August 20, 2004 Overview Afghan authorities extend voter registration deadline in the south until Friday (August 20) Voter registration for the upcoming Afghan presidential elections on October 9 closed on Sunday (August 15) with nearly 10 million Afghans registered to vote. However, the deadline for voter registration in parts of southern and southeastern Afghanistan where registrations had been low, has been extended until Friday (August 20). Manoel de Almeida e Silva, spokesman for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) told a press briefing that voter registrations in the southern provinces of Helmand, Kandahar, Nimroz, Uruzgan and Zabul and the southeastern provinces of Ghazni, and Paktika, would continue through this week. He said registrations in these provinces had started only recently and have been low compared to other areas across the country. Almeida e Silva said that more than 9.9 million voter cards have been issued since the registration campaign began last December (2003). 1
UN warns violence, drugs and factionalism remain threat to peace in Afghanistan United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan is warning that extremist violence, factionalism, and the illicit drug trade continue to be a threat to peace in Afghanistan. In his latest report, dated August 12, 2004, to the UN General Assembly, Annan noted that security across parts of Afghanistan has deteriorated in recent months. He said increased militant and criminal activity across parts of the country, especially the south, was depriving many communities of the benefits of economic and political reconstruction. Annan noted that in addition to cross-border militant attacks, terrorists, criminals and factional militias were carrying out violent acts against local and international workers with seeming impunity. Annan said initiatives to combat the burgeoning drug trade in the country have been largely ineffective, adding that more personnel resources and greater determination to tackle the problem was necessary. In his report, Annan said that the high rate of voter registration for the upcoming Afghan presidential elections on October 9 was encouraging and was reflective of the political isolation of those responsible for violence. The report concludes that extremism, factionalism, including disarmament, and the illicit drug trade must be addressed for the Bonn peace process to move forward. The report emphasizes the need for increased international security assistance ahead of the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in October this year and April 2005 respectively. Annan said he was encouraged by the decision of the 26-nation North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to boost security ahead of the presidential elections. US-brokered cease-fire holding in western Afghanistan A US-brokered cease-fire between warring factions in Afghanistan s western province of Herat is reportedly holding for now. Karim Khan, a spokesman for ethnic Pashtun warlord Amanullah Khan, told Agence France- Presse (AFP) that a cease-fire was in effect since 4:00 pm (1130 GMT) Tuesday, August 17. Clashes between forces loyal to provincial governor Ismail Khan, and his rival Amanullah Khan, erupted last week when Amanullah Khan, with the support of other factions in the region, launched a coordinated attack on Herat last weekend (Saturday, August 14) that left more than two-dozen people dead. On Tuesday (August 17), the US military and the Afghan central government mediated a cease-fire between the warring factions. Newly trained troops from the Afghan National Army, with the help of US military advisors, have inserted a buffer force north of a contested airbase to keep the two sides apart. Amanullah Khan s forces have retreated from their positions overlooking Herat city. Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who is backing provincial governor Ismail Khan, has issued a stern warning to Amanullah Khan. US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has also reportedly told Amanullah Khan that any advance towards Herat, threatening the city, would be unacceptable. Explosions rock Afghan voter registration center in western Afghanistan A series of explosions only minutes apart shook an office of the UN-Afghan Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) in the western Afghan city of Farah, some 465 miles (748 kilometer) southwest of the capital Kabul near the border with Iran. Manoel de Almeida e Silva, spokesman for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan told Agence France-Presse (AFP), Six explosions, very close together, occurred at 8:15 pm (1545 GMT) last night (Thursday, August 19). Seven people, including four policemen and two Afghan security officials were wounded in the blast. The explosions set several vehicles inside the compound ablaze, causing minor damage to the building. Almeida e Silva said three foreign workers working inside the JEMB