Afghanistan: Earthquake - Apr 2009

REPORT SUMMARY

This report offers international agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the U.S. government, the media, and the public an overview of the humanitarian and development assistance being provided to the people of Afghanistan by InterAction member agencies.

The 22 member organizations that submitted information for this report are conducting relief and development operations in Afghanistan.

This report covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2009.

In brief

Programme purpose:

- Improve the health status of vulnerable people in targeted areas.

- Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.

- Promote respect for diversity and human dignity, and reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion.

- Enhance the service delivery capacity of Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) at all levels.

Programme(s) summary:

The major activities during the reporting period include the following:

Disaster management: The ARCS …

OCHA: It's a real privilege to be here to present the collective efforts of the humanitarian community which consists of course of appropriate government agencies, the UN agencies and programmes and NGOs, whether international or national NGOs

I'd like to start by posing some significant figures to show the scope of work that we have to deal with.

There are about 400,000 Afghans who are seriously affected by natural disasters.

JALALABAD, 3 December 2009 (IRIN) - Dozens of families who lost their homes after earthquakes in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar in April 2009 have moved to an informal settlement for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and called for urgent assistance.

Two earthquakes measuring 5.5 and 5.1 on the Richter scale rocked Sherzad and Hesarak districts in Nangarhar Province on 16-17 April, killing 22 people, injuring 59 and destroying 290 houses; 300-600 livestock were also lost and 650 families made homeless, according to the

Executive summary

Afghanistan has experienced three decades of internal conflict which has seriously affected its socio-economical infrastructure, causing wide scale displacement of people both within and outside the country accompanied by widespread poverty. The cumulative impacts of the conflict and its aftermath have deprived many people access to basic facilities like water, electricity and basic health care.

Sixty-fourth session
Item 72 (a) of the provisional agenda
Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and
disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including
special economic assistance: strengthening of the coordination

General Assembly
Sixty-fourth session
Item 72 (a) of the provisional agenda
Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and
disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including
special economic assistance: strengthening of the coordination

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Under-reported by the media and thus less known to the outside world, Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis is currently defined by some of the following statistics:

- There are 235,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Afghanistan and 2.6 million registered Afghan refugees in the region;

- An estimated 7.4 million people (31% of the population) are food-insecure, of whom 5.8 million are in rural areas and 1.6 million in urban areas;

- 400,000 Afghans are seriously affected by natural disasters each year;

This report covers the period 1 January to 30 June 2009.

In brief

Programme purpose: As outlined in the 2009-10 plan, the aim of the International Federation South Asia regional office is to increase the capacity of the South Asian national societies to provide services that improve the lives of vulnerable people.

Programme(s) summary: The first half of 2009 saw the finalising of some of the disaster risk reduction (DRR) work started in 2008.

By Gerry J. Gilmore

Afghanistan is one of the ICRC's biggest operations worldwide, with 96 delegates and around 1,255 national staff working at the delegation in Kabul, five sub-delegations and six offices around the country.

Humanitarian situation

The protection of health care services and medical personnel during conflict is one of the ICRC's most pressing concerns in Afghanistan. This, and the protection of the civilian population, are among the delegation's main operational priorities.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Earthquake Relief Efforts Help Shirzad Residents: The April 17 earthquakes in Shirzad District, Nangarhar Province killed more than an estimated 21 people and left countless others injured or homeless. USAID is currently constructing a road through the affected area and is committed to improving the lives of Afghans living nearby.

To help the residents of two earthquake-damaged villages along the road, Toto and Ashpan, USAID organized a distribution of blankets, school kits, and infant care supplies.

The earthquake on April 17 in southeast Afghanistan has left hundreds of families homeless, with nearly all the homes in 5 villages totally destroyed. Operation Mercy Afghanistan has carefully coordinated with a small team of locals to assess needs in the earthquake zone. Upon confirming with local government bodies and other international organizations, we hope to distribute 200 high-quality tents to families that are still without shelter. The area is a sensitive, troubled zone and wisdom is needed for the distribution.

Your gift can help shelter a needy Afghan family.

Afghanistan is one of the ICRC's biggest operations worldwide, with 109 delegates and around 1,270 national staff working at the organization's delegation in Kabul and in five sub-delegations and six offices countrywide.

Humanitarian situation

April was another volatile month.

IP/09/705

Brussels, 6 May 2009 - The European Commission has allocated €35 million in humanitarian aid to assist vulnerable people most affected by armed conflict and natural disasters in Afghanistan. Beneficiaries also include Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran.

United Nations agencies and their partners are assisting the Government of Afghanistan in responding to flash floods, landslides and earthquakes which have struck various parts of the country in recent days, killing at least 15 people and leaving thousands homeless.

The disasters have also damaged thousands of homes and killed hundreds of livestock, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

At least 15 people lost their lives and over a dozen of others were injured by floods in Herat, Badakhshan, Parwan, Faryab and Takhar provinces.

Key Points

- Ongoing flooding in North, Northeast, and West

- Earthquake in Nangarhar province

- New ISAF policy on white vehicles

- Potential ethnic conflict in Central Highlands region

- Civilian casualties lowest since January 2008

I. Humanitarian Overview

Access

Access restrictions continue to affect humanitarian operations; in a number of provinces delivery of assistance is limited to local partners or the government. Recorded instances of kidnapping or intimidation of national staff of humanitarian agencies increased in April.

KABUL, 29 April 2009 (IRIN) - Flash floods, landslides and earthquakes in different parts of Afghanistan in the last 10 days or so have damaged thousands of houses, killed hundreds of livestock and made thousands homeless, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said.

At least 15 people lost their lives and over a dozen of others were injured by floods in Herat, Badakhshan, Parwan, Faryab and Takhar provinces over the past two weeks, according to the Afghanistan National Disasters Management Authority (ANDMA).

"In Balkh Province [northern …

UNAMA [translated from Dari]: Good morning everyone and welcome to today's press conference. I am Nilab Mobarez from UNAMA's Strategic Communication and Spokespersons Unit. Today's guest speakers are Wael Haj-Ibrahim, Head of Office for the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan and Sheilagh Henry, OCHA Field Coordinator. They will update you on the current humanitarian situation in the country. After their opening remarks, we'll take your questions.

By Homayon Khoram, UNAMA

While many farmers are happy with the spring rains this year which should result in good harvests, many Afghans have suffered heavily from floods caused by the recent heavy rainfall.

Thousand of families have become victims of flooding over the past ten days in the north, north-east and western parts of Afghanistan, while an earthquake in the east of the country killed 22 people, wounded 59 and destroyed 290 houses.

2,013 families in 61 villages have suffered from floods in the western province of Herat alone.

"In the north, damage was …