Severe Winter

Afghanistan is one of a number of countries in southern and central Asia that has been suffering extreme cold and snow throughout January 2008. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on January 22 that more than 300 people have died as a result throughout the country, in the most severe winter in 30 years.

In Baghlan province, hundreds of families have lost their livestock and means of income, and road access is blocked  in some areas. The new governor for Baghlan, Mr. Abdul Jabar Haqbeen, as well as the Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development (MRRD), the Ministry of Returnees and local Shura leaders have appealed for assistance to the most vulnerable people in the hardest hit villages, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in camps in Baghlan province. They have warned that the number of people requiring external assistance is likely to increase should the snow fall continue. (Source: Hungarian Interchurch Aid).

In the Hazarajat (central highlands) region of Afghanistan, the deteriorating security situation caused by both a growing Taliban presence and the onset of a harsh winter has resulted in increased numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout the area, with people leaving their communities from within Ghazni province and other neighboring provinces, such as Uruzgan. Displaced families find themselves facing food shortages and the need for heated shelter. Many are now in the center of Ghazni, which is a safer area than some of the nearby surrounding regions. (Source: Church World Service)

Amongst basic needs identified by ACT member Norwegian Church Aid working in Faryab province, there is  a shortage of fodder in the local market due to high demand and medicine for livestock.

Members of the Afghanistan ACT forum have been responding in their different operational areas.  At  the beginning of January, ACT member Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA) supported 720 families with 105 kg coal per family in the Khoja Alwan (Etehad) returnees camp near to Pul-i-Khumri, Baghlan province, in cooperation with the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ACT member Church World Service (CWS) is assisting 450 displaced families and their host families (about 3,150 persons) in Ghazni province with food packages, stoves and fuel delivered with their long-time partner, the Afghan Development Association (ADA). The packages will assist the families to live more comfortably in their shelters for a month's time during the harshest time of the Afghan winter. ACT member Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) is responding in Qaramqul, Faryab province with 100,000 USD Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs support. To date, NCA has sent 300 emergency packages, including blankets, tents, plastic sheets, jerry cans to the area, with plans to distribute food packages to 500 families the coming week.

HIA has requested $50,000 US from the ACT Rapid Response Fund to provide emergency food rations, clothing, blankets, coal, and insulating materials to 400 of the most vulnerable families (3,200 persons) in the following four camps in Baghlan Province: Shemerq returnees camp, Bande Du camp, Dani Ghuri camp and Etehad camp. HIA’s preliminary needs assessment in these camps found that most of the families are living either in tents or in adobe houses and without income to buy warm clothes, blankets, food, firewood or coal. Some of them have small cattle, but are without fodder to feed them so that there is a high risk that these key assets will be lost. In addition, when the snow starts melting, there is a risk that heavy flooding will cause further problems, as people are facing extreme hunger and illness.

HIA is working in coordination other ACT members in-country, including CWS and Norwegian Church Aid, as well as with local government authorities, other NGOs, UNAMA, ICRC and local Shura leaders.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).