U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
CENTRAL ASIA TASK FORCE
CENTRAL ASIA REGION - Complex Emergency
Situation Report #9, Fiscal Year (FY) 2002    November 30, 2001


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

BACKGROUND

Prior to September 2001, two decades of war in Afghanistan, including a
decade-long Soviet occupation and ensuing civil strife, 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, collapsed.  Significant local and
national resources were directed to the war effort.  Severe restrictions
by the Taliban, which controlled as much as 90% of the country, including
a restriction on women working outside the home, added to the impact of
poverty, particularly on the many households lacking able-bodied adult
men.

Humanitarian prospects worsened sharply in Afghanistan in September 2001
due to developments both inside and outside the country.  Fears of a U.S.
reprisal to the attacks of September 11 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, complicating the delivery of humanitarian
assistance.  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
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**
$344,738,658

Total FY 2001/2002 USG Assistance to Tajikistan
$88,208,180



CURRENT SITUATION

Overview

Relief activities continue to adapt to the fluid security situation in
Afghanistan.  Humanitarian agencies are cautiously entering certain areas
to provide emergency assistance, including Kabul, Faizabad, Jalalabad,
Spin Buldak, and Hairaton.  The food aid pipeline resumed the rate of
delivery it had achieved before November 13, due to the use of alternative
delivery routes and the arrival of several large shipments into the
region.  Constant population movements continue to affect the planning and
implementation of relief efforts.


Political/Military

Forces aligned with the Taliban surrendered control of Kunduz to
opposition groups on November 24, and on November 27 the city was reported
to be under the control of opposition forces.  Many of the areas ceded by
the Taliban are not under clear control and are subject to insecurity.
Open conflict continues between the Taliban and opposition groups in
southern areas of Afghanistan around Kandahar.  U.N.-sponsored talks in
Bonn, Germany began on November 27 to discuss political developments in
Afghanistan with a diverse group of Afghan groups.  Between November 27
and 29 a conference on options for reconstruction in Afghanistan was held
in Islamabad, Pakistan.


Security

The security situation remains tense in most areas of Afghanistan.
Continued fighting in Kandahar and an uncertain security situation in
Kunduz prohibit relief activities from being implemented in the area.
The U.N. has not yet conducted a security assessment of Herat, however the
U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) expects
that UN international staff will be able to return to the city in the near
future.  In Mazar-e-Sharif the U.N. has withdrawn international staff
following an increase in fighting between groups in the city.  The
security situation in internally displaced person (IDP) camps around
Mazar-e-Sharif remains a concern due to the alleged presence of armed
elements.

The Taliban has ceded control of Spin Buldak, the Afghanistan town on the
Pakistan border south of Kandahar, to opposition forces.  Insecurity
remains a problem and looting of relief warehouses has been reported.
The road from Spin Buldak to Kandahar is impassable, as is the road from
Spin Buldak to Herat.  This has disrupted a primary food aid supply route
from Quetta, Pakistan to the drought-affected regions in the north and
northwest- cutting off approximately 240,000 IDPs around Kandahar from
relief access.  (See the section on "Food Aid" below for more information
on relief pipelines).  Humanitarian relief to IDPs around Spin Buldak is
also hampered due to the insecurity.

A conducive security climate in Kabul has permitted an increase in relief
presence there.  At least six non- governmental organizations (NGOs) are
operating in Kabul, as well as U.N. agencies and the United Kingdom
Department for International Development (DFID).  WFP has sent expatriate
staff to Kabul to begin planning the first general distribution to
residents.


Food Aid and Logistics

Large-scale food aid deliveries resumed on November 24, having been
dramatically reduced following recent military developments on November
13.  This increase has resulted from the opening of new transportation
routes and the arrival of food shipments to the region.  Approximately
88,680 metric tons (MT) of emergency food aid is in the region; 33,000 MT
of the estimated 51,000 MT required for the central region over the next
three months has been distributed, according to WFP.

WFP is currently using the following delivery routes:  Quetta, Pakistan to
Chaman, Pakistan; Peshawar, Pakistan to Jalalabad, Kabul and Hazarajat;
Osh, Kyrgystan to Faizabad; Termez, Uzbekistan to Hairaton and Mazar-e
Sharif; Kulyab, Kyrgystan to Faizabad; Turkmenabad, Turkmenistan to Herat,
Chaghcharan, and Hazarajat; a route from Mashhad, Iran to Herat and
Chaghcharan is expected to open soon.

Quetta.  Continued fighting around Kandahar disrupted the food pipeline
from Quetta, Pakistan through Kandahar to drought-affected areas in the
north and northwest.  Fighting in Kandahar and insecurity at Spin Buldak
has made this unfeasible since November 13.  While aid delivery continues
to reach the refugee camps at Chaman, insecurity and a ban on cross-border
humanitarian shipments by the Government of Pakistan (GOP) on November 26
limits aid access to IDP camps at Spin Buldak and prevents shipments to
the north.

