Afghanistan HAR 080604 - WHO · round of voter registration would end on August 15 and the second phase would resume following the ... (UNHCR) told a press briefing in the Afghan

Note: This report has been compiled from publicly available information. Although information has been gathered from reliable sources the currency and completeness of the information reported herein is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Except for Overview section that is rewritten weekly, any changes in the other parts of the report are highlighted in red. Inquiries, updates and comments are welcome and should be directed to PDMIN team at [email protected].

1

August 6, 2004

Overview Afghan voter registration climbs to 90 percent Voter registration for the upcoming Afghan nationwide general elections, has reportedly climbed to 8.6 million (90%) of the estimated 9.8 million eligible voters in the country, with women accounting for over 3.5 million (41%) of the total registrants. Afghanistan’s Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB), which consists of Afghan and United Nations (UN) election officials, made the announcement last Sunday (August 1), adding that the first round of voter registration would end on August 15 and the second phase would resume following the presidential election on October 9 in preparation for the parliamentary elections in April next year (2005). Jawed Ludin, spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai said, “we are overwhelmed with joy at the sheer enthusiasm of people” adding that it was “essentially first important step toward a successful and legitimate election process.” JEMB officials acknowledge that estimates for eligible Afghan voters are not exact in the absence of recent census data. The last Afghan census was conducted in 1970 and due to decades of war and civil strife, a thorough census has not been undertaken since then. The UN estimates one third of some 1.05


2

million Afghan voters, mainly in five southern provinces dominated by ethnic Pashtuns, have yet to register. David Singh, a spokesman for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), called the registration statistics “very encouraging if not amazing.” He added that registration in several provinces in the south and southeast where security remains fragile is very low, with some areas as low as 9 percent. Singh said in some areas such as the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, the number of registered voters has vastly exceeded projected estimates, suggesting either voter registration fraud or very conservative estimates for the electorate. UN officials are downplaying the possibility of voter fraud, saying that a mark of indelible ink on each voter’s finger would help prevent multiple votes. President Karzai, who is facing some 22 challengers in the presidential elections, is widely expected to win. Afghan Defense Minister Mohammed Qasim Fahim withdraws his support for Karzai Afghanistan’s powerful Defense Minister, Mohammed Qasim Fahim, has reportedly withdrawn his support of interim Afghan President Hamid Karzai and is backing his ethnic Tajik countryman and former Education Minister, Yunus Qanuni in the upcoming presidential elections in October. Appearing at a rare press conference in the capital Kabul on Wednesday (August 4), Fahim said Karzai no longer enjoyed his support and the support of the “mujahideen” (holy warriors) groups, making an apparent reference to the support of the Northern Alliance, that with the help of US-led forces, ousted the hardline Taliban regime and fought against the Soviet occupation in the 1980s. Speaking to reporters, Fahim said, “The announcement to back Mr. Qanuni is my personal one, and support is also coming from a number of cabinet members.” Fahim said he would not allow anyone to resort to violence and harm the election process. Karzai is facing some 22 challengers in the upcoming elections. However, only Qanuni is expected to offer any serious challenge to Karzai’s bid for reelection. Eurocorps to assume command of NATO-led international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan on Monday General Jean-Louis Py, the head of the five-nation NATO rapid reaction force said yesterday (Thursday, August 5) that it would assume the command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan on Monday (August 9) for the next six months. Py, who is due to depart for Kabul today (Friday, August 6), told a press briefing in Strasbourg, France, “Our mission will consist of increasing the level of security to enable calm and representative elections.” As part of the deployment, some 300 members of the Eurocorps headquarters staff would be deployed to Kabul where two battalions comprising 1,500 troops from Eurocorps are already present. Eurocorps would remain under the political and military authority of NATO in Kabul. Created in 1992 by France and Germany, Eurocorps is made up of troops from Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain. As a service of the European Union, it is certified as a NATO rapid reaction force. Separately, the outgoing commander of the NATO-led ISAF in Afghanistan, Canadian Lieutenant-General Rick Hillier, is warning that the country is facing serious short-term problems and would not be wise to lose interest in Afghanistan. He said that the Afghan government could not cope with the threats posed by the drug trade, warlords and militants, adding that the international community needed to provide significant help to address those threats. German NGO Malteser ceases operations following the killing of two of its workers The German relief organization Malteser said on Wednesday (August 4) that it is ceasing its operations in southeastern Afghanistan, following the killing of two of its local staff in Paktia province on Tuesday (August 3). Ingo Radtke, Director of Malteser Germany, said amid deteriorating security, Malteser had decided to cease its activities in the region until further notice. Mohammed Nader Farhad, a spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told a press briefing in the Afghan capital Kabul that Mohammed Idrees Sadiq, a field officer, and Emal Abdul Samad, a driver, who were both local Afghans working for Malteser, were fatally shot when unidentified gunmen ambushed their unmarked vehicle between Gardez and Zormat (also spelled Zurmat) in Paktia. The workers were returning from a project in Zormat (also spelled Zurmat) district in Paktia some 75 miles (120 kilometers) south of Kabul. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. An investigation into the incident is currently underway. The UN special envoy to Afghanistan, Jean Arnault, has condemned the attack against the workers, calling it “unacceptable”. The UNHCR said today (August 6) that it was scaling down its activities in the restive regions of the south and east amid deteriorating security.


