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
Situation Report #6, Fiscal Year (FY) 2002    November 8, 2001


Note: this Situation Report updates previous Central Asia Task Force
Situation Reports and Fact Sheets.

BACKGROUND

Two decades of war in Afghanistan, including a decade-long Soviet
occupation and ensuing civil strife, have left Afghanistan impoverished
and mired in an extended humanitarian crisis.  Government infrastructure,
including the ability to deliver the most basic health, education, and
other social services, has collapsed.  Significant resources are directed
to the war effort.  Severe restrictions by the Taliban, including a
restriction on women working outside the home, have added to the impact of
poverty, particularly on the many households lacking able-bodied adult
men.  The Taliban controls about 90 percent of Afghanistan's territory.

Humanitarian prospects worsened sharply in Afghanistan in September 2001
due to developments both inside and outside the country.  Osama bin Laden,
who resides in Afghanistan under Taliban protection, is the leading
suspect in the September 11 terrorist attack against the United States.
Fears of a U.S. reprisal triggered a population exodus from major Afghan
cities, both towards other points in Afghanistan and towards the country's
borders.  The beginning of U.S. air strikes on October 7 caused additional
movement.  International staff of all relief agencies withdrew after
September 11.  Even prior to September 11, there were signs that relations
between the international community and the Taliban were worsening
significantly.  These new developments added to an existing crisis of
extensive displacement stemming from civil conflict and a debilitating
three-year drought.


Afghanistan:  Numbers Affected  (* denotes new information)


Total population (CIA Factbook)    26,813,057

Refugees Since September 11, 2001 (UNHCR)
   Pakistan   135,000*
   Iran       Unknown

Refugees Since September 2000 (UNHCR)
   Pakistan   152,000

Old Caseload Refugees (UNHCR)
   Iran       1,500,000
   Pakistan   2,000,000

Internally Displaced (U.N.)
   Since September 11, 2001     180,000
   Since 2000                 1,100,000
   Old caseload               1,000,000


Total FY 2001/2002 U.S. Government (USG) Assistance to Afghanistan
$296,283,152

Total FY 2001/2002 USG Assistance to Tajikistan
$68,208,180



CURRENT SITUATION

Overview.  Fighting between the Northern Alliance and the Taliban
continues to cause displacement and hinder humanitarian assistance
activities in Afghanistan.  Internally displaced person (IDP) and refugee
camps along the borders with Iran and Pakistan are becoming overcrowded
and tensions are rising as more Afghans stream in.  Relief agencies are
negotiating with local and national authorities to increase the capacities
of these camps.

Snows have begun falling on the Anjuman Pass, exacerbating the sense of
urgency to move sufficient quantities of humanitarian assistance into
Afghanistan before the winter months.  The World Food Program (WFP)
continues to increase its cross-border deliveries of food aid into
Afghanistan as security and logistical capacity allows. However, several
highly vulnerable districts in northern and western Afghanistan remain
inaccessible.

Political/Military.  News sources report that the anti-Taliban Northern
Alliance continues to advance toward the key city of Mazar-e-Sharif, which
lies on important supply routes to neighboring Uzbekistan.  However, the
number of districts overtaken by the Northern Alliance remains
unconfirmed.

On November 6, the Taliban Embassy in Pakistan called on the U.N. to
increase its relief efforts in Afghanistan in time for the harsh winter
season.  Several U.N. agencies responded by calling on the Taliban to
improve the security situation for relief agencies and allow them greater
access to vulnerable individuals.

Food Aid.  WFP reports that it is continually increasing its cross-border
deliveries of food aid into Afghanistan.  Shortly after the events of
September 11, WFP was able to transport only 200 metric tons (MT)  of food
aid into Afghanistan per day.  However, by the first week of November, WFP
was transporting an average of 2,400 MT per day. According to WFP, the
increased rate of transport is due to a new strategy of bypassing urban
centers and moving the food directly to areas of need.  In addition,
improved security in and around the five main transport corridors has
helped to increase the deliveries.  WFP is hopeful that it will soon be
operating at a capacity to meet the transport requirement of 52,000 MT per
month.

