Overview March 26, 2004 UN Council extends its Afghan mission until 2005 The United Nations Council (UNSC) announced today that it has extended its Afghan mission, commonly known as the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), until March 27, 2005. Acting in response to a recommendation by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the 15-member UNSC unanimously adopted resolution number 1536 (2004), calling on UNAMA to work with Afghan authorities to speed up the voter registration process. Resolution 1536 stresses the importance of extending the Afghan central government s authority to all parts of Afghanistan and 1
calls upon the Afghan authorities to enable an electoral process that ensures participation of all Afghans, including women, from across all parts of the country. It calls upon all Afghans to fully participate in the registration and electoral process. In his report to the UNSC, Annan had expressed concern over the slow pace of voter registrations adding that it could potentially affect the nationwide general elections in June this year. Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Afghan President Hamid Karzai is considering postponing elections until September this year. It is also reported that the Afghan government is expected to make a formal announcement about elections at a donors conference in the German capital Berlin next week. Afghan government to seek US$30 billion for long-term development The Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai plans to seek US$28-30 billion at a twoday international donor meeting in the German capital Berlin next week (March 31-April 1). Speaking to the United Nations Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) from the Afghan Capital Kabul, Ramazan Bashardoost, the newly appointed Afghan planning minister, said, We have prepared a document that summarizes a strategy and vision for development in the next seven to ten years. Bashardoost added, This funding request is not about charity. Rather we are asking for long-term investment to benefit Afghanistan and the international community. He added that in addition to the international donors conference, there would be a meeting of investors, private-sector actors and representatives from civil society. The Afghan government believes it would need per capita income of US$500 within 10 years to break the vicious cycle of violence, restore people s faith in the government, and move people away from the illicit drug trade. Afghan government considering postponing nationwide general elections until September The Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai is reportedly considering postponing this year s nationwide general elections in June. Citing an anonymous diplomatic source, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported yesterday (March 25) that due to precarious security conditions, President Karzai wants to delay general elections until September. An official announcement of the new date for Afghanistan s parliamentary and presidential elections is expected to be made at next week s international donors conference in the German capital Berlin. The Afghan government had earlier insisted on having elections in June as originally outlined in the UN-backed transition process, also known as the Bonn Agreement, reached between various Afghan factions in December 2001 following the ouster of the hardline Taliban regime. However, a recent wave of deadly violence in the western Afghan province of Herat, and persistent insecurity in eastern and southern regions along the border with Pakistan, combined with the extremely slow pace of voter registrations to register some 10.5 million eligible voters, are among the key reasons behind the government s decision to reconsider the elections schedule. 2
Supply Routes Map for Humanitarian Aid 3