3

Movement

3.5 million refugee and IDP returns since early 2002, with over three million refugees returning to Afghanistan and over 500,000 IDPs going home. 2.1 million refugees returned from Pakistan; 920,000 returned from Iran.

In 2004, 500,000 refugees returned by the end of July - 230,000 from Pakistan, including 100,000 from urban centers. An estimated 273,000 also came from Iran, including more than 50,000 spontaneous returns. July had 100,000 returns, like May and June. UNHCR (UN High Commission for Refugees) plans for 500,000 to return from Pakistan this year and 500,000 returns from Iran. UNHCR plans to close new post-September 2001 camps near the border in Pakistan by September 2004. About 800,000 refugees remain in Iran and 1.6 million in Pakistan. Remaining in Pakistan are over 100,000 in cities, one million in old camps and nearly 200,000 in new post-2001 camps.

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 with 92,000 and July with 78,000.

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.

UNHCR, the Afghan Ministry for Refugees and Repatriation, and IOM (International Organization for Migration) plan to assist 90,000 IDPs return home in 2004. UNHCR started modest 2004 IDP returns. There are 188,000 recorded active IDPs, with the actual total being, perhaps, some 300,000. Active IDP numbers are 145,000 in the South, 20,000 in the West, 20,000 in the Center, 10,500 in the East and Southeast, and 9,000 in the North. UNHCR assisted 60,000 IDPs to return in 2003.

During the first quarter of 2004, WFP provided food assistance to over 2 million Afghans. During a typical week, up to half a million people receive up to 4,000 tons of food. Several hundred thousand Afghans are employed on work-for-food programs.

Routes for Humanitarian Aid and Refugees Country Supply Routes

From Supply/Return Routes To Comments

Mashhad

Dogharun, Herat, Badghis & Ghor

Major refugee repatriation route;

Iran

Zabol Nimruz Refugee repatriation route; Peshawar Khyber Pass Torkham

Jalalabad, Kabul, Bamiyan & refugee camps in NWFP, Pakistan

Major refugee repatriation route;

Pakistan

Quetta Refugee camps in Baluchistan, Pakistan & Kandahar and Herat

Significant refugee repatriation route

Tajikistan

Nizhny Pyandzh

Sherkhan, Kunduz, Northern region, & Kabul

Salang tunnel between north and Kabul; Tunnel closed 7 AM – 5 PM for repairs through September

Kyrgyzstan Osh Ishkashim, Faizabad, & NE WFP no longer needs route Turkmenabat, Kushka

