Islamic Relief: Afghanistan Crisis Update - 30 January 2002

1 Present Situation
22 years of war, which destroyed the country’s infrastructure, claiming many lives, an ongoing civil conflict and a fourth year of drought have all conspired to threaten millions with famine. There are over 1 million internally displaced people within Afghanistan, 2 million refugees in Pakistan and 1.5 million in Iran. The UN has declared Afghanistan as ‘suffering from the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.’

As the new interim Administration works hard to bring stability and normality to Afghanistan the task of rebuilding and sustaining an already impoverished nation is immense.

In the shadow of the oncoming winter months, up to 8 million Afghanis face a disastrous reduction in access to shelter, food, water and health care. Prior to the present crisis, 5.5 million Afghanis were dependent on WFP food aid.

2 Islamic Relief’s action

2.1 Inside Afghanistan

Islamic Relief has three offices in Kabul, Kajaki (Helmand Province) and Kandahar that have been operational throughout the military campaign.

Despite the aerial bombardment and the current lawlessness in parts of Afghanistan, Islamic Relief’s local staff and volunteers have continued to distribute food and clothing across much of central and southern Afghanistan. WFP and the new Interim Administration have commended Islamic Relief’s efforts.

Islamic Relief’s Managing Director Dr. Hani El Banna and Afghanistan Country Representative, Sakandar Ali, completed a 2 week needs assessment trip of southern, central and northern Afghanistan. Proposals are being prepared for the rehabilitation and reconstruction phases of Islamic Relief’s operation. Dr. Hani met with Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and other Government officials to discuss Islamic Relief’s work and future plans.

Islamic Relief has implemented distributions in partnership with Cafod, WFP, Human Aid/Muslim Care, Shifa Hospital, Muhsin Al-Hadah (Dubai) & Save the Children as well as through its own programmes.

2.1.1 Summary Of Activities

2.2 Pakistan

Islamic Relief is implementing a £1m refugee assistance programme in Baluchistan funded by DFID. The programme provides shelter, quilts, kitchen sets and hygiene kits. Islamic Relief is currently preparing to transfer some of the relief items from this programme into Afghanistan.

Islamic Relief has been managing the preparation, reception and registration of a refugee staging camp in Chaman (hosting 3,860 people at a time), Pakistan. Islamic Relief has also assisted the UNHCR in the preparation, registration and reception of refugee camps in Roghani and Latifabad (hosting 3,192 people). Islamic Relief also co-ordinates the transportation of refugees from the Chaman Staging Camp to the Roghani Camp.

The Islamic Relief Emergency Response Team has begun site preparation work at the Leejay Karez Camp in Baluchistan and is currently hosting 293 families, approximately 1,758 people. As the influx of refugees continues, Islamic Relief’s team work tirelessly to cater for their needs. The camp has the capacity to host up to 10,000 refugees.

Islamic Relief has been the leading agency in the relief operations in Baluchistan, with Islamic Relief team receiving appreciation from the UNHCR, the NGO community and the media.

2.2.1 Summary of Activities

The following items were distributed to refugees in Baluchistan and Peshawar:

2.3 Agency background

Islamic Relief is an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that was established in Birmingham, UK in 1984. It seeks to promote sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities through relief and development programmes. Our programmes are either development, emergency relief or orphan support in nature. Our core geographical focus areas are Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia Hercegovina, Bangladesh, Chechnya, Gaza Strip, Mali, India, Pakistan and Sudan.

Islamic Relief has substantial experience of dealing with refugee crises as it has had a permanent presence in Sarajevo and Bosnia Hercegovina since early 1992. This includes the running of two refugee collective centres in Banovici and Vrandoq (nr Tuzla) in cooperation with the UNHCR, as well as a substantial agricultural rehabilitation programme for refugees and host families on the Croatian border (funded by EU, UNHCR, CAFOD and OXFAM). We also managed refugee camps in Shkodre, Albania (Kosova crisis). It is also, at present, supporting a large multi-sectoral programme for Chechen IDPs living in camps and with host families in Ingushetia. In Ingushetia it is implementing partnerships with UNHCR and WFP (the WFP partnership also extends into Chechnya itself). It has also been a leading agency in dealing with the displaced people in Neelum Valley, AJK as a result of the conflict between Pakistan and India over Kashmir.

2.3.1 Islamic Relief in Pakistan

IR established its office in Pakistan in 1992, set up under a license from corporate law authority under section 42 of the company’s ordinance, 1984. Since its inception the office has successfully implemented many relief and development programmes in the sectors of WATSAN, education and training, sustainable livelihoods, health and nutrition, disaster preparedness and disaster response (earthquakes, droughts, cyclones, floods) and orphans support. In 2000, Islamic Relief ran an extensive drought relief operation on Baluchistan for over 7,000 families in partnership with OXFAM and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

2.3.2 Islamic Relief in Afghanistan

Over the years, Islamic Relief has responded to a range of emergencies in Afghanistan, and in 2001 set up offices in Kandahar, Helmand and Kabul. Since April, Islamic Relief’s Afghanistan Office has been distributing food aid to some of the worst drought-affected people in Helmand Province in South Afghanistan in a food for asset creation programme.

The project had actually benefited from the lessons learnt from the drought relief operation implemented in Baluchistan a few months earlier in partnership with OXFAM. So successful was the Helmand project that Islamic Relief signed an $785,000 contract in August with the World Food Programme to distribute to a further 59,000 vulnerable people.

Prior to the WFP agreement, Islamic Relief had used Quetta as its logistical base. Suppliers of foodstuffs and transporters had all been sourced from Baluchistan for the Helmand programme.

2.3.3 Codes of Conduct

Islamic Relief is a member of the UN Economic and Social Council (special category), and is a signatory to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief. It is committed to implementing the Code of Best Practice in the Management and Support of Aid, as stated by "People in Aid". Islamic Relief always aims to meet "Sphere Standards" and to ensure all items it procures, or programmes it implements, meet UN standards. Standard tendering and procurement procedures are followed.

For more information, please contact:

Yousuf Kasujee
Emergency Relief Desk Officer
Islamic Relief
19 Rea Street South
Birmingham B5 6LB
United Kingdom
Tel: 0044 121 605 5555
E mail: yousuf@islamic-relief.org.uk

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