The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 185 countries.
In Brief
This Bulletin (no. 02/2006) is being issued for information only, and reflects the status of the situation and information available at this time. The Federation is not seeking funding or other assistance from donors for this operation at this time.
The Situation
As of 15 November, Afghanistan has been hit with heavy rains in all regions across the country. This resulted in many provinces being hit with flash floods. Though it has stopped raining in most parts of the country, the northern and western regions of Afghanistan are the worst-hit areas and are still beset by heavy rains.
According to the local media, some 30,000 individuals have been displaced from the affected areas to neighbouring districts.
Northern region
Loqman village, located 45km east of Maimana City in Faryab province, was hit by flash floods on 17 November. The flood resulted in the deaths of six people, three injured, affected 58 families and 487 heads of livestock perished. According to surveys carried out by the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) Maimana branch, nine houses were totally destroyed, 38 houses were partially damaged, 11 houses slightly affected, 15 wells destroyed, 15 small agricultural water dams were razed, and 15 flour and wheat silos were totally destroyed.
Flash floods hit seven villages in Qoshtepa district, located 60km south-west of Jawzjan province. According to early assessment reports sent by the ARCS Jawzjan branch, two children remain missing from the village, two women were injured (rescued from drowning in the muddy water) and 66 houses were totally destroyed.
Western region
In Anardara district, located 105km west of Farah City in Herat region, 105 houses totally collapsed, 15 shops were destroyed, 12 vehicles were washed away and a 120-litre fuel tank of diesel was swept away. In Purchaman district, located 300km east of Farah City, 300 hectares of agricultural land was destroyed and 200km of road was affected, cutting the district from neighbouring cities and districts.
Eleven villages totalling more than 3,000 families (approximately 30,000 individuals) in Bala-Murghab district, located 120km east of Badghis City in Badghis province, were hit by floods on 17 November. According to the ARCS Badghis branch report, 100-150 people were swept away by the floods. Of this number, about 52 dead bodies have been taken out of the Maorghab river, two Kamaz trucks with an unknown number of passengers were missing, 3,000 houses were washed away, 5,000 hectares of cultivated lands destroyed and 2,000 livestock perished.
The Afghan government National Emergency Response Committee, headed by the country's second vice-president Karim Khalili, is the coordinating body for all humanitarian activities to the affected population in which the ARCS is a member. Several coordination meetings regarding the recent floods had taken place and the relevant departments have been active in their respective responsibilities.
Red Cross and Red Crescent action
Assessment teams consisting of the ARCS and Federation disaster management technical staff have been deployed to the affected areas in the northern and western regions and are on-going.
Shindand
An assessment team consisting of ARCS and the Federation disaster management technical staff members completed an assessment on 19 November in Shindand district of Herat province. According to the assessment results, 120 families were identified as being the most affected. The plan of action for distribution will be agreed with the provincial coordination emergency response team on 20 November.
Herat City
The joint ARCS and Federation assessment is still on-going, with some areas completed. A total of 45 families in Naw Abad district of Herat City were registered as being the most affected. The ARCS Herat branch and the Federation have dispatched non-food items to the affected families in Badghis by road. The ARCS Herat branch paid for the transportation, which cost AFS 40,000 (CHF 1,017 or USD 816).
|
ITEMS
|
Herat ARCS branch
|
Kabul ARCS branch
|
Federation
|
| Blankets |
1,200
|
2,000
|
1,300
|
| Kitchen sets |
200
|
200
|
|
| Jerry cans |
200
|
300
|
|
| Tents |
200
|
||
| Tarpaulins |
200
|
The ARCS Herat branch has deployed one emergency mobile unit on 18 November and the second unit is being equipped to be despatched to Qala-e-Naw, located 65km west of Herat City. The EMU is outfitted with one doctor, two nurses, a pharmacist, emergency equipment and medical kits.
Coordination
The National Emergency Response Committee team members, including the head of the ARCS disaster management department, are visiting the affected areas of Badghis province for the coordination of the operation.
A Movement coordination meeting, consisting of ARCS Herat branch, Federation and ICRC sub-offices, took place in Herat on 19 November to coordinate Movement intervention and support to the flood-affected areas. It was decided that a Federation emergency base will be established in Qala-e-Naw as of 20 November for the coordination of Movement operation.
In Kabul, a Movement coordination meeting took place between the ARCS deputy secretary general in relief operational affairs, the Federation disaster management manager and the ICRC cooperation delegate on 19 November to coordinate logistical support to the operation.
Close coordination with ICRC on all operational issues is in progress, particularly on security matters. The Federation is receiving support from the ICRC in disaster response.
Constraints
Security
Due to security situation and inaccessibility of road travel to Bala-Marghab district, located 120km east of Badghis City, NATO's provincial reconstruction team (PRT) together with the Afghan National Army is involved in providing support in the affected areas in Badghis province by conducting field assessments as well as despatching of food and non-food items by air.
The ICRC has advised that travelling by road to Badghis and the surrounding districts is off-limits for Federation and ICRC staff members. Hence, getting to the affected areas for assessment and operation is the biggest obstacle.
Accessibility
Due to the size of the airport in Badghis, air transport is limited only to helicopters and small aircrafts. Badghis province has difficult terrain, thus movement by road is near-impossible.
Weather condition
Heavy rain is still continuing in some parts of the country, particularly in Badghis province.
Conclusion
The Afghan government has been active in responding to the needs of the population from the start of the operation. At this stage, the launching of an emergency appeal does not seem necessary and has not been requested by the national society yet. The current non-food stock capacity of the ARCS and Federation, the participation of other humanitarian agencies, and offer of food items from the World Food Programme would be enough to assist the affected people for the time being. The delegation is closely monitoring the progress of the operation.
The International Federation undertakes activities that are aligned with its Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to achieve the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".
Global Agenda Goals:
Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.
Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.
Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.
Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.
For further information:
Afghanistan Red Crescent Society: Fatima Galaini (president); email: fatigli@yahoo.com; Mobile: +93.79.385.533
Federation country delegation in Afghanistan: Davood Pourkhanali (head of delegation); email: davood.pourkhanali@.ifrc.org; Mobile: +93.70.274.881
Federation regional delegation in India: Nina Nobel (acting head of regional delegation); email: nina.nobel@ifrc.org; Phone: +91.11.2411.1125
Federation Secretariat in Geneva: Hiroto Oyama (regional officer, Asia Pacific department); email: hiroto.oyama@ifrc.org; Phone: +41.22.730.4316; Fax: +41.22.733.0395 or Nelly Khrabraya (senior assistant); email: nelly.khrabraya@ifrc.org; Phone: +41.22.730.4306; Fax: +41.22.733.0395
All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering quality and accountable 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 http://www.ifrc.org