Afghanistan Crisis: Situation Report

From the Department for International Development

28 November 2001
Information provided as at 20.00 on 27 November 2001

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

Security

• The UN remain concerned about security conditions in parts of Afghanistan. Continuing pockets of fighting and banditry around Mazar-e-Sharif, Kunduz and in the south around Kandahar.
• Recent UN assessment missions to Mazar-e-Sharif have been postponed due to insecurity. The alleged presence of armed elements and alleged violence against women in Sakhi camp near Mazar-e-Sharif is causing particular concern.
• The situation in Kabul remains calm. The UN will strengthen its presence in the city by sending additional international staff. At least 5 NGOs have already sent international staff and re-established their presence in Kabul.

Kabul

• Electricity supply in Kabul is intermittent and large areas of the city have no power. This appears to be due to a combination of destroyed infrastructure at both main distribution points and sub-stations, as well as a lack of power generation because of low water levels. Telecoms are also intermittent. Rubbish collection points are overspilling, but for the most part the city is well kept. The unexploded bomb beneath the Kabul airport main runway remains in situ; other UXOs are being made safe as a priority.

Food Distribution

• Since 11 September, WFP has delivered approximately 70,000 tonnes of food into Afghanistan. So far in November, WFP has delivered enough food to cover the needs of 4.3 million people. WFP now has contracts with 61 NGOs to distribute 300,000 tonnes of food over the next 3 – 6 months.
• Due to insecurity, WFP has not been able to access the roads from either Herat or Spin Boldak to Kandahar. As many as 238,000 people in Kandahar Province who depend on UN food supplies can therefore not be reached. WFP also has no access to vulnerable populations in Mazar-e-Sharif and Kunduz.
• Islamic Relief UK has signed an agreement with WFP to begin distributing 230 tonnes of wheat, 23 tonnes of pulses and 9 tonnes of oil to 16,800 people living in camps around Spin Boldak in southern Afghanistan.
• WFP is preparing to begin a one-off distribution of 9,000 tonnes of food to approximately 1.1 million people in Kabul. 
• As of 25 November, more than 1,400 tonnes of food had been delivered by barge through the Termez river crossing to Hairaton on the Afghan side of the Afghan-Uzbek border; out of which 700 tonnes has been distributed to IDPs in northern Afghanistan. The Friendship Bridge remains closed.

Other Assistance

• To date, since 11 September, UNICEF has airlifted in supplies to regions bordering Afghanistan on 26 flights, and despatched relief supplies on 45 separate convoys into the country.
• In Faizabad, UNICEF is putting together a programme to offer non-formal education and recreational opportunities to children during the winter months. The programme includes literacy components, hygiene education, sports and games.
• UNHCR has begun distribution of a winterisation package (charcoal, stoves, quilts, blankets, plastic sheeting and winter clothing) to 10,000 IDPs in the provinces neighbouring Kabul.

Refugees/ Displaced Persons

• UNHCR plans to cover the needs of up to 880,000 Afghans in the region from now until the end of June 2002. This includes up to 500,000 IDPs and returnees inside Afghanistan, 300,000 new Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and up to 80,000 new Afghan refugees in Iran.
• A WFP implementing partner reports that a new pocket of several thousand IDPs has emerged in Bagdhis province in north-western Afghanistan. Preliminary information indicates that the IDPs have fled fighting in the Mazar-e-Sharif area. They are camping on open ground with little shelter or food. WFP is arranging for an immediate distribution of food to the group.
• UNHCR report that more than 1,500 people have returned to Kabul over the weekend. Some Afghans are also reported to be leaving Kabul and returning to their homes in the Shomali Plains between Kabul and the Panjshir Valley.

Pakistan

• The Pakistani authorities have halted pre-registration of new Afghan refugees at Killi Faizo nears the Chaman border crossing. Around 2,000 people are currently stuck outside the site with no shelter. UNHCR is negotiating with the Pakistani’s to persuade them to allow the Afghans to enter.
• UNHCR has so far transferred almost 9,500 people from the temporary staging camp, Killi Faizo, to nearby Roghani camp. 
• The total number of transfers from Jalozai site near Peshawar to Kotkai camp in Bajaur Agency in northwestern Pakistan now totals 3,300.

Recovery

• The joint WB/UNDP/ADB three-day conference on “Preparing for Afghanistan’s Reconstruction” began yesterday in Islamabad. 330 delegates are discussing the challenges of the immediate post-conflict recovery period in Afghanistan.

DFID RESPONSE

Our top priorities in response to the current crisis are to: help meet immediate life-saving needs within Afghanistan; support refugee needs in neighbouring countries; help host populations through programmes which benefit them; strengthen international humanitarian agency capacity and coordination; help re-establish the international community’s presence inside Afghanistan; and support the peacemaking efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary General, and encourage forward planning for Afghanistan’s post-conflict recovery.

DFID has set aside £40 million for UK humanitarian assistance to Afghans, most of which has already been allocated to UN agencies, the Red Cross movement and NGOs to support their response to the current crisis, both in Afghanistan and in the region. As well as financial assistance, we are providing technical, personnel, logistical, material and other practical support.

DFID has also set aside an additional £11 million for immediate short-term support to the poorer communities of Pakistan, especially those most directly affected by the influx of refugees from Afghanistan. On 18 October, Clare Short announced a further £15 million package to support the government of Pakistan in its continuing reforms and in its efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis for Afghans. 

CONTEXT

Even before 11 September, Afghanistan was in the grip of a severe humanitarian crisis. At least 12 of the 26 million estimated Afghan population were severely or moderately affected as a direct result of three years of drought on top of over two decades of conflict. Over 3 million people were receiving food assistance from the UN World Food Programme (WFP). Famine conditions were being reported in several districts in the western region, in the northeast and in the central highlands. Severe malnutrition among children and, in some cases, famine related deaths had also been recorded. 

Since 1997, DFID has provided over £32 million of humanitarian assistance to Afghans up to 11 September 2001. This has included help to refugees in Pakistan and Iran who have themselves been so generous to millions of refugees over many years.

CONTACT DETAILS

Back to Top

Press Enquiries: 020 7917 0600 Overseas (+44 20 7917 0600)
Public Enquiries: 0845 3004100 Overseas (+44 1355 84 3132)