Herat, Badghis & Ghor

UNHCR no long needs route

Turkmenistan

Turkmenabat, Kerki Andkhoy, Mazar-e-Sharif, & Northern Region

UNHCR no longer needs route

Uzbekistan

Termez

Mazar-e-Sharif and North

Friendship Bridge for rail and road


4

Afghanistan Relief Efforts: United Nations Coordination Regions

Central Region Security: Two election workers killed by bomb in mosque in Ghazni province;

Location Bamiyan Coordination Population

2,800 active IDPs in Central and East Central

IDP Movement Food

WFP; preparations for winter complete

Health

ICRC, IMC, MSF; malnutrition high

NFIs -Shelter

IOM, UNICEF, UNOCHA, & OXFAM

Water & Sanitation UNICEF Security

New Zealand PRT in Bamiyan; Main phase of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) started;

Comments

Flooding reported in Khamard district of Bamiyan; Tents, blankets, mobile clinics, and food for 10,000 for one month required;


5

East Central Region

Security: PRT in Parwan; Location Kabul Coordination

UNHCR

Population

2,800 active IDPs in Central and East Central

IDP Movement

UN; currently few returning home from Kabul

Food

WFP, IRC, Action Contre la Faim

Health

CARITAS, MSF, IFRC, IRC, ICRC Russian relief center and hospital; improved ambulance service

Non-Food Items - Shelter

UNHCR, ACTED, MSF, IRC, ICRC, IOM; housing being built for squatters

Security

Main phase of DDR in progress

Water & Sanitation

ICRC; Wells, pumps, and clean water considerably improved; chlorination of wells on-going

Comments

Eastern Region Security: Coalition operations continue along border with Pakistan; 20,000 refugees reportedly fleeing operations in Pakistan and entering Paktika province; Coalition says it will launch “Lightning Resolve” operation to improve election security; US PRT in Gardez; US PRT in Kunar; US PRT in Ghazni province; Coalition says it will establish more PRTs in east and south to improve security and humanitarian support; Main phase of DDR in progress in Gardez;

Location Jalalabad Coordination

UNHCR

Population

5,500 active IDPs in East

IDP Movement Food

WFP, IRC

Health

UNICEF, MSF, IMC, WHO; ICRC

Non-Food Items - Shelter

CWS, UNICEF

Security

US PRT in Jalalabad; Main phase of DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration) started; Election workers killed; Explosions reported in city;

Water & Sanitation

CARITAS; ICRC, UNICEF


6

Eastern Region IDP Camps

Location Hesarshahi (12 km east of Jalalabad)

Sar Shahi

Type

IDP

IDP

Coordination

International Islamic Relief Organization (ISRO)

Capacity Population

9,000 remaining

15,000

Movement IDPs UNHCR assisted 15,000 return home

Food Health UNICEF Non-Food Items (NFIs) - Shelter

Security Water & Sanitation UNICEF Comments WES activities of UNICEF in this camp

completed in 2002 and Immunization activities are going on.

Northeastern Region Security: Election workers attacked in Faryab province on August 2; DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration) started in Takhar province;

Location Faizabad Organization Population

11,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast

Movement IDPs

117,000 returned spontaneously in Northeastern region

Food

OXFAM, UNICEF, WFP, World Concern Preparations for winter underway

Health

WHO, Merlin, UNICEF, MSF; ICRC

Non-Food Items (NFIs) -Shelter

UNICEF, ACTED, Refugees Int’l, Mercy Corps

Security

German/NATO PRT in Feyzabad;

Water & Sanitation Comments


7

Northern Region Security: US PRT in Parwan; DDR started in Baghlan;

Location Kunduz Coordination Population

11,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast; 60,000 IDPs from North elsewhere in country;

Movement IDPs IOM targeting 45,000 IDPs to identify those interested in voluntary assisted return home starting 31 March

Food

ACF, FOCUS, OXFAM, IOM, Save the Children;

