October 20, 2006

Overview

NATO chief calls for more troops amid continuing violence in Afghanistan

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is calling upon alliance members to contribute more troops for Afghanistan. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s "Today" program on Thursday (October 19), De Hoop Scheffer said the NATO mission in Afghanistan will only succeed if it can help the Afghan government and improve the lives of ordinary Afghans. He said, “We are there [in Afghanistan] to defend our basic values, the basic values which guide UK society, Dutch society, Belgian society. If we fail again, then Afghanistan will come to us. It will be a breeding ground for terrorists again.” He said even with the use of improvised explosive devices, suicide bombers and so on, the Taliban and other spoilers of the process of nation-building and democracy in the country will not be able to defeat NATO-led forces. Meanwhile, violence continued in southern Afghanistan where several people, including two Afghan children and two British peacekeepers, were reportedly killed and several others wounded when a suicide bomber on foot detonated explosives attached to his body in front of a NATO convoy in the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah in southern Helmand province. The attack took place in the center of the city, near the governor’s compound. Suspected Taliban militants also ambushed and killed a policeman in the southeastern province of Khost.

NATO airstrikes kill at least 22 civilians in southern Afghanistan

At least 22 civilians were reportedly killed and several others wounded in separate airstrikes aimed at Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan. According to the provincial governor, Asadullah Khalid, airstrikes hit three homes in Zhari district in Kandahar province, killing nine civilians and wounding eleven others. He said an unknown number of Taliban militants were also killed in the attack. At least 13 people, including women and children, were reportedly killed during a nighttime clash between Taliban insurgents, and Afghan and NATO-led forces in southern Helmand province. According to provincial police Chief Ghulam Nabi Malakhel, police called in NATO air support during a clash in Grishk district earlier this morning (Wednesday, October 18), adding that a house was hit by a rocket. Jason Chalk, a NATO spokesman, said alliance jets and helicopters had fired rockets and dropped bombs on Taliban positions in the area, but he could not say if any of those hit a civilian house. A statement issued by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) acknowledged that the airstrikes in Kandahar caused several civilian deaths, along with an unknown number of insurgent casualties, and expressed its “deepest regret” over the incident. The statement also said ISAF made every effort to minimize the risk of collateral damage during its operations.

Afghan militants ambush and kill eight Afghan civilians working for the US

Unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed seven Afghan civilians working on a remote US military base in eastern Afghanistan yesterday (Thursday, October 20). The attack took place in Korangal area in eastern Kunar province when armed gunmen stopped a vehicle carrying 10 Afghan workers, before killing eight of them execution-style. According to the local police, two of the workers managed to escape. According to the provincial governor Salehzai Didar, assailants also stole some US$6,000 before fleeing. Although no one claimed responsibility for the attack, local police official Abdul Saboor blamed enemies of the state for the attack—a phrase usually reserved for ousted Taliban militants. Separately, US and Afghan security forces killed at least one suspected Taliban militant and detained four others during a raid at a compound linked to bomb makers in the southeastern province of Khost.

Italian journalist abducted in southern Afghanistan

An Italian freelance photographer and his assistant were reportedly abducted in southern Afghanistan. Citing an anonymous official, the Associated Press (AP) reported that Gabriele Torsello and his Afghan translator were abducted by five armed men on Saturday (October 14) as they were traveling in a car from the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah in southern Helmand province, toward the neighboring province of Kandahar. Qari Yousaf Ahamdi, a purported Taliban spokesman, denied the Taliban’s involvement in the abduction. Abductors later made the demand that an Afghan Christian convert currently on asylum in Italy must be turned over in exchange for Torsello. Italian authorities have rejected the kidnappers demand.

Movement

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.

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.

In 2006, UNHCR/IOM will assist with IDP returns and initial integration and then terminate the program. The recognized IDP population is about 150,000 with 120,000 in the south, including 45,000 in the Zhare Dasht camp near Kandahar, 15,000 in the west, mostly in Herat’s Maslakh camp, and 12,000 elsewhere.

Afghanistan Relief Efforts: United Nations Coordination Regions

Central Region

Location	Central Region
Coordination
Population
IDP Movement
Food
Health	FAO confirms H5N1 subtype of bird flu virus in Logar ICRC, IMC, MSF;
NFIs -Shelter	IOM, UNICEF, UNOCHA, & OXFAM
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF
Security	New Zealand PRT in Bamiyan;
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	IRC, Action Contre la Faim; WFP;
Health	UNICEF, CARITAS, MSF, IFRC, IRC, ICRC;
Non-Food Items - Shelter	UNHCR, ACTED, MSF, IRC, ICRC, IOM;
Security	On Tuesday (October 10), at least 11 people were wounded when a bomb attached to a bicycle exploded next to a police bus in the Afghan capital Kabul. (AP, BBC, Oct. 10)
Water & Sanitation	ICRC;
Comments

Eastern Region

Location	Eastern Region
Coordination	UNHCR, International Islamic Relief Organization;
Population	More than 13,000 people displaced due to flooding in the region. (IRIN, August 10) 17,000 active IDPs in East
IDP Movement	UNHCR
Food	IRC;
Health	MSF, IMC, WHO, ICRC, UNICEF
Non-Food Items - Shelter	CWS, UNICEF
Security	Eight Afghan civilians working on a remote US base were gunned down in Korangal district in Kunar province. (BBC, AP, Oct. 20) US and Afghan security forces kill one suspected Taliban militant and capture four others in Khost (AP, BBC, Oct. 20)
Water & Sanitation	CARITAS; ICRC, UNICEF
Comments	Due to persistent insecurity, WFP says it cannot deliver food assistance to three of four districts that have been most affected by floods in Ghazni. (WFP, August 30)

