Attachments
Transition of emergency appeal activities to Unified IFRC Network Country Plans
This final report outlines the actions taken by the IFRC in response to the regional population movement in Pakistan,
Iran and Tajikistan during the emergency phase of the response from the start of the first DREF operation 8 August 2021 to 31 December 2022. As outlined in this report, the situation in Afghanistan remains precarious and some activities that were foreseen under the emergency appeal operational strategy will continue in 2023, such as support to the National Societies in their continued preparedness actions as well as services provided to vulnerable people from Afghanistan in the three neighbouring countries mentioned above. Activities will include – but are not limited to – equipping local community centres, food distribution and the provision of contextualized training materials.
The continuation of these activities is already reflected in the respective 2023 IFRC Network country plans for Iran,
Pakistan and Tajikistan (the latter being included in the Central Asia multi-country plan), which show a holistic view of ongoing crisis response and longer-term programming tailored to the needs in each of the countries, as well as a Federation-wide view of the country action. Country plans aim to streamline activities under one plan, while still ensuring that the needs of those affected by the crisis are met.
Following discussion with and agreement from the relevant donor, a part of the funds received towards the emergency appeal has been transferred to enable the continuation of the aforementioned activities under the respective country plans, and to provide technical support to the National Societies in Iran, Pakistan and Tajikistan (please refer to the Financial Report in section D for further details). Subsequent reports on these activities and funds will follow the schedule of the unified plan (i.e. twice a year).
SITUATION ANALYSIS
Description of the crisis
Afghanistan faces an economic and humanitarian crisis more than one year after the change in government.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in 2023 as the country enters its third consecutive year of drought-like conditions and the second year of crippling economic decline two-thirds of Afghanistan’s population will need humanitarian assistance. The number of people in need of assistance is estimated at a record 28.3 million in 2023, up from 24.4 million in 2022 and 18.4 million in 2021. The deteriorating economy has led to sharp declines in income and rising debt. Average household debt in Afghanistan has increased sixfold in recent years from Afghan Afghani (AFN) 9,770 (101.30 CHF) in 2019 to AFN 59,492 (616.86 CHF) in 2022. Most of the needs are in urban areas with 27 out of 34 provincial capitals experiencing extreme severity, including Kabul. Women and girls are usually more impacted by humanitarian crises, and this is the case in Afghanistan, where changes in the labour market particularly affect women.
The lack of access to basic services and food insecurity is creating a growing potential caseload for cross-border movements. This situation, therefore, requires a continued focus on preparedness and response activities in the neighbouring countries, especially Iran and Pakistan.
Afghans may begin to feel that local authorities have little or a decreasing capacity to govern and deliver, and/or that the international humanitarian response is unable to maintain its aid delivery effort. Therefore, a growing number of Afghans might be seeking refuge in neighbouring countries as an option, with Iran and Pakistan being the preferred (initial) destinations.