Disaster

In April, the Afghanistan Agrometerological Network (Agromet), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which was assisted by the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (CHA) and the Afghan Veterinary Association (AVA), the World Food Program (WFP), and FEWS NET conducted a rapid food security assessment all over the country. This month’s Food Security Outlook is a joint FEWS NET, WFP, FAO, and Agromet report that incorporates these findings.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• Avalanches struck villages in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan, Nuristan, and Parwan provinces during March, resulting in approximately 60 deaths and affecting hundreds of people. USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) responded to the avalanches through implementing partners, who provided emergency relief supplies, conducted rapid needs assessments, and aided the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) in coordinating response efforts.

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

• 17 people confirmed to have died as result of an avalanche in Ners Village, Wakhan district in Badakhshan, according to FOCUS and AKHS.

• One woman was injured and is in good health.

• AKHS providing medical treatment to the injured.

• Four people are reported to be still missing.

II. Situation Overview

2012 irrigated crop harvest likely to be average to above average

Key Messages

• All livelihood zones will be emerging from the lean season by May due to seasonal improvement. Demand for agriculture and construction labor will increase. Labor wages will seasonally increase. Wheat flour prices will decrease. Milk production will resume.

• Afghanistan’s 2012 irrigated wheat harvest is likely to be average to above average due to above average precipitation during 2011/12 winter.

General Assembly
Sixty-sixth session Agenda item 38
The situation in Afghanistan

Security Council
Sixty-seventh year

I. Introduction

1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 66/13 and Security Council resolution 1974 (2011), in which the Council requested me to report on developments in Afghanistan every three months.

This document provides a weekly overview of developments in Afghanistan from 06 – 12 March 2012, with hyper-links to source material highlighted in blue and underlined in the text. For more information on the topics below or other issues pertaining to events in Afghanistan, contact the members of the Afghanistan Team, or visit our website at www.cimicweb.org

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

This report is produced by OCHA Afghanistan in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 12 to 13 March 2012. The next report will be issued on or around 14 March 2012.

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

• Avalanche hits Gora Poshalla village in Mandol district in Nuristan.

• 2 people were confirmed dead as a result of the avalanche.