Afghanistan: Ghazni Armed Clashes, Flash Update No. 3 (21 November 2018)

Situation overview

Non-State Armed Groups (NSAG) attacked Jaghuri district’s Baba area in Ghazni province on 19 November, but since then there have been no further attacks. In Malistan district, the NSAG have withdrawn their fighters, but some small groups were observed in Hutqul (Jaghuri) and Zardak (Malistan).

Reports received suggested that many residents of Malistan and Jaghuri have been traumatized by the violence and insecurity, and fear the return of NSAG to their areas. Hence, population movement may be anticipated in the coming days until the security situation improves in both districts.

Cumulatively, the unverified figures of IDP families in Bamyan Center rose from 930 families (6,510 individuals) to 1,208 families (8,456 individuals). In Ghazni, the number of registered and unverified IDPs by Department of Refugees and Returnees (DoRR) stands at 2,511 families (17,577 people) as of 20 November 2018. In Kabul, the number of reported and unverified IDP families stood at 1,066 families (7 462 individuals). So far, 123 families (861 individuals) out of 642 families (4,494 individuals) have been verified as vulnerable and in need of humanitarian assistance. The number of IDP families in need in Kabul only account for 19.2 per cent of the assessed and initially reported IDPs.

Meanwhile, there is a new trend of IDPs moving from Malistan/Jaghuri to Kabul then to Bamyan. On the other hand, those displaced within Jaghuri and Malistan are estimated to be around 500 and 600 families respectively, with food and NFIs reported as their immediate needs.

Humanitarian Impact

These new IDPs in Ghazni are in addition to a recent caseload of IDPs that were affected by conflict in August 2018 within Ghazni. The harsh winter conditions make it challenging for the IDPs to cope and meet their immediate needs. There are concerns of potentially increasing cases of respiratory tract diseases amongst the new IDPs, especially children.