Health

WHO, MSF, UNICEF

Non-Food Items (NFIs) –Shelter

Convoys from Mazar-e-Sharif, Kabul, and Tajikistan IOM, ACTED, Mercy Corps

Security

NATO/German PRT in Kunduz; Main phase of DDR in progress

Water & Sanitation UNICEF Comments

UNICEF Immunization activities Aid and relief supplies from North, South, and West

Northern Region IDP Camps (Kunduz) Location Bagh-e-Sherkat Amirabad Type IDP IDP Coordination IOM IOM Camp Capacity

22,000

Population

Less than 5,000 between the two camps

Less than 5,000 between the two camps

Movement IDPs

Largely stopped

Largely stopped

Food

WFP

WFP, ACTED, Focus

Health

UNICEF

UNICEF

Non-Food Items (NFIs) - Shelter

IOM

Security

Water & Sanitation

UNICEF UNICIEF

Comments UNICEF has completed WES activities in the camps in 2002


8

Location Mazar-e-Sharif Coordination UNHCR Population

11,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast; 60,000 IDPs from North elsewhere in country;

Movement IDPs

IOM moving some IDPs home

Food

WFP; preparations for winter underway

Health

WHO; ICRC. UNICEF Jordanian field hospital


IRC, IOM, UNICEF, Action Contre la Faim; FAO

Security

British PRT in Mazar-e-Sharif turned over to NATO; Main phase of DDR started

Water & Sanitation

ICRC

Comments

Southern Region Southern region has 145,000 active IDPs; Security: Taliban insurgents attack Afghan government border post in Khost on August 2; Two aid workers gunned down in Paktia on August 3; German NGO Malteser ceases operations on August 3; UNHCR scales-back operations in the southeastern region on August 6; Coalition operations continue along border with Pakistan; Conflict in Zabul province; Attempted assassination in Kandahar; Coalition says it will launch “Lightning Resolve” operation to improve election security; Coalition says it will establish more PRTs in east and south to improve security and support humanitarian activities;

Location Kandahar Coordination UNHCR Population

145,000 active IDPs in South

Movement of IDPs Food

International staff present and operating Mercy Corps in southern Kandahar Province

Health

WHO, ICRC, CARITAS, Mercy Corps; UNICEF;

NFIs - Shelter

UNHCR, Mercy Corps

Security

US PRT in Kandahar; main phase of DDR in progress

Water & Sanitation

UNICEF

Comments


9

Southern Region IDP Camps (Kandahar)

Location Kandahar Type IDP Capacity

90,000 in 39 camps in Panjwai district

Population

Survey of IDPs in the Southern Region to be conducted later this month

Movement IDPs Food Health

UNICEF

NFIs - Shelter Security

Coalition operations continue

Water & Sanitation

UNICEF

Comments

WES projects of UNICEF in IDP camps completed in 2002 and immunization activities are going on.

Southern Region IDP camps south of Kandahar Location Zhare Dasht (South of Kandhar – 6 camps) Type IDP Camp Coordination

Int’l Save our Souls

Camp Capacity

30,000; expandable to 60,000

Population

36,000

Movement IDP

About 4,000 from Spin Boldak to relocate to Zhare Dasht before humanitarian support ends in August this year;

Food

WFP

Health

UNICEF, MSF; outbreak of diphtheria among under-18

NFIs - Shelter Security Water & Sanitation

UNICEF wells

Comments

New camps designed to attract IDPs from Spin Boldak


10

Eight Southern Region camps in Panjwai and Maiwand west of Kandahar for 30,000 nomadic Kuchis Location Mandozai (60 kn from

Kandahar) Marghar Morsham

Type

IDP Camp

IDP Camp

IDP Camp

Coordination

Cordaid

Cordaid

Cordaid

Camp Capacity

Population

1,700

4,500

16,000

Movement IDP Refugees in no-man’s land

Food

Caritas

Caritas

Caritas

Health

Caritas-UNICEF

Caritas_UNICEF

Caritas-UNICEF

NFIs - Shelter Security Water & Sanitation Comments UNICEF is doing immunization activities