However, several highly vulnerable districts in northern and western
Afghanistan remain inaccessible due to continued banditry, lack of
communication, and the ongoing civil war. WFP listed districts in the
provinces of Badghis (Jawand, Qadis, Ghormash, and Tagab Alam), Ghor
(Chagcharan), Baghlan (Nahrain, Pul-e-Khumri, and Burka), Balkh
(Keshende), and Faryab (parts of Kohistan district) as inaccessible. An
estimated 500,000 people live in these areas, and WFP estimates that
27,000 MT of food is required to avert a severe food shortage by the end
of December.

Compounding the food distribution problem is the onset of winter,
particularly in mountainous areas, where 32,000 MT of additional food aid
is required over the next three to four weeks to sustain the food-insecure
population. During the first week of November, one meter of snow fell in
the Anjuman Pass leading to the Panjshir Valley. The snow has not yet
impeded truck deliveries, but WFP is working to secure trucks that can
operate in deep snow, as well as snow plows.  WFP also plans to airdrop
food using black, snow-proof bags to package the food.

Current WFP Food Aid Stocks
Location     Quantity (MT)   Beneficiaries
Afghanistan     14,916         1,789,898
Region          72,927         8,751,289

(From WFP's Afghanistan Regional Emergency Daily Situation Report 11/7)



Pakistan.  The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that
the population of the Killi Faizo staging site, near the Chaman border
crossing in Baluchistan, has reached a total of 3,000 refugees.  The
maximum capacity of the site (approximately 1,600 people) was exceeded
last week, leading Pakistani authorities to suspend registration. An
estimated 300 additional refugees were denied entry into the camp by local
authorities this week and subsequently refused to leave to go to Spin
Boldak, a Taliban-run site near the Pakistan border.  On November 5,
Pakistan authorities allowed approximately 300 women and children to
shelter in the registration tents inside the Killi Faizo staging area.
However, approximately 100 men are still waiting outside the site for
entrance. UNHCR and Pakistan officials are still negotiating formal
approval for the refugees to become part of the camp population.  On
November 8, UNHCR announced that Afghan refugees in Killi Faizo will be
transferred to the Roghani camp in Baluchistan this weekend to alleviate
overcrowding in Killi Faizo and make way for new arrivals.

UNHCR reports that the number of "invisible"  refugees that have fled to
Pakistan since September 11 has now reached 135,000.  Many of these
refugees have been living in old refugee camps in Pakistan or in cities
such as Peshawar and Quetta.  Of these new arrivals, an estimated 75,000
have entered through the North West Frontier Province and 60,000 through
the Baluchistan Province.

During the week of November 6, WFP began the airlift of more than 2,000 MT
of food from Quetta, Pakistan to Turkmenabad, Turkmenistan over a 10-day
period.  From Turkmenabad, the food will be transported via truck to
remote areas of northern Afghanistan.  USAID/Food for Peace funding is
supporting this operation.


UNHCR Contingency Sites in Pakistan
Location                       Capacity      Population
Roghani/Tor Tangi (Baluch.)     70,000
Killi Faizo (Baluch.)            1,600          3,000
Mohmand/Khyber (NWFP)           22,000



Iran.  In western Afghanistan, Makaki, a camp operated in a
Taliban-controlled area of Nimroz Province by the Iranian Red Crescent
Society (IRCS), has now reached its 6,000-person capacity, according to
UNHCR.  The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(UNOCHA) reports that an additional 3,000 IDPs are living in the open
outside the camp. After being denied entry to the camp, IDPs reportedly
blocked a road to the Iranian border in protest. UNOCHA also reports the
movement of displaced persons towards the border. Many Afghans have
expressed fears of forced round-ups by the Taliban near the border, as
well as fears of being used as human shields by Taliban forces.  Iranian
authorities are hoping to transfer some of the new arrivals to Mile 46, a
camp in a Northern Alliance-controlled portion of Nimroz.


Iran / IRCS IDP Sites in Afghanistan
Location           Capacity      Population
Makaki (Nimroz)     6,000          9,000
Mile 46                              700
Total                              9,700



Afghanistan.  The humanitarian and security situations in Afghanistan
remain precarious as fighting between Northern Alliance and Taliban forces
continue.  Consequently, UNHCR continues to be concerned about the
security of aid workers and the protection of IDPs in camps near the
borders of Iran and Pakistan.  The U.N. reports that many 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.