office at the time of the blasts escaped any injuries. Reuters is reporting that Abdul Latif Hakimi, a Taliban spokesman, has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to Associated Press (AP) reports local police officials have detained four Afghan security guards, two Afghans working for the United Nations, and a UN security guard for questioning. Almeida e Silva said the attack underscores the need for security across the country ahead of the presidential elections on October 9. In his speech on Afghanistan s Independence Day on Wednesday (August 18), President Karzai said, his government, international security forces and the United Nations would make concerted efforts to ensure security for Afghan constituencies and voters across country. 2
Movement More than 3.6 million refugees 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; Nearly 1 million returned from Iran. In 2004, UNHCR (UN High Commission for Refugees) plans for 500,000 to return from Pakistan and 500,000 returns from Iran. By mid-august nearly 600,000 refugees returned 300,000 from Pakistan, including 100,000 from urban centers. An estimated 300,000 also came from Iran, including more than 50,000 spontaneous returns. Warlord conflict in western region temporarily interrupts 13,000 refugee returns from Iran up to 4,000 a day returning from Iran. August is on course for 100,000 returns, similar to May, June, and July. UNHCR plans to close new post-september 2001 camps in Pakistan near the border 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. So far, 13,000 IDPs have been assisted this year. 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, around half a million people receive around 4,000 tons of food. Several hundred thousand Afghans are employed on work-for-food programs. Country Routes for Humanitarian Aid and Refugees Supply Routes Supply/Return Routes To From 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 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 Turkmenistan Turkmenabat, Kushka Herat, Badghis & Ghor UNHCR no long needs route 3
Country Supply Routes From Turkmenabat, Kerki Supply/Return Routes To Andkhoy, Mazar-e-Sharif, & Northern Region UNHCR no longer needs route Uzbekistan Termez Mazar-e-Sharif and North Friendship Bridge for rail and road Afghanistan Relief Efforts: United Nations Regions Central Region : Policeman killed in Taliban attack on voter registration site in Ghazni province; Two election workers killed by bomb in mosque in Ghazni 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,, UNOCHA, & OXFAM New Zealand PRT in Bamiyan; Main phase of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) 4
on-going; : PRT in Parwan; Kabul UNHCR East Central Region IDP Movement 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 Main phase of DDR in progress ICRC; Wells, pumps, and clean water considerably improved; chlorination of wells on-going Eastern Region : Coalition operations continue along border with Pakistan. 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; Jalalabad IDP Movement Non- Items - Shelter UNHCR 5,500 active IDPs in East WFP, IRC, MSF, IMC, WHO; ICRC CWS, US PRT in Jalalabad; Main phase of DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration) started; CARITAS; ICRC, 5
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 WES activities of in this camp completed in 2002 and Immunization activities are going on. Northeastern Region : DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration) on-going in Takhar province; Faizabad Organization Movement IDPs 11,000 active IDPs in North and Northeast 117,000 returned spontaneously in Northeastern region OXFAM,, WFP, World Concern Preparations for winter underway Non- Items (NFIs) -Shelter WHO, Merlin,, MSF; ICRC, ACTED, Refugees Int l, Mercy Corps German/NATO PRT in Feyzabad; 6
Northern Region : US PRT in Parwan; DDR started in Baghlan; 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 NATO/German PRT in Kunduz; Main phase of DDR in progress Immunization activities 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 UNICIEF has completed WES activities in the camps in 2002 7
Movement IDPs Non- Items (NFIs) - Shelter 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 IRC, IOM,, Action Contre la Faim; FAO British PRT in Mazar-e-Sharif turned over to NATO; Main phase of DDR on-going; ICRC Southern Region Southern region has 145,000 active IDPs; : Coalition operations continue along border with Pakistan; UNHCR scaled back operations in the southeastern region; Coalition says it is launching 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; Kandahar UNHCR Movement of IDPs 145,000 active IDPs in South International staff present and operating Mercy Corps in southern Kandahar Province WHO, ICRC, CARITAS, Mercy Corps; ; UNHCR, Mercy Corps US PRT in Kandahar; main phase of DDR in progress 8
