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 #22, Fiscal Year (FY) 2002    November 7, 2001


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

Numbers Affected

- On November 6, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported
that approximately 135,000 Afghan refugees have entered Pakistan since
September 11.  Of these new arrivals, UNHCR believes that 75,000 entered
through North West Frontier Province and 60,000 entered through
Baluchistan Province. Afghanistan

- The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)
has developed a 30-day Operational Emergency Assistance Plan to enhance
NGO and U.N. agency planning for humanitarian operations in Afghanistan as
well as assistance to Afghan refugees.  The plan is designed to create a
complete picture of estimated needs inside Afghanistan; a complete picture
of which organizations are operating in what areas and sectors; an
accountability tool for monitoring performance and achievements; and a
mechanism for identifying which areas are inaccessible and why.  The plan
will be implemented on a 30-day rolling basis, with the first period
spanning November 12 through December 12, 2001.

- The World Food Program (WFP) reports that it is continually increasing
its cross-border deliveries of food aid into Afghanistan.  At the
beginning of the current crisis, WFP was transporting only 200 metric tons
(MT) of food aid into Afghanistan per day.  This figure is now up to 2,400
MT.  The increase in the rate of transport is due to a new strategy of
bypassing urban centers and moving the food directly to areas of need.
In addition, the increase is due to the utilization of five transport
corridors.  WFP is hopeful that it will soon be operating at a capacity to
meet the transport requirement of 52,000 MT per month.

- However, distribution of the food will be difficult since several highly
vulnerable districts remain inaccessible due to insecurity.  Some 27,000
MT of food is required in inaccessible areas to feed 500,000 people who
are expected to run short of food by the end of the year.  Security
conditions in these inaccessible districts (listed in Fact Sheet #21) are
deteriorating as a result of banditry, lack of communication, and the
ongoing civil war.

- In addition, distribution of the food will be difficult in the
mountainous areas of Afghanistan, where 32,000 MT of additional food aid
is required over the next three to four weeks to sustain the food-insecure
population for the winter.  To date, only 7,000 MT of food aid has been
delivered to the area.

- To reach the above target, WFP is working to secure trucks that can
operate in the deep snow.  Furthermore, WFP is planning an airdrop of food
in snow-bound areas of northern Afghanistan as a compliment to overland
delivery.  WFP will use black, snow-proof bags to package the food.  WFP
plans to establish a base camp at the tip of the Anjuman Pass to
coordinate assistance to the area.

- The U.N. reports that many internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the
eastern and central regions of Afghanistan are able to find shelter on
their own, alleviating some of the burden on humanitarian agencies.  This
resourcefulness is particularly important given the steady increase in the
number of IDPs.

- The U.N. reports that the Taliban's seizure and return of humanitarian
offices and assets and forced cessation of humanitarian activities remains
inconsistent from one area to another.

- UNHCR remains concerned about the security of aid workers and the
protection of IDPs in camps near the borders of Iran and Pakistan.  The
presence of armed fighters in the vicinity of IDP camps complicates the
delivery of humanitarian assistance, and the assurance that aid does not
fall into the hands of the Taliban or Northern Alliance.  The conscription
of young IDP men, who reside in the camps, also concerns UNHCR.

- The second round of national immunization days to vaccinate children
against polio began on November 6, and will continue through November 8.
Cases of malaria are reported in the provinces of Baghlan, Faryab,
Laghman, and Nangahar.  The World Health Organization is moving additional
supplies of malaria prophylaxis into Afghanistan to combat the disease.

- UNOCHA reports that a mine action NGO is providing emergency mine
awareness training to people in the Herat area.  According to UNOCHA, the
U.N. Demining Program has had 100 vehicles stolen from its office in
Afghanistan, complicating mine-related activities throughout the country.


Pakistan

- WFP announced on November 7 that two Ilyushin cargo aircraft will
airlift more than 2,000 MT of food from northern Pakistan to Turkmenabad,
Turkmenistan over a 10-day period.  From this location, the food will be
transported via truck to remote areas of northern Afghanistan.  One of the
aircraft began transporting food yesterday; the other will begin today.
USAID/Food for Peace funding is supporting this operation.

- On November 5, Pakistani authorities allowed approximately 300 women and
children to shelter in the registration tents inside the Killi Faizo
staging area, near the Chaman border crossing in Baluchistan.
Approximately 100 men are waiting outside the site for entrance. UNHCR and
Pakistani officials are still negotiating formal approval for the refugees
to become part of the camp population.  The maximum capacity of the site
(approximately 1,600 people) was exceeded last week, leading Pakistani
authorities to suspend registration on November 2, and send new arrivals
back across the border to Spin Boldak.

- Afghan refugees in Killi Faizo will be transferred to Roghani camp in
Baluchistan soon to alleviate overcrowding in Killi Faizo and make way for
new arrivals.  The current population of Killi Faizo exceeds 2,400 people.

- With the exception of the Killi Faizo site, most refugees are housed in
203 old refugee camps or in private houses with relatives in Peshawar and
Quetta.  A smaller number of refugees are located in Karachi and
Islamabad.

- UNHCR reports that the number of "invisible" refugees is increasing, and
that identification of them and delivery of assistance to them is becoming
more problematic.


Region

- Shelter Now International-U.S. reports logistical delays in transporting
relief supplies through the Tajikistan/Afghanistan border.  UNOCHA is
aware of the situation and is working with the Government of Tajikistan to
resolve the issue.


U.S. Government Activities

New Actions

- From November 6-8, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) will airlift the
following USAID/OFDA commodities from Pisa, Italy to Ashgabat,
Turkmenistan aboard C-17 aircraft:  20,000 wool blankets, 100 rolls of
plastic sheeting, 200 MT of BP-5 High Energy Biscuits, and 1 MT of sugar.
The commodities, valued at $751,102, will be consigned to the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) for distribution in
Afghanistan.

- USAID/Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) members in Uzbekistan are
conducting a logistical assessment of Termez in coordination with the U.N.
and NGOs working in the area.

- To date, DOD has airdropped 1,275,840 Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs),
valued at $5,486,112, 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.


FY 2002 USG Assistance to Afghanistan

Total USAID/OFDA	$44,866,211
Total USAID/FFP 	$38,555,000
Total State/PRM	$28,260,000
Total DOD	$5,486,112
TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance FY 2002	$117,167,323

TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance FY 2001	$178,607,625

Note: detailed breakdowns of FY 2001 assistance are available in previous
Central Asia Region Situation Reports.

TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan FY 2001/2002	$295,774,948

USG Assistance to Tajikistan
Total USG Assistance to Tajikistan FY 2001	$67,210,000
Total USAID/OFDA Assistance to Tajikistan FY 2002	 $998,180


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