Northeastern Region

Location	Northeastern Region
Coordination
Population	9,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast
Movement IDPs
Food	USAID is providing 27,010 metric tons of food worth some US$16 million to help feed some 2.5 million people. The new pledge is in response to a joint UN-Afghan appeal issued last month. (IRIN, August 4) WFP sends 22 tons of food assistance to 1,930 beneficiaries in flood-affected Garziwan district in northern Faryab province, eight tons of food to Doshi district in Baghlan province and 1.4 tons of food relief to flood victims in Kohistanat district in Saripul. (IRIN, May 9) OXFAM, UNICEF, World Concern;
Health	WHO, Merlin, UNICEF, MSF; ICRC
Non-Food Items (NFIs) -Shelter	UNICEF, ACTED, Refugees Int’l, Mercy Corps
Security	NATO/German PRT in Faizabad;
Water & Sanitation	Two Afghan workers gunned down and another wounded in Chimtal district in northern Balkh province on Thursday (June 8) yesterday by unidentified gunmen. (AP, June 9) Four aid workers working for the international aid organization Action Aid, including three women and their driver, were gunned down by unidentified gunmen in the provincial capital of Shiberghan in Jowzjan province. (AP, BBC, May 30) Three Afghans working for the US-based Planning and Development Collaborative International (PADCO) were killed and two American workers wounded when their car was hit by a roadside bomb in Badakhshan. (Reuters, May 30)
Comments	Torrential rain and ensuing floods have killed at least 7 people in northern Baghlan province (IRIN, July 5).

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	According to the Institute of War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) many people in northwestern Badghis province are migrating to other areas, due to the region’s worst drought in five years. (IWPR, July 13). FEWS projects sufficient water for good winter wheat crop in north; ACTED, ACF, FOCUS, OXFAM, IOM, Save the Children; Officials deliver flood aid to some 500 affected families in Khuran Wa sarbagh district in Samangan province (April 26, IRIN).
Health	MSF, ICRC, UNICEF;
NFIs –Shelter	IOM, ACTED, Mercy Corps
Security	A male and a female reporter working for Germany’s state-owned Deutsch Welle news were gunned down on the outskirts of a small village in northern Baghlan province on the fifth anniversary of the US-led war on terror in Afghanistan on Saturday (October 7). (HT, AP, Oct. 10)
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF, ICRC, DACAAR
Comments

Southern Region

Location	Southern Region
Coordination	UNHCR
Population	Some 2,000-3,000 people displaced in Panjwai district due to continuing violence. (IOM, May 26) 125,000 active IDPs in South; most in Zhare Dasht and Panjwai camps
Movement of IDPs
Food	UNICEF; Mercy Corps; CARITAS; WFP;
Health	FEWS projects possible winter wheat crop failure due to insufficient water in south and southwest; WFP; WHO, ICRC, CARITAS, Mercy Corps UNICEF;
NFIs - Shelter	UNHCR, Mercy Corps;
Security	An Italian photojournalist, along with an Afghan interpreter, were kidnapped in southern Helmand province. (BBC, Reuters, Oct. 16) British troops pull out of Musa Qala district in Helmand after reaching a deal with tribal elders. (BBC, AP, Oct. 17)
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF
Comments	UNAMA opens office in provincial capital Qalat in Zabul. (IRIN, August 16)

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	Some 2,500 families displaced in Panjwayi and Zhari districts in Kandahar due to ongoing Operation Medusa against militants. (IRIN, Sep. 6). Considering alternatives, tens of thousands want to settle permanently in bleak Zhare Dasht area; UNHCR/IOM relocated several thousand in 2005;
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	12,000 IDPs, mostly in Maslakh camp
Movement IDPs	IOM
Food	WFP sent 16.5 tons of food assistance for some 1,500 flood-affected people in Obeh district in Herat province. (IRIN, May 9) FEWS projects possible winter wheat crop failure in south and southwest due to insufficient water; IRC, CARITAS, UNICEF, World Vision, IOM, Action Contre la Faim; WFP;
Health	Bulgaria to send two medical experts to join eight Bulgarian medics at a Spanish field hospital in Herat as part of ISAF support. (GORB, Sep. 21) MSF, MDM, Order of Malta, CHA, IbniSina, HRS; ICRC; UNICEF;
Non-Food Items (NFIs) – Shelter	UNHCR, Iranian Red Crescent, UNICEF, IOM, Ockenden Int’l, MSF, IMC;
Security	Three Italian soldiers on NATO-led force and their Afghan interpreter were wounded in Herat on Wednesday when their vehicle was blown up. (AP, BBC, Sep. 27)
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF
Comments	Herat has land prepared for settlement of 50,000;

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	UNHCR-assisted returns resumed on March 1. All FATA camps have been closed. 445,000 Afghans returned home from Pakistan in 2005—two thirds were long-term refugees; Pakistan to close Giordi Jungle and Pir Alizai camps in Baloshistan, and Kacha Gari camp in NWFP by the end of July, 2006. (UNNC, June 2). The 250,000 residents will either return to Afghanistan or be relocated to Mohammad Kheil camp, near Quetta in Baluchistan, or ten camps in NWFP.
Food	WFP, CRS, ARC
Health	UNICEF, MSF
Non-Food Items (NFIs) - Shelter	CRS
Security	Pakistani security force of 70,000 to 80,000 reports having border areas secured; Significant clashes between Pakistani government forces and others in border province areas; “Finger-pointing” between Afghan and Pakistan leaders over curbing Taliban and Al-Qaeda along shared border areas
Water & Sanitation	IFRC, MDM
Comments