have been largely unmet.

Movement

2008: UNHCR is asking Pakistan to revise its Afghan refugee repatriation plan, as the current plan to repatriate some 2.4 million refugees by the end of next year (2009) is “unworkable” due to persistent insecurity and lack of economic opportunities. (BBC, Apr-18). UNHCR said this week that since March 1, when the repatriation campaign resumed from Pakistan, some 10,000 Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan. (UNHCR, Mar-31)

2007: UNHCR temporarily suspends the Afghan voluntary repatriation campaign in Pakistan until March 2008 due to seasonal slowdown. (IRIN, Nov-2). Pakistan has reportedly extended the deadline to close Jalozai camp until March 2008. (IRIN, Sep-4). The UNHCR has asked Pakistan to temporarily suspend closure of Jalozai refugee camp in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) that was originally scheduled to be closed on August 31. UNHCR said due to the fast approaching Muslim holy month of Ramadan and winter season, conditions were not conducive for the return of some 100,000 camp residents. UNHCR said any forceful return of these refugees could lead to secondary displacement.

Pakistan is to close all Afghan refugee camps by December 2009 and to repatriate all refugees living in the country. UNHCR says it has repatriated over 306,000 Afghan refugees from Pakistan so far this year under its voluntary repatriation campaign. (UNHCR, Aug-10)

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.

Iran deported some 85,000 unregistered refugees to Afghanistan during April 21 - May 14, 2007. Iranian officials say they plan to initially send back 500,000 of over a million illegal refugees in the country. Earlier this week, Iran said it has reached an agreement with the Afghan government to slow down the pace of expulsions for illegal Afghans living in the country.

Some 200,000 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 said voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan that are without proof of registration (PoR) ended in April, and refugees remaining in the country without PoR are now considered illegal and subject to government action. Repatriation campaign for Afghan refugees with PoR.

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 closed 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

Location

Central Region

Coordination

Population

IDP Movement

Food

A rapid food needs assessment by USAID’s Famine Early Warning System (FEWS) suggests that due to failed wheat crops, unfavorable weather and higher food prices, Ghor province would need in the short-term (December-April) some 14,231 metric tons of food assistance to feed its vulnerable population. (ReliefWeb, Oct-18)

According to local officials, thousands of students attending 40 schools in Ghazni province have not received WFP food assistance for over a month due to insecurity. FAO on July 5 said that 6.5 million Afghans suffer from chronic food insecurity. (IRIN, July-8)

Health

Czech Republic-led PRT to begin construction of a new 20-bed facility for the existing Comprehensive Health Clinic in Mohammad Agha in Lowgar province. (NATO, Apr-24)

UN agencies and the local provincial government raise funds to build a new maternity wing in the Bamiyan main hospital. The new facility is expected to provide essential healthcare for expectant mothers in central Bamiyan province and to reduce the risk of both maternal and child mortality. (UNAMA, July-17).

NFIs -Shelter

IOM, UNICEF, UNOCHA, & OXFAM

Water & Sanitation

UNICEF

Security

Two Dutch soldiers from the NATO-led force were killed when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in central Oruzgan (also spelled Uruzgan) province Friday (April 18). (ABC, BBC,Apr-18)

Afghan and US-led coalition forces killed at least 13 Taliban insurgents in two separate security incidents in the central province of Ghazni on Thursday (April 17). At least 10 Taliban militants were killed in a clash with Afghan and US-led coalition forces when they ambushed a joint convoy in Gilan district. In another clash in Ghazni, the Afghan National Army claims to have killed three Taliban militants. (ABC, KT, Apr-17)

On Sunday (April 6), two Afghan security guards and two Taliban insurgents were killed in a clash in Andar district in central Ghazni province when militants attacked a NATO supply convoy. (Xinhua, Apr-6)

On Tuesday (April 8), an ISAF soldier was killed and another injured in an explosion in Ghazni. (ABC, Reuters, Apr-8)

