Fact Sheet: UN Agency Develops Operating Plan for Afghanistan
(30-day plan to create picture of needs begins Nov. 12) (1460)
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) says that a
30-day plan to be implemented November 12 will enhance nongovernmental
organization and United Nations planning for humanitarian operations
inside Afghanistan and provide a complete picture of estimated needs.
In addition, the World Food Program (WFP) announced November 7 that it
has begun to airlift more than 2,000 metric tons of food from Pakistan
to Turkmenistan where it will be transported by truck to remote areas
of Afghanistan.
During November 6-8 the Department of Defense was scheduled to airlift
from Pisa, Italy, to Turkmenistan 20,000 wool blankets, 100 rolls
plastic sheeting, 200 metric tons of high-energy biscuits and one
metric ton of sugar.
Following is the text of a November 7 USAID fact sheet:
(begin text)
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID)
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
Fact Sheet #22, Fiscal Year (FY 2002), November 7, 2001
Note: This Fact Sheet updates previously released Central Asia Region
Fact Sheets and Situation Reports.
Numbers Affected
On November 6, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
reported that approximately 135,000 Afghan refugees have entered
Pakistan since September 11. Of these new arrivals, UNHCR believes
that 75,000 entered through North West Frontier Province and 60,000
entered through Baluchistan Province.
Afghanistan
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)
has developed a 30-day Operational Emergency Assistance Plan to
enhance NGO [nongovernmental organization] and U.N. agency planning
for humanitarian operations in Afghanistan as well as assistance to
Afghan refugees. The plan is designed to create a complete picture of
estimated needs inside Afghanistan; a complete picture of which
organizations are operating in what areas and sectors; an
accountability tool for monitoring performance and achievements; and a
mechanism for identifying which areas are inaccessible and why. The
plan will be implemented on a 30-day rolling basis, with the first
period spanning November 12 through December 12, 2001.
The World Food Program (WFP) reports that it is continually increasing
its cross-border deliveries of food aid into Afghanistan. At the
beginning of the current crisis, WFP was transporting only 200 metric
tons (MT) of food aid into Afghanistan per day. This figure is now up
to 2,400 MT. The increase in the rate of transport is due to a new
strategy of bypassing urban centers and moving the food directly to
areas of need. In addition, the increase is due to the utilization of
five transport corridors. WFP is hopeful that it will soon be
operating at a capacity to meet the transport requirement of 52,000 MT
per month.
However, distribution of the food will be difficult since several
highly vulnerable districts remain inaccessible due to insecurity.
Some 27,000 MT of food is required in inaccessible areas to feed
500,000 people who are expected to run short of food by the end of the
year. Security conditions in these inaccessible districts (listed in
Fact Sheet #21) are deteriorating as a result of banditry, lack of
communication, and the ongoing civil war.
In addition, distribution of the food will be difficult in the
mountainous areas of Afghanistan, where 32,000 MT of additional food
aid is required over the next three to four weeks to sustain the food
insecure population for the winter. To date, only 7,000 MT of food aid
has been delivered to the area.
To reach the above target, WFP is working to secure trucks that can
operate in the deep snow. Furthermore, WFP is planning an airdrop of
food in snow-bound areas of northern Afghanistan as a compliment to
overland delivery. WFP will use black, snow-proof bags to package the
food. WFP plans to establish a base camp at the tip of the Anjuman
Pass to coordinate assistance to the area.
The U.N. reports that many internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the
eastern and central regions of Afghanistan are able to find shelter on
their own, alleviating some of the burden on humanitarian agencies.
This resourcefulness is particularly important given the steady
increase in the number of IDPs.
The U.N. reports that the Taliban's seizure and return of humanitarian
offices and assets and forced cessation of humanitarian activities
remains inconsistent from one area to another.
UNHCR [United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees] remains
concerned about the security of aid workers and the protection of IDPs
in camps near the borders of Iran and Pakistan. The presence of armed
fighters in the vicinity of IDP camps complicates the delivery of
humanitarian assistance, and the assurance that aid does not fall into
the hands of the Taliban or Northern Alliance. The conscription of
young IDP men, who reside in the camps, also concerns UNHCR.
