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In Brief
Appeal No. 05AA045; Programme Update no. 2, Period covered: 1 April to 30 June 2005; Appeal coverage: 58.2%; Outstanding needs: CHF 2,957,872 (USD or EUR 2,450,699).
Appeal target: CHF 9,055,022 (USD 7,575,389 or EUR 5,863,397)
Related Emergency appeals: Severe winter emergency appeal 05EA003; Spring floods emergency appeal 05EA005; South Asia Regional Annual Appeal 05AA051
Programme summary:
Since the new president took office at the start of the year, the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) has been developing a clear vision for its future sustainability, profile and impact. The reporting period saw the appointment of a secretary general, separating for the first time governance from management roles.
The two emergency operations (severe winter and floods) have continued. Most of the planned activities under this appeal were also implemented. However, the two emergency operations had slowed down some disaster management (DM) activities despite colossal progress in ARCS logistics development. This indicates the need for further capacity-building. Over 160,000 people benefited from the ARCS clinics, and significant progress was made in close coordination with the ministry of public health regarding the future sustainability and locations of some of the clinics. However, funding for the health programme remained a huge challenge with a shortfall of CHF 2.3 million on the appeal budget. Further funding support for this progressive flagship health programme is, therefore, still urgently sought.
The organizational development (OD) programme also made significant progress with the revised constitution submitted to the Joint Commission in Geneva for consideration, and over 1,200 members recruited in this quarter, as opposed to only 350 in the first quarter. Plans were developed for a technical support visit from the British Red Cross in the next quarter to start planning for the restructuring of the national society and related change process. Structures and links for cooperation were established between the Federation's Marastoon (home for the under-privileged) team and the Marastoon programme department at ARCS headquarters. The Marastoon welfare activities facilitate the care of destitute people and cooperation between the five Marastoons, the ARCS headquarters and the Federation delegation.
As indicated above, funding for the Afghanistan programme remains a challenge, and it is clear that the programme continues to be adversely affected by the redirection of resources to the Asia tsunami disaster. Nevertheless, programme expenditure was on target at mid-year and core costs had been further reduced.
Operational developments
The second quarter of the year saw the continuation of floods in various parts of the country as the winter snows melted, and ongoing relief assistance to the most needy affected by the severe winter conditions in Kabul (see operations updates on Federation's website). The increased needs of many sectors of the population, caused by weather conditions, were compounded by increased violence and security incidents in many parts of the country.
As expected, due to a deteriorating security situation, the general level of humanitarian activity slowed down and there was a feeling of dissatisfaction among the public about the government's inability to deliver in terms of security or economic development. The situation of women in Afghanistan is becoming a growing concern with an increase in reported domestic and general violence against women, including specific targeting from the antigovernment elements.
The Coalition Forces continued their military operations in the southern and eastern parts of the country, and activities of the anti-government elements were seen in some new, previously relatively safe, areas. Armed and violent criminality was also seen to be on the increase. This quarter saw the kidnapping and subsequent release after several weeks of an Italian non-government organization (NGO) worker, which created a high level of concern and tension amongst the international community.
The date for the parliamentary elections remains on target for 18 September, although full funding for the election process is still being sought, and the security situation is expected to deteriorate in the run-up to and after these elections. The delegation has planned to temporarily reduce its expatriate personnel in this period. Meanwhile, as the security restrictions have remained in force, most operational areas continued to be off limits for the Federation personnel. However, the ARCS activities have proceeded as planned, with ongoing Federation support as needed.
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
In Afghanistan: Afghanistan Red Crescent Society, Fatima Gailani (President), phone: +93 79 38 55 33
In Afghanistan: Federation Delegation, Jamila Ibrohim (Head of Delegation), email; jamila.ibrohim@ifrc.org, phone: +882 168 980 2643 (sat phone) or +93 70 278 372 and +92 300 850 6861 (mobile)
In India: South Asia Regional Delegation, Robert McKerrow (Head of Regional Delegation), email: bob.mckerrow@ifrc.org, phone: +91 112 332 4203 or +91 112 332 4206, fax: +91 112 332 4235
In Geneva: Asia and Pacific Department, Jagan Chapagain (Regional Officer), email: jagan.chapagain@ifrc.org, phone: +41 22 730 4316, fax +41 22 733 0395 or Nelly Khrabraya, email: nelly.khrabraya@ifrc.org, phone: +41 22 730 4306
This Programme Update reflects activities to be implemented over a one-year period. This forms part of, and is based on, longer-term, multi-year planning). 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 http://www.ifrc.org
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