Movement Total returns in the last 18 months, are 2.5 million, with about 17,000 returning so far in 2004. UNHCR restarted assisted returns from Pakistan this month with about 9,000 after a several month hiatus. 400,000 are expected to return from Pakistan this year; Iran hopes 500,000 will return in 2004 as it steps up pressure. In January and February less than 4,000 were assisted to return; they were all from Iran and included about 700 earthquake survivors from Bam. The 2003 peaks were 92,000 in June and 78,000 in July. Some camps in Pakistan are being closed and consolidated in 2004. 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%. About 1.4 million refugees remain in Iran and 1.2 million in Pakistan. Remaining in Pakistan are 200,000 in cities, 1.1 million in old camps and 150,000 to 200,000 in the post-september 2001 camps. 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. This is in addition UNHCR starting modest 2004 IDP returns including from Zari Dasht camp in the south to Faryab province in the north, and from Kunduz province in the north to Bamiyan province in the central region; There are 184,000 recorded, active IDPs, with the actual total of perhaps some 300,000. Active IDP numbers are 144,000 in the South, 21,000 in the West, 2,800 in the Center, 5,500 in the East and Southeast, and 41,000 in the North and Northeast. UNHCR assisted 60,000 IDPs to return in 2003. to the estimated 280,000 who voluntarily repatriated from Pakistan and Iran. WFP received 3,900 metric tons (MT) of food aid from outside Afghanistan and distributed 3,800 MT, leaving stocks of 17,900 MT. Routes for Humanitarian Aid and Refugees Country Supply Routes From Supply/Return Routes To Iran Pakistan Mashhad Dogharun, Herat, Badghis & Ghor Major refugee repatriation route; Zabol Nimruz Refugee repatriation route; Peshawar Jalalabad, Kabul, Bamiyan & Khyber Pass refugee camps in NWFP, Major refugee repatriation route; Torkham Pakistan Quetta Refugee camps in Baluchistan, Significant refugee repatriation route Pakistan & Kandahar and Herat Tajikistan Nizhny Pyandzh Sherkhan, Kunduz, Northern region, & Kabul Engineering studies for bridge over Pyandzh River; Some constraints on Salang tunnel traffic Kyrgyzstan Osh Ishkashim, Faizabad, & NE WFP no longer needs route Turkmenistan Turkmenabat, Kushka Herat, Badghis & Ghor UNHCR no long needs route 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 Regions Central Region : Factional fighting in Uruzgan province; UN missions suspended in Uruzgan province Bamiyan IDP Movement NFIs -Shelter 2,800 active IDPs in Central and East Central WFP; preparations for winter complete ICRC, IMC, MSF; malnutrition high IOM, UNICEF, UNOCHA, & OXFAM New Zealand PRT in Bamiyan 5
: Rocket attack in Kabul; PRT in Parwan; Kabul East Central Region IDP Movement UNHCR 2,800 active IDPs in Central and East Central UN; currently few returning home from Kabul WFP, IRC, Action Contre la Faim CARITAS, MSF, IFRC, IRC, ICRC Russian relief center and hospital; improved ambulance service Non- Items - Shelter UNHCR, ACTED, MSF, IRC, ICRC, IOM; housing being built for squatters ICRC; Wells, pumps, and clean water considerably improved; chlorination of wells on-going Eastern Region : Rocket attacks; Coalition operations continue; 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; Jalalabad IDP Movement Non- Items - Shelter UNHCR 5,500 active IDPs in East WFP, IRC UNICEF, MSF, IMC, WHO; ICRC CWS, UNICEF US PRT in Jalalabad CARITAS; ICRC 6
Eastern Region IDP Camps Hesarshahi (12 km east of Jalalabad) Sar Shahi Type IDP IDP Capacity International Islamic Relief Organization (ISRO) 9,000 remaining 15,000 Movement IDPs UNHCR assisted 15,000 return home Non- Items (NFIs) - Shelter Northeastern Region Organization Movement IDPs Faizabad 11,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast 117,000 returned spontaneously in Northeastern region OXFAM, UNICEF, WFP, World Concern Preparations for winter underway Non- Items (NFIs) -Shelter WHO, Merlin, UNICEF, MSF; ICRC UNICEF, ACTED, Refugees Int l, Mercy Corps Calm 5 new bridges linking Northeast to Tajikistan 7
Northern Region : UN missions remain suspended to parts of Balk and Sari Pul provinces; US PRT in Parwan; Kunduz 11,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast; 60,000 IDPs from North elsewhere in country; Movement IDPs Non- Items (NFIs) Shelter IOM targeting 45,000 IDPs to identify those interested in voluntary assisted return home starting 31 March ACF, FOCUS, OXFAM, IOM, Save the Children; WHO, MSF Convoys from Mazar-e-Sharif, Kabul, and Tajikistan IOM, ACTED, Mercy Corps UN PRT in Kunduz Aid and relief supplies from North, South, and West Northern Region IDP Camps (Kunduz) Bagh-e-Sherkat Amirabad Type IDP IDP IOM IOM Camp Capacity 22,000 Less than 5,000 between the two camps Less than 5,000 between the two camps Movement IDPs Largely stopped Largely stopped WFP WFP, ACTED, Focus Non- Items (NFIs) - Shelter IOM Water & Sanitation 8
