U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
CENTRAL ASIA TASK FORCE
CENTRAL ASIA REGION - Complex Emergency
Fact Sheet #11 (FY02)    October 18, 2001


Note: this Fact Sheet updates previously released Central Asia Region
Fact Sheets and Situation Reports.

Numbers Affected

- According to recent UNHCR estimates, 63,500 refugees have crossed the
Afghan border into Pakistan since September 11.


Afghanistan

- Taliban fighters in Mazar-e Sharif launched a counteroffensive against
Northern Alliance forces that had reached the outskirts of the city in
hopes of capturing it.  Press reports indicate that the Taliban brought in
1,000 fighters and heavy artillery and attacked Northern Alliance
strongholds a few miles outside of the city.

- Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) suspended its programs in six Afghan
provinces after its compounds in Mazar-e Sharif and Kandahar were looted
this week.  MSF provides medical and nutritional aid to the Afghan
population. 

- According to a BBC report, the International Organization for
Migration's (IOM) office and warehouses in Kunduz were occupied by the
Taliban.  The warehouse contains 6,000 blankets and thousands of shoes and
sweaters for children.  Earlier in the week, IOM's office in
Mazar-e-Sharif was looted and its staff robbed and beaten.

- The World Food Program (WFP) regained control of its warehouse in Kabul
after the Taliban seized it on October 16.  WFP has urged the Taliban to
return control of its Kandahar warehouse, also seized on October 16.


Pakistan

- UNHCR reported a surge of 3,500 refugees crossing into Pakistan on
October 19, primarily through the Chaman border crossing.  Another 2,000
refugees are reportedly stranded at Chaman.  According to UNHCR, the large
influx occurred after heavy bombing in Kandahar.  UNHCR is seeking
permission from Pakistani authorities to provide food and water for the
new arrivals.

- A UNHCR airlift arrived in Quetta with more than 10,000 blankets and
some 6,200 plastic tarpaulins.

- UNHCR reported that preparations are nearly complete on the first camp
site at Malkana near Shalman in North West Frontier Province.  Water for
up to 30,000 people at Shalman will be tankered from the Kabul River.

- Some 2,300 people are reportedly living in miserable conditions after
establishing themselves in a new part of the Jalozai camp site near
Peshawar.


Region

- The Government of Uzbekistan agreed to open its border for the transport
of humanitarian aid, though it has not yet set a date for the opening.  On
October 18, a U.N. convoy with 40 MTs of relief supplies departed Tashkent
for the border city of Termez, according to a New York Times article.

- The International Commmitte of the Red Cross (ICRC) is positioning
relief supplies along routes running through Pakistan, Tajikistan, Iran,
and Turkmenistan.  Supplies include 9,500 MTs of food, as well as
blankets, tarpaulins, jerry cans, and pressure cookers.


U.S. Government Activities

New Actions

As of October 17, the Department of Defense (DOD) had airdropped 454,000
Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs) valued at $1,952,200 into Afghanistan.


Disaster Declarations & Background

- On October 4, 2001, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs
Christina B. Rocca redeclared a complex humanitarian disaster for
Afghanistan for FY 2002.

- On October 10, 2001, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires James A. Boughner declared a
disaster for Tajikistan due to drought.


Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 USG Assistance to Afghanistan
Total USAID/OFDA   $12,599,441
Total USAID/FFP    $31,200,000
Total USAID/DG     $   450,000
Total USDA         $99,800,000
Total State/PRM    $29,828,659
Total State/HDP    $ 2,800,000
Total State/INL    $ 1,500,000
Total CDC          $   569,525
TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance FY 2001     $178,747,625

FY 2002 USG Assistance to Afghanistan
Total USAID/OFDA   $26,954,103
Total DOD          $ 1,952,200

TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance FY 2002       $28,906,303


TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan FY 2001/2002  
$207,653,928


FY 2002 USG Assistance to Tajikistan

Total USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance to Tajikistan FY 2002   $998,180


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