Southern Region IDP Camps (Kandahar) Type Capacity Movement IDPs Kandahar IDP 90,000 in 39 camps in Panjwai district Survey of IDPs in the Southern Region to be conducted later this month Coalition operations continue WES projects of in IDP camps completed in 2002 and immunization activities are going on. Type Southern Region IDP camps south of Kandahar Zhare Dasht (South of Kandhar 6 camps) IDP Camp Int l Save our Souls Camp Capacity 30,000; expandable to 60,000 Movement IDP 36,000 including an estimated 9,000 Kuchi nomadic families; About 4,000 from Spin Boldak to relocate to Zhare Dasht before humanitarian support ends in August this year; WFP, MSF; outbreak of diphtheria among under- 18 wells New camps designed to attract IDPs from Spin Boldak 9
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- 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; Al Rashid (Spin Boldak) Ben Rashid Maktum (Spin Boldak) Rabita Alam el Islam (Spin Boldak) Type IDP Camp IDP Camp IDP Camp UNHCR UNHCR UNHCR Camp Capacity 1,100 Movement IDP WFP WFP Distribution interrupted in mid-may and MSF and MSF and MSF Trucks and water tanks Trucks and water tanks UNHCR supplying limited quantities New camp New camp New camp 10
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 WFP WFP WFP and MSF and MSF and MSF Trucks and water tanks Trucks and water tanks Trucks and water tanks New camp New camp New camp Western Region 20,500 active IDPs; : Warlord conflict and killings draws coalition and Afghanistan National Army troops interrupts returning refugee flow; Attack on election office in Farah province; Herat Province UNHCR; ICMC Movement IDPs Non- Items (NFIs) Shelter 70,000 or less in 5 remaining camps down from 200,000 to 360,000 depending on estimates WFP, IRC, CARITAS,, World Vision, IOM, Action Contre la Faim WHO, MSF, MDM, Order of Malta, CHA, IbniSina, HRS; ICRC; UNHCR, Iranian Red Crescent,, IOM, Blankets and fuel being distributed; Ockenden Int l, MSF, IMC Fighting between warlords; US PRT in Heart; Main phase of DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration) begun; 11
Mir Daud (25 km west of Heart) 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 Western Region IDP Camps (cont.) Minaret 1 & 2 Rawza Herat City Type IDP camp IDP camp IDP camp ICMC ICMC Camp Capacity 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 MSF, UNHCR Less than 2,000 Less than 500 remain Less than 5,000 Movement IDPs MDM doing food supplements Non- Items (NFIs) - Shelter UNHCR and NGO providing tents Officially closed 12
Refugee s in Pakistan UNHCR is caring for almost 200,000 refugees in Pakistan, including 120,000 people in nine camps and one transit area in Baluchistan Province, and 65,000 in seven camps in the 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. Movement of Refugees NFIs Shelter Baluchistan Province Baluchistan Province 120,000 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 before September; Extra inducements offered this month for refugees to return to Afghanistan; WFP Medicins du Monde; MSF, AMDA Sufficient security that allows UN and NGOs to conduct full operations implemented in camps after threat in June; IFRC, Medicins du Monde; Action Contre la Faim Refugee Camps in Baluchistan, Pakistan Mohamed Khele 1 & 2 (85 km southwest of Quetta) Roghani (new) (16 km from Chaman) Type Refugee Camp Refugee Camp UNHCR/Rotary Intl. UNHCR Camp Capacity 80,000 17,000 - full 37,000 Pashtuns 17,000 No-man s land 8,000 refugees have been relocated from noman s land Refugee Movement 13
WFP, CRS, ARC WFP, MSF,MSF Non- Items (NFIs) - Shelter 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 MSF AMDA AMDA IFRC, MDM, Oxfam IFRC, MDM IFRC, MDM IFRC North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan ; Refugee Movement Non- Items (NFIs) - Shelter North West Frontier Province 65,000 in seven camps; 1,404,000 refugees have returned; WFP continues to be a problem in Kurram Agency 14
Refugee Camps in NWFP, Pakistan 37,600 were in Shamshatoo; 35,000 among five remaining camps New Shamshatoo (60 km Kotkai (Bajur Agency 120 Barkali (Bajur Agency) southwest of Peshawar) Km northwest of Peshawar) Type Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Refugee Camp UNHCR Camp Capacity 75,000 20,000 26,000 16,000 1,000 Refugees returning to Refugee Movement Afghanistan; 5,000 from Shalman WFP, IRC WFP WFP NFI - Shelter CRS Primarily for Pashtuns Old Bagzai (Kurram Bassu (Kurram Agency) Asgharo (Kurram Agency) Agency) Type Refugee Camp Refugee Camp Refugee Camp UNHCR UNHCR UNHCR Camp Capacity 10,000 12,200 Refugee Movement 18,000 among three Kurram Agency camps 18,000 among three Kurram Agency camps 18,000 among three Kurram Agency camps WFP; WFP WFP IRC Water & San Private trucks deliver food due to security situation CRS Private trucks deliver food due to security situation Private trucks deliver food due to security situation Established camp for Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Turkmens For Shiite refugees, mostly Tajik and Hazaras Relocated refugees from Jalozai and urban Peshawar 15