November 10, 2006

Overview

Four Afghan workers working for IOM abducted in southeastern Afghanistan

Suspected Taliban militants released three kidnapped Afghan aid workers after village elders intervened, but are still holding two others hostage.  The four aid workers and their driver, employed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), were abducted on Sunday (November 5) in Zormat district of Afghanistan’s eastern Paktia province. Last Friday (November 3), an Italian photo journalist Gabriele Torsello was released in southern Kandahar province after three weeks in captivity. Taliban insurgents had denied their involvement in that abduction.

NATO troops kill at least 28 suspected insurgents in the south

NATO troops, backed by air support, killed at least 28 suspected Taliban insurgents in separate clashes in southern Kandahar province on Wednesday (November 8). According to district police officials, 22 suspected insurgents were killed after Canadian and Afghan troops called in air strikes after coming under small arms fire by insurgents in Zhari district. Earlier in the day, six Taliban were killed in a three-hour gun battle with Afghan police in the same district. Suspected Taliban militants ambushed and killed two Afghan policemen and wounded five others in an attack near Shahjoy district in southern Zabul province.

UNICEF seeks US$3.8 million in urgent funds to help 2.5 million drought affected

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is seeking US$3.8 million in urgent funds to help some 2.5 million drought affected people, half of whom are children. UN officials warned on Tuesday (November 7) that lack of water and food could further worsen disease and malnutrition among children. The new appeal comes following a joint appeal from UNICEF and Afghan government in July for US$2.5 million, to which UNICEF says it has received no response. UNICEF says in addition to the drought-affected north, west and south of the country, food assistance is also needed for some 20,000 families displaced as a result of the conflict in the restive south. The appeal covers food needs of vulnerable groups through December 2006.

Iran hopes to repatriate all Afghan refugees in the country by 2010

Iran is reportedly stepping up efforts to repatriate nearly 2 million Afghan refugees in the country to their homes. Ahmad Hosseini, head of Iran’s immigration and refugee affairs, told Agence France-Presse that Tehran hopes to repatriate some 950,000 registered Afghan refugees, along with a similar number of unregistered Afghan refugees in the country, to their homes. He said, “We have not set a target date but we are hoping that by 2010 with the help of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) the Afghan dossier will be closed.” Hosseini said under a newly passed law only those Afghans with Iranian-born mothers will qualify for Iranian citizenship and be able to remain in the country, while the others must return to their homes in Afghanistan.

Afghan refugee registration drive in Pakistan slow and behind schedule

Pakistani authorities are struggling to increase the pace of an Afghan refugee registration drive aimed at registering an estimated 2.4 million Afghan refugees who still remain in the country. Costing some US$6 million, a 10-week drive launched on October 15 is scheduled to run through the end of December. The drive is aimed at providing millions of Afghans in Pakistan with identity cards valid for three years, recognizing them as Afghan citizens living in the country temporarily. However, the response to the drive has thus far been very lackluster compared to the 30,000 people a day that authorities had hoped to register. Only some 7,000 Afghans have been registering every day. As of this week, about 136,000 Afghans have registered, of which some 100,000 have already been issued ID cards. The widespread perception among refugees that the drive is aimed at deporting them is considered to be the main reason that is keeping most Afghans from registering. Pakistani authorities are gearing up to launch a public awareness campaign to quell the refugees’ fears. Unlike Iran, Pakistan has yet to formulate a policy granting permanent stay to some Afghan refugees.

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	Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Liu Jian on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the US$15.69 million China-funded new main Jamhuriat Hospital building in Afghan capital Kabul. (Xinhua, Nov. 2) 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	Turkish-led PRT to begin operations in Wardak (also spelled Vardak) province today (Nov. 9). The PRT will focus on providing health care, education, police training and agricultural alternatives to local farmers. (AFPS, Nov.5)

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	One confirmed case of polio in Rodat district in Nangarhar. (UNAMA, Nov. 6). Afghan Ministry of Health launches in conjunction with UNICEF and WHO launches vaccination campaign for polio, tetanus and measles in Paktia, Paktika and Khost. (IRIN, Nov.1) MSF, IMC, WHO, ICRC, UNICEF
Non-Food Items - Shelter	CWS, UNICEF
Security	Four Afghan workers, including two contractors working for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), were abducted in Paktia last Sunday (Nov. 5). Two were released. (AFP, Nov 6)
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	Cases of polio surface in southern provinces of Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul and Uruzgan this year. (UNAMA, Nov.6) 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	As many as 85 civilians were reportedly killed in NATO-led operations against Taliban militants across Kandahar on Tuesday (AP, BBC, Reuters, Oct. 27)
Water & Sanitation	UNICEF
Comments	UNAMA opens office in provincial capital Qalat in Zabul. (IRIN, August 16). Tribal elders in Helmand help to open 20 schools in the province. (IRIN, Nov. 7)

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	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	One case of polio reported in Farah. (UNAMA, Nov. 6) 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	Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) sets up four police checkpoints on the main routes into the provincial capital Chagcharan in Ghowr province to help Afghan National Police. (NATO, Nov. 7) Six Afghan policemen including district police chief among dead in an ambush by suspected Taliban insurgents near Shindad in western province of Heart. (AP, BBC, Nov. 3)
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