ReliefWeb

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Ghazni is one of the most important and central provinces of Afghanistan. The province is second grade based on the statistics of Central Statistical Office (CSO) of Afghanistan for the density of population; the province has long and rich history. Ghazni is located in 33 degree, 33 min of north latitude and in 68 degree, 25 min of the east longitude.

Ghazni city is located 145 km south from Kabul city on Kabul-Kandahar highway. Maidan Wardak and Bamyan provinces are in the north of the province while Paktia, Paktyka and Logar provinces are in the east, Zabul is in the south while Urozgan and Zabul provinces are bordering the province in the west.

The province total land is 32797 km square and in accordance of the 2000 census the total population was 965572 people.

The winter is cold in Ghazni while summer is warm, the lowest degree in the winter goes under minus 20 to 30, The Nawar area is the coldest area in which the temperature does not get over +20 degree.

The province has been distributed to eighteen districts which are: Ghazni capital, Andar, Muqur, Qara Bagh, Gilan, Waghiz, Giro, Deh Yak, Nawar, Jaghori, Malistan, Rashidan, Ab Band, Khugiani, Nawa, Jaghato, Zankhan, Ajeristan and Khwaja Omari

The residents of the province consist three big tribes including Pashtuns, Tajik and Hazara. There are several small other tribes such as Bayat, Sadat and Sikh and the majority of the residents are Pashtun.

As per assessment survey, which has been conducted by CoAR, there are 496 IDPs family (3968 individuals), which are recently displaced from Qara Bagh, Ajeristan Nawar and Waghis districts of Ghazni as well as from Uruzgan, Wardak and Daikunde provinces to Ghazni center. The major causes of displacement were military operations conducted by Afghan Security National Forces (ANSF), armed conflict between Anti Governmental Elements (AGEs) and ANSF, as well as harassment and intimidation of civilians by AGEs, which included threatening the families and tribes of those affiliated with the Government, and forcing civilians to provide them with accommodation, food and money. Other causes included, general insecurity in some districts (particularly in western region), including criminal activities such as targeted killings and kidnappings; and inter-tribal armed clashes which negatively affected the normal live of communities and contributed to general insecurity.

1.2 Assessment Objectives

The overall objective of the assessment was to identify the unmet needs of the conflict affected population in 8 villages (Hayder Abad, Shehrak, Naw Abad, Tawhead Abad, Pashtun Abad, Sahadat, Qala Meeri and Qala Shahada of Ghazni center in Ghazni Province, focusing on WASH needs of affected population (age, gender and vulnerability) in accordance with Sphere standards age markers. The specific objectives of the assessment were as follows:

• To establish a good understanding of the entire humanitarian crisis by effective consultations with affected population to grasp the context.

• To assess the emergency WASH needs of the conflict affected population of 8 villages of Ghazni center in Ghazni Province.

• To ascertain the various types of assistance provided to affected population by different actors and identify possible gaps.

• To identify most vulnerable segments of affected population according to gender, age and vulnerability and understand the challenges being faced by them.

• To provide recommendations for immediate actions needed to assist the disaster affected population of Ghazni center.