With this southern corridor closed, WFP is airlifting food aid from the
warehouses in Quetta to Turkmenabad and to Osh, Kyrgystan where they will
be delivered by road to beneficiaries in the north.  A total of 1,260 MT
of aid has been airlifted to Turkmenabad, and 90 MT to Osh.

Turkmenabad.  In addition to the food airlifted from Quetta, Turkmenabad
is receiving shipments from Kazakstan and Mashhad for onward distribution
in Afghanistan.  The United States Agency for International Developments'
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) purchased 15,000
MT of wheat to be delivered from Kazakstan, the first 1,500 MT of which
arrived in Turkmenabad on November 24.  On November 27, 512 MT of wheat
from the Government of Iran and 3,552 MT of wheat purchased by the USG
departed Bandar Abbas for Turkmenabad.  A total of 19,500 MT of wheat
donated by USG is to be delivered to Turkmenabad through Bandar Abbas.

Peshawar - Kabul.  The route from Peshawar, Pakistan to Kabul has opened,
with the first convoy of 2,040 MT of relief supplies departing on November
26.  The opening of this corridor will allow WFP to conduct a one-time
general distribution to the 1.1 million residents of Kabul.  WFP has sent
a team of expatriates to Kabul to organize the distribution.

Faizabad.  The northern route from Osh, Kyrgyzstan to Faizabad remains
open, with 1,648 MT of aid delivered in the past two weeks.  An air bridge
from Kulyab, Kyrgystan to Faizabad was opened on November 23, with 176 MT
delivered by air to date.

Termez.  Movement of food from Termez, Uzbekistan to the port in Hairaton,
Afghanistan by barge has been successful?with 1,260 MT delivered to date.
Due to insecurity only 400 MT has been distributed to IDPs around
Mazar-e-Sharif.  Termez continues to receive food for onward shipment.
Barge shipments were suspended on November 27 and 28 due to security
concerns.


Regional Updates

Northern Region. UNOCHA reported that a large number of people have fled
Mazar-e-Sharif as a result of continued insecurity. WFP reported that new
pockets of several thousand IDPs have emerged in Badghis Province and are
currently without shelter or access to humanitarian assistance.

On November 27, the International Organization of Migration (IOM)
delivered a convoy of winter clothing and blankets to Andkhoy for
distribution in Faryab Province.  IOM will airlift 7,100 tents to
Turkmenistan next week for delivery in Faryab.  USAID/OFDA has funded IOM
for these and similar non-food relief deliveries.

Northeastern Region. Up to 50% of the IDPs in some areas of Badakshan and
Takhar provinces are beginning to return to their places of origin,
according to the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator.  Reports (UNHCR) indicate
that IDPs from Khoja Bahaudin and Dashti-I-Qala are returning to their
homes in Khoja Ghar district.

On November 28, UNICEF distributed 45,000 textbooks and 500,000 pieces of
stationary equipment to 10 schools in Faizabad city. The school supplies
will benefit approximately 7,500 primary school students.

Eastern Region. UNHCR reported that approximately 1,500 IDPs returned to
Kabul between November 24 and 25. Simultaneously, an undetermined number
of Afghans have left Kabul to return to their homes in the Shomali Plains,
which they abandoned during the civil war.  WFP is making preparations for
a one-time distribution of food aid to the entire population of Kabul,
intended to support the city until market mechanisms resume.  UNHCR
delivered its first convoy of relief commodities to Kabul on November 25,
including tents, blankets, plastic sheeting and jerry cans for 10,000
beneficiaries.

WFP expatriate staff returned to their office in Jalalabad, where
equipment was intact and staff were safe.  An emergency food distribution
to residents of Jalalabad took place on November 27.

Western Region. Humanitarian organizations report that the number of IDPs
in the Herat camps continues to increase with several hundred people
arriving daily from Ghor province. UNHCR reported on November 25 that
drought-affected IDPs from Ghor province continue to move to camps near
Herat at the rate of several hundred each day.  UNHCR and the Iranian Red
Crescent Society delivered non-food items to 9,000 beneficiaries at the
Herat camps on November 24.

According to WHO, acute respiratory illness is the most prevalent health
concern in Herat and surrounding IDP camps. WHO also cites a shortage of
medicines in hospitals in Herat.

Southern Region.  WFP estimates that there are 240,000 IDPs in Kandahar
province that are not receiving aid due to conflict.  The displacement
camps at the border near Spin Buldak continue to receive new IDPs.  UNHCR
reported that there is a new refugee camp at Spin Buldak with an
additional 6,900 persons.  Assistance to these groups is hindered by
insecurity near the border, which has resulted in looting at aid
warehouses.  Nevertheless, Islamic Relief is beginning a distribution of
230 MT of wheat and complementary commodities to IDPs at Spin Buldak.
This is the first distribution at Spin Buldak since October.