The second round of national immunization days to vaccinate children
against polio began on November 6, and will continue through November
8. Cases of malaria are reported in the provinces of Baghlan, Faryab,
Laghman, and Nangahar. The World Health Organization is moving
additional supplies of malaria prophylaxis into Afghanistan to combat
the disease.
UNOCHA reports that a mine action NGO [nongovernmental organization]
is providing emergency mine awareness training to people in the Herat
area. According to UNOCHA, the U.N. Demining Program has had 100
vehicles stolen from its office in Afghanistan, complicating
mine-related activities throughout the country.
Pakistan
WFP announced on November 7 that two Ilyushin cargo aircraft will
airlift more than 2,000 MT of food from northern Pakistan to
Turkmenabad, Turkmenistan over a 10-day period. From this location,
the food will be transported via truck to remote areas of northern
Afghanistan. One of the aircraft began transporting food yesterday;
the other will begin today. USAID/Food for Peace funding is supporting
this operation.
On November 5, Pakistani authorities allowed approximately 300 women
and children to shelter in the registration tents inside the Killi
Faizo staging area, near the Chaman border crossing in Baluchistan.
Approximately 100 men are waiting outside the site for entrance. UNHCR
and Pakistani officials are still negotiating formal approval for the
refugees to become part of the camp population. The maximum capacity
of the site (approximately 1,600 people) was exceeded last week,
leading Pakistani authorities to suspend registration on November 2,
and send new arrivals back across the border to Spin Boldak.
Afghan refugees in Killi Faizo will be transferred to Roghani camp in
Baluchistan soon to alleviate overcrowding in Killi Faizo and make way
for new arrivals. The current population of Killi Faizo exceeds 2,400
people.
With the exception of the Killi Faizo site, most refugees are housed
in 203 old refugee camps or in private houses with relatives in
Peshawar and Quetta. A smaller number of refugees are located in
Karachi and Islamabad.
UNHCR reports that the number of "invisible" refugees is increasing,
and that identification of them and delivery of assistance to them is
becoming more problematic.
Region
Shelter Now International-U.S. reports logistical delays in
transporting relief supplies through the Tajikistan/Afghanistan
border. UNOCHA is aware of the situation and is working with the
Government of Tajikistan to resolve the issue.
U.S. Government Activities
New Actions
From November 6-8, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) will airlift
the following USAID/OFDA commodities from Pisa, Italy to Ashgabat,
Turkmenistan aboard C-17 aircraft: 20,000 wool blankets, 100 rolls of
plastic sheeting, 200 MT of BP-5 High Energy Biscuits, and 1 MT of
sugar. The commodities, valued at $751,102, will be consigned to the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) for distribution in
Afghanistan.
USAID/Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) members in Uzbekistan
are conducting a logistical assessment of Termez in coordination with
the U.N. and NGOs working in the area. To date, DOD has airdropped
1,275,840 Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs), valued at $5,486,112,
into Afghanistan.
Disaster Declarations & Background
On October 4, 2001, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian
Affairs Christina B. Rocca Wer redeclared a complex humanitarian
disaster for Afghanistan for FY 2002.
On October 10, 2001, U.S. Charge d'Affaires James A. Boughner declared
a disaster for Tajikistan due to drought.
TOTAL USG [U.S. government] Humanitarian Assistance FY 2001
$178,607,625
Note: detailed breakdowns of FY 2001 assistance are available in
previous Central Asia Region Situation Reports.
FY 2002 USG Assistance to Afghanistan
Total USAID/OFDA $44,866,211
Total USAID/FFP $38,555,000
Total State/PRM $28,260,000
Total DOD $5,486,112
TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance FY 2002 $117,167,323
TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance FY 2001 $178,607,625
Note: detailed breakdowns of FY 2001 assistance are available in
previous Central Asia Region Situation Reports.
TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan FY 2001/2002
$295,774,948
USG Assistance to Tajikistan
Total USG Assistance to Tajikistan FY 2001 $67,210,000
Total USAID/OFDA Assistance to Tajikistan FY 2002 $998,180
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