The U.N. is also concerned with the presence of armed fighters in the
vicinity of IDP camps.  Their presence complicates the delivery of
humanitarian assistance and the U.N. assurance that aid does not fall into
the hands of the Taliban or Northern Alliance.  There have also been
reports of the forced conscription of young IDP men, who reside in the
camp.

The humanitarian situation in Kandahar continues to deteriorate, causing
population movements from the city to rural areas. WFP reports that water,
electricity, and telecommunication service has been disrupted or cut-off
entirely.  WFP also reports that the price of one kilogram of wheat flour
rose by 80 percent in Kandahar since September 11.  The U.N. has been
unable to confirm whether their offices in Kandahar are under the control
of the Taliban.  The Taliban's seizure and return of humanitarian offices
and assets, and the forced cessation of humanitarian activities remains
inconsistent from one area to another.

During the week of November 5, UNOCHA announced the development of 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.



USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

Background

On October 4, President George W. Bush announced a $320 million assistance
program for Afghanistan.  Funding will support assistance to Afghans both
inside and outside Afghanistan's borders, with support for food and a wide
variety of other relief needs.

On October 4, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs
Christina B. Rocca redeclared a complex humanitarian disaster in
Afghanistan for FY 2002.  To date, FY 2001 and FY 2002 USG humanitarian
assistance for Afghans is provided by USAID/OFDA, USAID/FFP,
USAID/Democracy & Governance (DG), USDA, the Department of State's Bureau
of Population, Refugees, and Migration (State/PRM), the Department of
State's Department of Defense Demining Program, the Department of State's
Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (State/INL),
and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  The assistance
includes both assistance inside Afghanistan and assistance to Afghan
refugees in neighboring countries.

In Tajikistan, on October 10, 2001, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires James A.
Boughner declared a disaster due to drought, and requested funds for a
seed and fertilizer distribution program.  USAID/OFDA responded by
providing $998,180 through the U.S. Embassy to CARE for the purchase and
distribution of winter wheat seeds and fertilizer.

USAID/OFDA Assistance
Personnel
USAID/OFDA Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) personnel have
deployed to Uzbekistan to assess humanitarian activities and logistical
capacity in the area.  The DART personnel in Uzbekistan will complement
the DART in Pakistan.

In April 2001, USAID/OFDA and State/PRM deployed an assessment team to
western and northern Afghanistan, including Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif, to
assess drought and nutrition conditions in affected areas.


Airlifts and Commodities - FY 2002

Turkmenistan

Airlift to Turkmenistan - During the week of November 5, the U.S.
Department of Defense (DOD) airlifted 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.  All commodities are consigned to the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) for distribution in
Afghanistan.

Value including transport $751,102

Airlift to Turkmenistan - two chartered planes carrying 1,000 rolls of
plastic sheeting for emergency shelter arrived in Ashgabat October 18 and
were consigned to UNICEF.  Value including transport. $403,200


Pakistan

Airlift to Islamabad - On October 23, Bear McConnell, Director of the
USAID Central Asia Task Force, arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan aboard a
U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo plane carrying 20,400 blankets from USAID/OFDA
stockpiles. An additional 15,000 blankets arrived via commercial transport
October 25.  The blankets will be provided to UNHCR as a contingency for a
possible refugee influx.

Value including transport $312,350


Health Kits to Pakistan - USAID/OFDA has provided five health kits to
UNICEF in Islamabad as an in-kind contribution.  The health kits can
support a population of 10,000 for up to three months. $29,415


New Grants - FY 2002 (Afghanistan)

Catholic Relief Services - distribution of new blankets to 200,000 people,
primarily female-headed households, widows, the disabled, and IDPs, in the
Central Highlands $988,000

International Resources Group - coordination of Afghanistan Food
Augmentation Team for USAID $360,112


Grants - FY 2002 (Afghanistan)

Concern Worldwide - shelter program in northeast Afghanistan to encourage
up to 5,000 displaced families to return to their homes by repairing
looted and destroyed homes $1,203,343

U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - seed multiplication,
procurement, and distribution to drought-affected farmers throughout
Afghanistan $1,095,000