Comments

East Central Region

Location	East Central Region
Coordination	UNHCR
Population
IDP Movement	UN; Government encouraging refugees to return to home provinces to limit burden on Kabul—government land distribution program only in province of origin;
Food	WFP has begun distributing wheat to some 650,000 beneficiaries affected by high food prices in Kabul and the surrounding areas. (Reliefweb, Mar-6, 2008) IRC, Action Contra la Faim; WFP
Health	At least 100 pneumonia patients, primarily children, have died in the past month in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said February 14. In the same period, over 170,000 patients with pneumonia and other acute respiratory infections have been treated at health centers across the country. The country remains under the national public health emergency declared on January 8, with 30,000 health workers requested to not take leave for the duration of the emergency period. (IRIN, Feb-14) UNICEF, CARITAS, MSF, IFRC, IRC, ICRC
Non-Food Items - Shelter	UNHCR, ACTED, MSF, IRC, ICRC, IOM
Security	A suicide car-bomb attack aimed at a convoy of US troops near the airport in Kabul on March 13 killed eight civilians and wounded as many as 35 others. (IHT, ABC, Mar-13)
Water & Sanitation	An agreement has been signed between the UNHCR and the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) to provide safe drinking water for Afghan returnees from Pakistan and Iran, as well as IDPs. (UNHCR, Sep. 24) ICRC
Comments	The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is seeking US$13 million in emergency funds to help hundreds of thousands of Afghan children lacking proper food, water, medicines, education and other essential services. (AFP, VOA, Feb-12) According to the UN World Food Program (WFP), the US, Canada and Denmark have pledged US$31 million to a joint UN and Afghan government appeal for food aid to 2.55 million vulnerable Afghans. "The US has confirmed (its) contribution of 30,000 metric tons (MT) of wheat worth US$19 million, Canada has confirmed US$10.1 million and Denmark has confirmed US$2 million," WFP country representative Rick Corsino said. (IRIN)

Eastern Region

Location	Eastern Region
Coordination	UNHCR, International Islamic Relief Organization;
Population
IDP Movement	UNHCR
Food	IRC NATO-led ISAF PRT transported water pipes for a nearly seven-mile-long planned water supply project in Baghlan province. (NATO, Aug-23)
Health	Provincial officials in southern Khost, Kandahar and eastern Nangarhar provinces have confirmed hundreds of diarrhea cases due to water contamination from floods. (IRIN, July-11)
Non-Food Items - Shelter	CWS, UNICEF
Security	Five Afghan border security officials were killed and seven others wounded when Taliban militants attacked a border checkpoint in eastern Kunar province on Wednesday (April 23). (CNN, BBC, ABC, Apr-23) A suicide car bomber targeted a NATO convoy in Khost on Saturday (March 15), wounding one soldier and killing two Afghan civilians. (Reuters, Mar-15) Provincial officials said six civilians were killed in a US-led coalition raid in Muqibel village in Khost. The US military said that coalition forces were searching for a wanted militant and troops fired back after being shot at, killing several militants, including the wanted man. The military said that the deaths of the civilians were “regrettable.” (CNN, Reuters, BBC, Mar. 19) Four Taliban militants were killed in clashes with Afghan and foreign forces in Korengal valley in eastern Kunar province on March 9. (TNI, AP, Mar-11) One Afghan policeman was killed and at least five others wounded when a suicide bomber targeted a government building in Tani district in Khost province on Tuesday (March 4). (AP, Reuters, Mar. 4) On Monday (March 3), at least three NATO and two Afghan soldiers were wounded when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden truck into a government compound that also housed some NATO troops in Yaqoubi district of Khost. Two of the wounded NATO soldiers and two Afghans civilians later died. (KT, ABC, BBC, Mar-3)
Water & Sanitation	CARITAS; ICRC, UNICEF
Comments