Southern Region IDP Camps (Spin Boldak--Near Afghan-Pakistan Border Chaman Area) About 20,000 IDPs in the Spin Boldak area; Government has ordered that Spin Boldak humanitarian assistance end in August; 4,000 IDPs to go to Zhare Dasht, several hundred to return home, and nearly 16,000 to remain in Spin Boldak area without humanitarian assistance;

Location Al Rashid (Spin Boldak)

Ben Rashid Maktum (Spin Boldak)

Rabita Alam el Islam (Spin Boldak)

Type IDP Camp IDP Camp IDP Camp Coordination

UNHCR

UNHCR

UNHCR

Camp Capacity Population 1,100 Movement IDP Food WFP WFP Distribution interrupted in

mid-May Health

UNICEF and MSF

UNICEF and MSF

UNICEF and MSF

NFIs - Shelter

Security Water & Sanitation

Trucks and water tanks


UNHCR supplying limited quantities

Comments

New camp

New camp

New camp


11

Location Spin Boldak Spin Boldak Wesh

Type IDP Camp IDP Camp IDP Camp Coordination

International Islamic Relief Organization

NGO from United Arab Emirates

International Islamic Relief Organization

Camp Capacity

6,000

Population

6,000

Movement IDP Food WFP WFP WFP Health

UNICEF and MSF

UNICEF and MSF

UNICEF and MSF





Comments

New camp

New camp

New camp

Western Region 20,500 active IDPs; Security: Fighting between local warlords and coalition/Afghanistan National Army in Ghor province; Limited disarmament taking place among competing local factions in Chaghcharan, capital of Ghor province; 600 Afghan Army troops sent to ensure order; Location Herat Province Coordination UNHCR; ICMC Population

70,000 or less in 5 remaining camps down from 200,000 to 360,000 depending on estimates

Movement IDPs Food

WFP, IRC, CARITAS, UNICEF, World Vision, IOM, Action Contre la Faim

Health

WHO, MSF, MDM, Order of Malta, CHA, IbniSina, HRS; ICRC; UNICEF

Non-Food Items (NFIs) – Shelter

UNHCR, Iranian Red Crescent, UNICEF, IOM, Blankets and fuel being distributed; Ockenden Int’l, MSF, IMC

Security

US PRT in Heart; Main phase of DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration) begun;

Water & Sanitation

UNICEF


12

Western Region IDP Camps Location Mir Daud (25 km

west of Heart) Maslakh (20 km west of Herat)

Shaydayee (18 km east of Heart)

Type

IDP Camp

IDP camp

IDP camp

Coordination

ICMC

ICMC

ICMC

Camp Capacity

100,000

Population

New arrivals from Badghis and Ghor

11,000

16,000

Movement IDPs IOM assisted IDPs return home in North-West for 2003 total of 23,000

IOM assisted 23,000 IDPs to return home from Mashlakh and Shaydayee in 2003; MSF reports Shaydayee to close—remaining IDPs to be shifted to Maslakh

Food WFP; food-for-work program vice distribution

WFP; general food distribution to end April; Shift to food-for-work program vice distribution

Health WHO, IMC, MSF, MDM, HRS, CHA, IbniSina; ICRC-UNICEF

UNICEF MSF

(NFIs) - Shelter IOM, UNHCR distributing additional tarps and blankets

UNICEF, UNHCR

Security Water & Sanitation UNICEF UNICEF Comments

Western Region IDP Camps (cont.) Location Minaret 1 & 2 Rawza Herat City

Type IDP camp IDP camp IDP camp Coordination

ICMC

ICMC

Camp Capacity Population

Less than 2,000

Less than 500 remain

Less than 5,000

Movement IDPs

Food

MDM doing food supplements

Health UNICEF UNICEF UNICEF Non-Food Items (NFIs) - Shelter

UNHCR and NGO providing tents


UNICEF

UNICEF

UNICEF

Comments Officially closed


13

Refugee Locations in Pakistan

UNHCR is caring for 200,000 refugees in Pakistan, including 127,000 people in nine camps and one transit area in Baluchistan Province, as well as 67,000 in seven camps in Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP). UNHCR plans to close all post-September 2001 new camps near the border by September 2004—six camps in Baluchistan and six camps in NWFP; Over 20,000 refugees reported fleeing Pakistani anti-foreign fighter operations and entering Afghanistan’s Paktika province; IOM to organize overseas polling for upcoming Afghan presidential elections in October on behalf of UNAMA.