Mercy Corps - distribution of WFP food to 10,000 families, potable water
for 3,000 families, and distribution of non-food items to 10,000 families
in southern and central Afghanistan $2,000,000

WFP - purchase, transport, and bagging of 15,000 MT of wheat $6,000,000

WFP - purchase of trucks to support the delivery of food aid $5,000,000

ACTED - pre-positioning of food and non-food emergency relief items in
northeastern Afghanistan. $5,500,000

ACTED - IDP camp management and support in Baghlan $630,000

FAO - seed multiplication $300,000

GOAL - food, shelter, water/sanitation, and winterization in Samangan and
Jozjan Provinces. $5,500,000

IOM - support for distribution of food and non-food relief commodities in
Badghis, Faryab, and Balkh provinces. $562,313

International Medical Corps (IMC) - health assistance for IDPs and local
residents in Herat. $735,000

U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - nutrition surveillance, health, and
water/sanitation activities country-wide $1,650,000

Save the Children (SC)/US - nutrition surveillance in northern Afghanistan
$206,488

SC/US - food programs in Faryab and Sar-e-Pul, and emergency heating for
hospitals in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif. $2,000,000

UNOCHA - humanitarian coordination $2,500,000

UNICEF - Water and Environmental Sanitation activities $2,500,000

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)  - support for
pre-positioning and mobilization of food and non-food stocks for use
within Afghanistan in addressing the needs of 540,000 drought and war-
displaced people, as well as support for airlifts $2,500,000

WFP - support for a Joint Logistics Center and humanitarian air operations
$2,500,000


Total USAID/OFDA FY 2002	$45,226,323



Grants - FY 2002 (Tajikistan)

CARE - purchase and distribution of winter wheat seeds and fertilizer,
benefiting an estimated 4,500 drought-affected families

Total USAID/OFDA Tajikistan FY 2002 	$998,180


USAID/FFP

WFP - 72,700 MT of P.L. 480 Title II wheat and complementary commodities.

Total USAID/FFP FY 2002	$38,555,000


State/PRM
Note:  State/PRM funds listed reflect actual contributions to the listed
agencies.  Plans for funding are not included until funds have been
obligated.

New State/PRM Grants - FY 2002
ICRC - Contribution to ICRC's Revised Emergency Afghan Conflict Appeal.
$6,500,000

International Federation of the Red Cross Red Crescent (IFRC) -
Contribution to IFRC's Revised Appeal $3,000,000

IOM - Support for IOM's Appeal for Emergency Response to the Crisis in
Afghanistan $2,000,000

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) - Contribution to the Project
Management Information System in Afghanistan (ProMIS) $160,000

UNOCHA - Support for UNOCHA's Donor Alert for Afghans in Afghanistan and
in Neighboring Countries $2,000,000

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) - Support for UNFPA's Special
Program for Afghanistan and Neighboring Countries $600,000

WFP - Contribution to WFP's Special Operation/Logistics Support to
Interagency Relief Efforts and Humanitarian Assistance for the Afghan
people $4,000,000

UNHCR - Funding for UNHCR's Emergency Humanitarian Assistance Plan for
Afghans. $10,000,000

Total State/PRM FY 2002	$28,260,000



Department of Defense (DOD)

Between November 1 and November 7, DOD dropped 1,310,280 humanitarian
daily rations (HDRs), valued at $4.30 each, into Afghanistan.

Total DOD FY 2002 $5,634,204



USG ASSISTANCE - AFGHANISTAN

FY 2001
Note: detailed breakdowns of FY 2001 assistance are available in previous
Central Asia Region Situation Reports.
TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance FY 2001 $178,607,625


FY 2002
TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan FY 2002 $117,675,527

FY 2001/2002
TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan FY 2001/2002 $296,283,152

USG ASSISTANCE - TAJIKISTAN

Total USG Assistance to Tajikistan FY 2001 $67,210,000

Note:  FY 2001 USG assistance to Tajikistan included assistance through
USAID/OFDA, USAID/FFP, USDA, the Department of State, and Freedom Support
Act funds administered through a variety of agencies.

Total USAID/OFDA Assistance to Tajikistan FY 2002 $998,180
Total USG Assistance to Tajikistan FY 2001/2002 $68,208,180


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