Movement IDPs Mazar-e-Sharif UNHCR 11,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast; 60,000 IDPs from North elsewhere in country; IOM moving some IDPs home WFP; preparations for winter underway WHO; ICRC. Jordanian field hospital Non- Items (NFIs) - Shelter IRC, IOM, UNICEF, Action Contre la Faim; FAO British PRT in Mazar-e-Sharif; Disarmament and demobilization of competing warlord corps underway; ICRC Southern Region Southern region has 145,000 active IDPs; : Recent killings of workers and humanitarians along highway in Zabul province; Coalition says it will establish more PRTs in east and south to improve security and support humanitarian activities; UN missions remain suspended in Barmal (Paktia), Zabul and Oruzgan provinces. Kandahar UNHCR Movement of IDPs 145,000 active IDPs in South International staff present and operating Mercy Corps in southern Kandahar Province NFIs - Shelter WHO, ICRC, CARITAS, Mercy Corps; UNICEF; UNHCR, Mercy Corps US PRT in Kandahar; 9
Southern Region IDP Camps (Kandahar) Type Capacity Movement IDPs NFIs - Shelter Kandahar IDP 90,000 in 39 camps in Panjwai district Survey of IDPs in the Southern Region to be conducted later this month Plan to relocate 55,000 IDPs from Spin Boldak, no-man s land to camps, and Kandahar camps to Zhare Dasht; Relocation from no-man s land complete; selected relocations from Kandahar city to Zhare Dasht underway concerns: crime, banditry, and general insecurity Southern Region IDP camps south of Kandahar Type Zhare Dasht (South of Kandhar 6 camps) IDP Camp Int l Save our Souls Camp Capacity 30,000; expandable to 60,000 36,000 Movement IDP NFIs - Shelter Initial movement of several hundred to homes in west WFP MSF; outbreak of diphtheria among under-18 A concern of potential occupants UNICEF wells New camps designed to attract IDPs from Spin Boldak and no-man s land near Chaman 10
Eight Southern Region camps in Panjwai and Maiwand west of Kandahar for 30,000 nomadic Kuchis Mandozai (60 kn from Kandahar) Marghar Morsham Type IDP Camp IDP Camp IDP Camp Cordaid Cordaid Cordaid Camp Capacity 1,700 4,500 16,000 Movement IDP Refugees in noman s land Caritas Caritas Caritas Caritas Caritas Caritas NFIs - Shelter Southern Region IDP Camps (Spin Boldak--Near Afghan-Pakistan Border Chaman Area) About 20,000 IDPs in the Spin Boldak area; plans to move remaining IDPs to 6 camps near Kandahar in process; 7,000 assisted in moving to Zhare Dasht since Oct 2003; 8,000 10,000 assisted in returning home; Al Rashid (Spin Ben Rashid Maktum Rabita Alam el Islam Boldak) (Spin Boldak) (Spin Boldak) Type IDP Camp IDP Camp IDP Camp UNCHR UNHCR UNHCR Camp Capacity 1,100 Movement IDP WFP WFP Distribution interrupted in mid-may UNICEF and MSF UNICEF and MSF UNICEF and MSF NFIs - Shelter Trucks and water tanks Trucks and water tanks UNHCR supplying limited quantities New camp New camp New camp 11
Spin Boldak Spin Boldak Wesh Type IDP Camp IDP Camp IDP Camp International Islamic Relief Organization NGO from United Arab Emirates International Islamic Relief Organization Camp Capacity 6,000 6,000 Movement IDP Refugees in noman s land WFP WFP WFP UNICEF and MSF UNICEF and MSF UNICEF and MSF NFIs - Shelter Trucks and water tanks Trucks and water tanks Trucks and water tanks New camp New camp New camp Western Region 20,500 active IDPs : Herat remains tense following the assassination of the son of provincial governor Ismail Khan. Some 1,500 Afghan National Army Troops have arrived in the city. Potential of a confrontation between the provincial and central government remains. UN missions to Farah province suspended; Locati Herat Province on UNHCR; ICMC 70,000 or less in 5 remaining camps down from 200,000 to 360,000 depending on estimates Movement IDPs Non- Items (NFIs) Shelter 74,000 returned from Herat to Badghis province WFP, IRC, CARITAS, UNICEF, World Vision, IOM, Action Contre la Faim WHO, MSF, MDM, Order of Malta, CHA, IbniSina, HRS; ICRC; very high maternal mortality UNHCR, Iranian Red Crescent, UNICEF, IOM, Blankets and fuel being distributed; Ockenden Int l, MSF, IMC US PRT in Herat UNICEF 12