Northeastern Region

Location	Northeastern Region
Coordination
Population	9,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast
Movement IDPs
Food	On December 27, heavy snowfall had blocked access to at least 10 districts in Badakhshan province, leaving some 200,000 people in need of food assistance. (IRIN, Dec-27)
Health	WHO, Merlin, UNICEF, MSF; ICRC
Non-Food Items (NFIs) -Shelter	UNICEF, ACTED, Refugees Int’l, Mercy Corps
Security	At least 20 people, including civilians, were reportedly killed in US-led coalition airstrikes in Nuristan province on Sunday (April 6). (ABC, Apr-7-8) Taliban insurgents ambushed and killed two Afghan policemen and abducted a police commander in Nuristan province. (BBC, Oct-7) Twelve people, including five government employees and seven policemen, were killed on September 23 when unidentified gunmen opened fire on their vehicle as it traveled through northeastern Badakhshan province. (CNN, Sep-24)
Water & Sanitation
Comments	The MoPH has asked the NATO-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Badakhshan for air support to enable medical teams to service otherwise inaccessible areas. (IRIN, Feb-14) At least 13 people were killed in an avalanche in Baharak district in northeastern Badakhshan province on December 11. Fifteen others were rescued. (IRIN, Dec-12)

Northern Region

Location	Northern Region
Coordination	UNHCR, IOM
Population	9,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast; 60,000 IDPs from North elsewhere in country.
Movement IDPs	IOM
Food
Health	MSF, ICRC, UNICEF At least 20 children have died in several districts of northern Balkh and central Daikundi provinces over the past five weeks due to water contamination from floods. (IRIN, July-12)
NFIs –Shelter	IOM, ACTED, Mercy Corps
Security	*Three border security officials were killed in northwestern Badghis province when their vehicle hit a landmine during a routine patrol on Wednesday (April 23). (CNN, BBC, ABC, Apr-23)* Two Afghan aid workers working for German aid organization KinderBerg International have been reported missing in northern Afghanistan since Tuesday (April 8). (KT, AFP, Apr-11) Three German soldiers were wounded, two critically, after a roadside bomb struck their vehicle overnight in Kunduz province. (ABC, AFP, Mar-27) Five Afghan deminers working for the UN-funded mine clearance program were killed and seven others wounded when two unidentified assailants on motorbikes opened fire on their vehicle in Chimtal district in Balkh province on Sunday (March 23). (UNNS, KT, AFP, Mar-24) Two Afghan deminers working for the Mine Detection and Dog Center were gunned down in Balkh on Monday (March 24). (KT, AFP, Mar-24) A bomb wounded four people near a shrine in Mazar-i-Sharif on Friday (March 21). (The News, Mar-21)
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF, ICRC, DACAAR
Comments	ISAF PRT helps flood-affected families in Khamyab and Qarqin districts in Jowzjan province at the request of provincial authorities. (Frontier Post, Aug-12)