Baluchistan Province Location Baluchistan Province Coordination Population

137,000 people in 9 camps and one transit area

Movement of Refugees

Afghans in no-man’s land relocated to Zhare Dasht and Mohamed Khele; Plans to close other camps in vicinity of Chaman before September; Extra inducements offered this month for refugees to return to Afghanistan;

Food

WFP

Health

Medicins du Monde; MSF, AMDA

NFIs – Shelter

Security Sufficient security that allows UN and NGOs to conduct full operations implemented in camps after threat in June;

Water & Sanitation

IFRC, Medicins du Monde; Action Contre la Faim

Comments

Refugee Camps in Baluchistan, Pakistan

Location Mohamed Khele 1 & 2 (85 km southwest of Quetta)

Roghani (new) (16 km from Chaman)

Type Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Coordination

UNHCR/Rotary Intl.

UNHCR

Camp Capacity

80,000

17,000 - full

Population

37,000 Pashtuns

17,000

No-man’s land

8,000 refugees have been relocated from no-man’s land

Refugee Movement

Food

WFP, CRS, ARC

WFP


14

Health

UNICEF, MSF

UNICEF,MSF


CRS

Security Water & Sanitation IFRC, MDM IFRC, MDM, Oxfam

Refugee Camps in Baluchistan, Pakistan (cont.) Location Landi Karez (5 km

from Roghani) Tor Tangi (20 km from Chaman)

Lejay Karez (75 km from Quetta) – new

Latifabad (10 km from Mohammad Kheil)

Type Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Coordination

UNHCR

UAE Red Crescent

UNHCR

UNHCR

Camp Capacity

10,000

10,000

8,600

Population

16,500

10,000

5,700

6,350 ethnic minorities

Refugee Movement

From Quetta

Food

WFP

WFP

WFP

Health

MSF

AMDA

AMDA


IFRC, MDM, Oxfam

IFRC, MDM

IFRC, MDM

IFRC

North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan

;

Location North West Frontier Province Coordination Population

70,000

Refugee Movement

1,404,000 refugees have returned; some old camps beginning to

Food WFP Health Non-Food Items (NFIs) - Shelter Security Security continues to be a problem in

Kurram Agency Water & Sanitation Comments


15

Refugee Camps in NWFP, Pakistan 37,600 were in Shamshatoo; 35,000 among five remaining camps

Location New Shamshatoo (60 km southwest of Peshawar)

Kotkai (Bajur Agency 120 Km northwest of Peshawar)

Barkali (Bajur Agency)

Type Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Coordination

UNHCR

Camp Capacity

75,000

20,000

Population

26,000

16,000

1,000

Refugee Movement

Refugees returning to Afghanistan;

5,000 from Shalman

Food

WFP, IRC

WFP

WFP

Health

NFI - Shelter

CRS

UNICEF


UNICEF

Comments

Primarily for Pashtuns

Location

Old Bagzai (Kurram Agency)

Bassu (Kurram Agency) Asgharo (Kurram Agency)

Type Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Coordination

UNHCR

UNHCR

UNHCR

Camp Capacity

10,000

12,200

Population

18,000 among three Kurram Agency camps



Refugee Movement Food

WFP;

WFP

WFP

Health NFIs - Shelter IRC Security

Private trucks deliver food due to security situation



Water & San CRS Comments

Established camp for Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Turkmens

For Shiite refugees, mostly Tajik and Hazaras

Relocated refugees from Jalozai and urban Peshawar

Documents

Afghanistan HAR 080604 - WHO · round of voter registration would end on August 15 and the second phase would resume following the ... (UNHCR) told a press briefing in the Afghan