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Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Severe Winter Appeal No. 05EA003, Operation Update No. 1

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In Brief

Appeal No. 05EA003; Operations Update no. 1; Period covered: 21 February to 23 February, 2005; Appeal coverage: 21.1%

Appeal history:

  • Launched on 21 February, 2005 for CHF 812,000 (USD 686,330 or EUR 525,620) for three months to assist 17,542 beneficiaries.

  • Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 100,000.

  • Outstanding needs: CHF 641,000 (USD 547,785 or EUR 416,149) Related Emergency or Annual Appeals: Afghanistan Annual Appeal 05AA045

Operational Summary

This operation has been quickly initiated to assist the Afghanistan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) respond to the severe winter conditions in Kabul by providing a basic support to more than 17,000 persons whose vulnerability has been worsened by heavy snow and rain falls and temperatures reaching -16 C at night. There has been a positive response from donors/partners at the local level. ARCS is receiving support from Afghanistan traders and other private donors.

Background

Afghanistan has been suffering from extremely severe winter conditions since mid-January with heavy snowfalls, rain and bitterly cold conditions. Hundreds of people have died nationwide as a result. The Afghanistan Red Crescent has been given a major role in assisting 3,435 highly vulnerable families of internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently living in very basic conditions in Kabul. They are in the process of being relocated in three districts. While this process is continuing, many have to live in old and partially damaged buildings which offer little protection against the elements.

Operational developments

Red Cross and Red Crescent action - objectives, progress, impact

Emergency relief (food and basic non-food items)

Overall Objective: to improve the lives of IDPs and returnees in Kabul severely affected by the adverse winter weather and meet the urgent humanitarian needs of 3,435 unassisted families and strengthen the capacity of the Afghanistan Red Crescent through disaster preparedness and response.

Specific objective 1: to distribute basic food items to 3,435 families and non-food items to 1,484 families covering a three-month period and to replenish the disaster preparedness stocks used during this response.

Progress/Achievements

The registration and distribution of family cards has been completed in the three settlements where the government has decided to relocate the people previously living in tents and the process has started in the 22 temporary settlements where the target beneficiaries are located. Non-food items were distributed to 450 families on 24 February. Each family received a kit containing six blankets, two collapsible jerrycans, one kitchen set and eight square metres of plastic sheeting.

The logistics capacity of the national society is being built by providing training and coaching of ARCS staff during the whole process. The procurement process has commenced with tendering documents prepared and most of the suppliers have been identified. Non-food items already available from disaster preparedness stocks have been quickly released to allow for the rapid organisation of distribution to 2,000 families.

List of relief items released and distributed to 450 families on 24 February:

Item
Unit
Quantity
Location
Markazi Talimi
Takhnicum
Risat-e-panj
Jerry Can piece
808
168
340
300
Blanket piece
2,424
504
1020
900
Plastic Roll roll
134
28
56
50
Kitchen Set set
404
84
170
150

Impact

Impact is difficult to measure in the early days of the operation. However, the ongoing distribution of relief items will improve the basic living conditions of the target beneficiaries who are particularly vulnerable. The knowledge that they are receiving or about to receive assistance provides an important psychological boost for people who have gone many days without help. Good logistics efficiency in Kabul is aiding a rapid response, allowing for fast procurement and distribution. Given the brutal weather, time is a crucial factor. The operation is also assisting the capacity of the national society in the creation of a logistics department.

Constraints

As outlined above logistics organised with the assistance of the Federation delegation are good. However, the operation is highlighting the national society's lack of a logistics structure and appropriate financial systems.

Specific Objective 2: to construct community latrines, re habilitate existing toilets facilities for women and children and provide hygiene and preventive health education to the selected communities.

Progress/Achievements

The Federation water and sanitation local engineer has been urgently repatriated from Herat. He has carried out the preliminary assessments in the selected settlements and is in the process of drafting the preliminary plan of action with his ARCS counterpart. Emergency actions have been taken with the construction of 27 latrines, rehabilitation and upgrading of existing facilities and the ongoing construction of specific latrines for children. A garbage collection system is being implemented in order to reduce the health risks and improve the sanitation conditions.

Representatives of the communities are being identified and volunteers will be recruited in order to carry out hygiene promotion and preventive health care sessions with the targeted beneficiaries. ARCS community-based first aid (CBFA) volunteers are involved and will lead the sensitisation process. In the meantime, two medical emergency mobile units (EMU) have been deployed covering the three mentioned settlements in order to provide curative health care and to refer serious cases to hospital and clinics. More than 850 individuals have been seen by the medical teams to date.

Impact

The immediate needs are being covered in terms of hardware construction or rehabilitation and the long-term sustainable assistance is being prepared by adopting a participatory appr oach.

Constraints

The main constraint is cultural. It is difficult to bring changes in mentalities, especially when it comes to hygiene education and gender. The appropriate persons must be identified in order to convey the messages with the most effective impact.

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

In Afghanistan: Afghanistan Red Crescent Society: Fatima Gailani (Secretary General), phone: +93 702 80698 or +93 702 85222 (mobile).

In Afghanistan: Afghanistan Delegation contact (Vincent Toutain, acting Head of Delegation, email; program.kabuldel@wireless.ifrc.org , phone: +882 168 980 2643 (Sat phone) or +93 700 18727 (mobile).

In Geneva: Asia and Pacific Department, Jagan Chapagain, email: jagan.chapagain@ifrc.org , phone: +41 22 7304316, fax +41 22 733 0395

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the national society profile, please access the Federation's website at www.ifrc.org

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