Mir Daud (25 km west of Herat) Western Region IDP Camps Maslakh (20 km west of Herat) Shaydayee (18 km east of Heart) Type IDP Camp IDP camp IDP camp ICMC ICMC ICMC Camp Capacity 100,000 Movement IDPs (NFIs) - Shelter New arrivals from Badghis and Ghor 11,000 16,000 IOM assisted IDPs return home in North-West for 2003 total of 23,000 WFP; food-for-work program vice distribution WHO, IMC, MSF, MDM, HRS, CHA, IbniSina; ICRC IOM, UNHCR distributing additional tarps and blankets 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 WFP; general food distribution to end April; Shift to food-for-work program vice distribution UNICEF, UNHCR UNICEF Western Region IDP Camps (cont.) Minaret 1 & 2 Rawza Herat City Type IDP camp IDP camp IDP camp ICMC ICMC Camp Capacity Less than 2,000 Less than 500 remain Less than 5,000 Movement IDPs Non- Items (NFIs) - Shelter MDM doing food supplements UNHCR and NGO providing tents UNICEF UNICEF Officially closed 13
Refugee s in Pakistan UNHCR has been caring for more than 260,000 refugees in Pakistan, including 137,000 people in nine camps and one transit area in Baluchistan Province and 110,000 in seven camps in Northwest Frontier Province. UNHCR reactivated assistance to returning refugees. UNHCR will consolidate camps in Chaman area. Movement of Refugees NFIs Shelter Baluchistan Province Baluchistan Province 137,000 people in 9 camps and one transit area Afghans in no-man s land relocated to Zhare Dasht and Mohamed Khele; Plans to close other camps in vicinity of Chaman over time WFP Medicins du Monde; MSF Emergency distribution of blankets IFRC, Medicins du Monde; Action Contre la Faim Refugee Camps in Baluchistan, Pakistan Killi Faizo (2km from Chaman) Mohamed Khele 1 & 2 (85 km southwest of Quetta) Roghani (new) (16 km from Chaman) Type Transit Center Refugee Camp Refugee Camp UNHCR UNHCR/Rotary Intl. UNHCR Camp Capacity 80,000 17,000 - full 0 37,000 Pashtuns 17,000 No-man s land Closed 8,000 refugees have been relocated from noman s land Refugee Movement Numerous families starting to move to Spin Boldak in Afghanistan; UNHCR plans to close camp in March 2004 WFP WFP, CRS WFP UNICEF; MSF UNICEF, MSF UNICEF,MSF 14
Non- Items (NFIs) - Shelter UNICEF; CRS IFRC, MDM IFRC, MDM, Oxfam Refugee Camps in Baluchistan, Pakistan (cont.) Landi Karez (5 km Tor Tangi (20 km Lejay Karez (75 from Roghani) from Chaman) km from Quetta) - new Latifabad (10 km from Mohammad Kheil) Type Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Refugee Camp UNHCR UAE Red Crescent UNHCR UNHCR Camp Capacity 10,000 10,000 8,600 16,500 10,000 5,700 6,350 ethnic minorities Refugee Movement From Quetta WFP WFP WFP NFIs - Shelter AMDA IFRC, MDM, Oxfam IFRC, MDM IFRC, MDM IFRC North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan North West Frontier Province 110,000 Refugee Movement Non- Items (NFIs) - Shelter 1,404,000 refugees have returned; some old camps beginning to empty Shalman camp occupants to be gradually consolidated or returned to Afghanistan WFP Under control after attack on WHO vehicle 15
Refugee Camps in NWFP, Pakistan 37,600 in Shamshatoo; 63,000 among six remaining camps New Shamshatoo (60 Kotkai (Bajur Agency Barkali (Bajur Agency) km southwest of Peshawar) 120 Km northwest of Peshawar) Type Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Refugee Camp UNHCR Camp Capacity 75,000 20,000 37,600 11,000 Refugees returning to Refugee Movement Afghanistan; 5,000 from Shalman WFP WFP WFP NFI - Shelter CRS UNICEF UNICEF Primarily for Pashtuns Old Bagzai Shalman 1 (Khyber Bassu (Kurram Asgharo (Kurram (Kurram Agency) Agency - new) Agency) Agency Type Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Refugee Camp UNHCR IRC/Rotary Intl. UNHCR UNHCR Camp Capacity 10,000 20,000 501 12,200 2,000 10,000 Refugee Movement Half returning; Half being consolidated at Kotkai WFP WFP WFP WFP NFIs - Shelter IRC IRC Water & San CRS Water truck route dispute with locals Established camp for Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Turkmens CLOSED on March 23 by UNHCR as planned For Shiite refugees, mostly Tajik and Hazaras Relocated refugees from Jalozai and urban Peshawar 16