Southern Region

Location	Southern Region
Coordination	UNHCR
Population	IFRC says that flash floods and avalanches in early March have affected 2,200 families in Helmand/Sangreen Grishk, Musa Qala, and Nowzad districts; and 400 families in Uruzgan/Dehraud district. (IFRC, Mar-23).
Movement of IDPs	Intense military operations against Afghan insurgents in southern Helmand province, especially in Musa Qala district, have caused hundreds of families to flee their homes to neighboring districts and the provincial capital, Lashkargah. (IRIN, Dec-6) UNOCHA reports that over 2,500 families have left their homes in different districts of Helmand, Uruzgan and Kandahar provinces over the past two months, according to provincial officials. Many of the displaced say they are leaving because of forced recruitment attempts by the Taliban and air strikes by international forces. Many have sought shelter in Kandahar city. (UNOCHA, Sep-27)
Food	WFP says it could not deliver 50 tons of mixed food to Geeti district in Daykundi province due to security concerns. WFP plans to deliver food as soon as safe passage is guaranteed. (IRIN, Nov-14) The World Food Program (WFP) delivered 500 metric tons of food to the provincial capital Lashkargah, in southern Helmand province for some 4,500 families affected by fighting in Musa Qala, Sangin, Kajakiand Nawzad districts. (ReliefWeb, Sep-3) WFP also distributed 300 tons of food to some 37,000 beneficiaries in Kandahar and Helmand under food-for-work and literacy programs. (ReliefWeb, Sep-3) UNICEF; Mercy Corps; CARITAS; WFP
Health	A UNICEF-led Polio vaccination campaign was suspended in Musa Qala due to military operations. The campaign was also suspended in parts of five other districts. (ReliefWeb, Dec-20) Afghan and US-led coalition forces treated some 700 Afghans during a two-day outreach operation in Kandahar on December 7 and 8. (Reliefweb, Dec-12)
NFIs - Shelter	UNHCR, Mercy Corps The Netherlands will provide US$713,000 (470,000 euros) for repair of war-damaged homes for 400 families in Deh Rawood and 150 families in Tirin Kot. (Reliefweb, Feb-28)
Security	Three civilians were reportedly killed and 14 others, including two children, wounded in a suicide bomb attack aimed at a vehicle carrying intelligence officials in the border town of Spin Boldak in Kandahar province on Wednesday (April 23). (CNN, BBC, ABC, Apr-23) *Two Afghan police officers were killed and three critically wounded when a suicide bomber struck a police convoy in Gereshk district in Helmand province on Wednesday. (CNN, BBC, ABC, Apr-23)* *Nine Taliban militants were killed in a clash with Afghan police in Helmand on Tuesday (April 22). (CNN, ABC, KT, Apr-22)* *Two US soldiers were wounded when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Kandahar on Monday (April 21). (KT, BP, Apr-21)* *Six Afghan police officers were killed Monday when Taliban militants attacked a police checkpoint in Arghistan district in Kandahar. (CNN, ABC, KT, Apr-22)* *Seven Taliban militants were reportedly killed in a clash with Afghan and foreign forces in Garmser district in Helmand on Sunday (April 20). (CNN, ABC, KT, Apr-22)* *Four Taliban militants were killed in a clash with Afghan army troops when they ambushed their patrol in Kandahar on Sunday. (CNN, ABC, KT, Apr-22)* *A roadside bomb struck an Afghan army patrol in southern Zabul province on Sunday, wounding five soldiers. (CNN, ABC, KT, Apr-22)*
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF
Comments	The Afghan government has approved 19 reconstruction projects valued at US$1.4 million (72 million AFA) for Kandahar province. Projects are to be completed within nine months and are expected to benefit some 29,000 households in the region. (ReliefWeb, Mar-14).

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
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 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, Mar-23) 12,000 IDPs, mostly in Maslakh camp
Movement IDPs	IOM
Food	IRC, CARITAS, UNICEF, World Vision, IOM, Action Contre la Faim; WFP *Islamic Development Bank (IDB) distributed food aid to some 2,500 families in Herat. (FP, Apr-22)* WFP has delivered 553 metric tons of food assistance to 12,800 winter-affected families in the western region. (UNAMA, Feb-19) The UN Food and Agriculture Organization, in cooperation with the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, has donated 20 tons of concentrated animal feed to winter-affected farmers in Herat. (UNAMA, Feb-19)
Health	Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), with the help of US-led coalition forces, carried out a Medical Civic Action Program (MEDCAP) in Shewan, western Farah province on August 30 and treated more than 811 people, including 576 women and children. (USG, Sep-2)
Non-Food Items (NFIs) – Shelter	*Islamic Development Bank (IDB) distributed some 12,500 blankets and 150 tents to some 2,500 families in Herat. (FP, Apr-22)* The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have delivered food and non-food items, including over 15,000 sweaters, as well as blankets, tarpaulin, plastic sheets and plastic mats, to Herat and Farah provinces. About 2,500 IDP families living in Shaidei and Maslakh camps near Herat have received food and non-food items as well. (UNAMA, Feb-19)
Security	*An Indian national working for Dubai-based HEB International Logistics was abducted on Monday (April 21) in Herat. (TOI, Apr-25)* Four suspected criminals were killed and 15 others detained following a clash with Afghan and NATO-led forces March 11 in Guzara district in Herat province. The group was suspected of involvement in a series of kidnappings and other criminal activities. (TNI, AP, Mar-11) On Thursday (February 14), four Afghan police officers died and two officers were wounded in a three-hour gun battle after insurgents ambushed a police vehicle in southwestern Nimroz province. (The News, Feb-15)
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF
Comments	In Herat, 576 people, in Badghis 228 people, in Ghor 45 people and in Farah some 33 people have died as a result of the harsh winter weather, including severe cold and heavy snow, bringing the overall death toll to 882. Dozens of people have had their hands or feet amputated due to frostbite. (UNOCHA, AP, Feb-21)

Refugee Camps in Pakistan

Location	Long-term camps in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), NWFP, Baluchistan Province, and by capital, Islamabad; Mohamed Kheil 1 & 2 camps (85 km southwest of Quetta)
Type	Refugee Camps
Coordination	Afghanistan, Pakistan and UNHCR on August 2 extended the tripartite agreement governing the voluntary repatriation of registered Afghans from Pakistan through December 2009. The agreement provides a legal and operational framework for the process. To date, more than 3 million Afghans have returned from Pakistan under the voluntary repatriation program since 2002. This year, more than 300,000 Afghans have returned. (UNHCR, GOP, Aug-2) The Kacha Garhi Afghan refugee camp was officially closed on July 26. Kacha Garhi, set up in 1980 and located in Hayatabad in NWFP, had 64,000 registered Afghans. The closure followed two years of negotiations, as many refugees initially did not want to repatriate. By the camp's closure, some 37,000 refugees had been repatriated by the UNHCR. Most refugees were originally from Afghanistan's eastern and central provinces of Nangarhar, Laghman, Kabul, and Logar. (UNHCR, July-27)
Camp Capacity	About one million mostly long term Afghans in 74 camps—down from about 200 camps.
Population	2.05 million registered Afghans remaining in Pakistan; 63 camps in NWFP, 12 in Baluchistan; and one million elsewhere; Many occupants are long-term residents or were born in Pakistan; (UNHCR, Aug-2) Jungle Pir Alizai (Balochistan): 36,000, originally scheduled to close June 15. Kacha Gari (NWFP): original population of 64,811, officially closed July 26 – 37,000 repatriated. (UNHCR, July-27) Jalozai (NWFP): 109,934, originally scheduled to close August 31. UNHCR on August 22 requested Pakistan to temporarily suspend the camp’s closure due to insufficient time for some 100,000 people to move and settle into new places in the face of the fast approaching Ramadan and winter season. (UNHCR, Aug-22) The deadline was extended to April 15 due to the impending winter. According to IRIN, at least 352 have left Jalozai so far in March. (IRIN, Mar-20) Girdi Jungle (Balochistan): 17,844, scheduled to close August 31. (IRIN, June-14)
Refugee Movement	Pakistan wants some 2 million Afghan refugees to return home by 2009. (AP, June-14) UNHCR temporarily suspends Afghan voluntary repatriation campaign in Pakistan until March 2008 due to seasonal slowdown. (IRIN, Nov-2).
Food	UNHCR in coordination with local and international organizations is helping some 4,000 Afghans in five flood-affected Afghan refugee camps in Balochistan province. The assistance mainly included non-food items such as tents and tarpaulins. (IRIN, July-26). WFP, CRS, ARC
Health	UNICEF, MSF
Non-Food Items (NFIs) - Shelter	CRS
Security	At least three Pakistani villagers and an Afghan refugee were killed when hundreds of villagers and refugees living in and near the Jungle Pir Alizai camp in Balochistan province clashed with police sent to demolish their homes. (AP, June-14)
Water & Sanitation	IFRC, MDM
Comments