Current WFP Food Aid Stocks
   Location         Quantity (MT)    Beneficiaries
   Afghanistan         19,557          2,346,831
   Regional            65,306          7,836,667
   Pak EMOP             3,816            457,940
   Total               88,679

(From WFP's Afghanistan Regional Emergency Daily Situation Report 11/28)


Refugees

Pakistan.  UNHCR reports that 1,000 people are entering the Northwest
Frontier Province of Pakistan each day.

UNHCR began transferring Afghan refugees from Quetta, Pakistan to the
Mohamed Khel camp, located 85 km southwest of Quetta, on November 29. The
majority of the refugees being transferred are not officially registered.
The new arrivals at Mohamed Khel received food, tents, sleeping mats,
kerosene lamps, stoves, fuel, blankets, and jerry cans. UNHCR reports that
as many as 10,000 refugees currently living in Quetta may register to
move. As of November 29, the total population of the Mohamed Khel camp is
approximately 8,000.

On November 24, the Government of Pakistan (GOP)  ceased registration of
Afghan refugees between the ages of 20 and 40, to prevent combatants
affiliated with the Taliban from occupying Killi Faizo.  The GOP decided
on November 26 to close the border to all refugees.  The action leaves
approximately 2,000 people without assistance outside the Killi Faizo
staging area at Chaman.  UNHCR is negotiating with the GOP to have the
action reversed, according to an announcement on November 26.

UNCHR continues to coordinate the voluntary transfer of refugees from
Jalozai camp to Kotkai, located in Bajaur region, at a rate of
approximately 500 refugees per day. In the past 10 days, more than 4,900
refugees have relocated. Refugees arriving at Kotkai receive tents,
plastic sheeting, blankets, mattresses stoves, kitchen sets, jerry cans,
and soap.  According to UNHCR, Kotkai has the capacity to accommodate
12,000 refugees. In addition, camps in the Kurram region have the capacity
to address the needs of 38,000 refugees.


UNHCR Contingency Sites in Pakistan
   Location                       Capacity     Population
   Roghani/Tor Tangi (Baluch.)     40,000         4,152
   Killi Faizo (Baluch.)            1,600         3,119
   Kotkai                          12,000         4,600
   Mohamed Khel                    40,000         8,000


Iran.  Refugee returns from Iran to western Afghanistan continue at a rate
of approximately 1,000 a day, according to a UNHCR report on November 25.


Iran / IRCS IDP Sites in Afghanistan
   Location           Capacity        Population
   Makaki (Nimroz)     6,000             5,400
   Mile 46                               3,500
   Total                                 8,900



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 the USAID/OFDA, USAID/FFP, Democracy
& Governance (USAID/DG), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA),
Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
(State/PRM), 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 Cooperative for American
Relief Everywhere (CARE) for the purchase and distribution of winter wheat
seeds and fertilizer.  USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE

Personnel. USAID/OFDA currently has three Disaster Assistance Response
Teams (DART)  deployed to Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to assess
humanitarian activities and logistical capacity each area.



NEW U.S. GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES

Afghanistan. A total of 80,000 MT of food aid donated by the USG is in the
region and in route to intended beneficiaries.  This includes 15,000 MT of
wheat purchased by USAID/OFDA in Kazakhstan, valued at $6 million, that is
currently arriving at warehouses in Turkmenabad.  USAID's Office of Food
for Peace (USAID/FFP) has provided 65,000 MT of wheat, which is being
unloaded at Bandar Abbas port in Iran for various WFP warehouses in the
region.

To date, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has airdropped 2,005,620
Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs) into Afghanistan. According to DOD, the
cost of the airdrop operations, including the rations, transport, and fuel
expenses, total approximately $44 million. The previously reported total
of more than $120 million reflects the estimated total cost of the entire
four to five month airdrop operation.



USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO CENTRAL ASIA

USG AGENCY
IMPLEMENTING PARTNER
ACTIVITY
REGION
AMOUNT


FY 2002

AFGHANISTAN - COMPLEX EMERGENCY

USAID/OFDA
Airlift - Turkmenistan for IOM
20,000 blankets, 100 rolls plastic sheeting, 20 MT BP-5 High Energy
  biscuits, 1 MT sugar
$751,102

Airlift - Islambad
35,400 blankets
$312,350

Airlift - Pakistan
5 health kits
$29,4115

Airlift - Turkmenibad
5 health kits
$33,923

Airlift - Uzbekistan
350,000 wheat bags
$65,490

ACTED
Food, non-food items
Northeast
$5,500,000

ACTED
IDP camp management
Baghlan
$630,000

Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Non-Food Items for 200,000 people
Central Highlands
$988,000

Concern Worldwide
Shelter/repair 5,000 homes
Northeast
$1,203,343

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Seed multiplication, procurement, and distribution
$1,095,000

FAO
Agriculture, seed multiplication
$300,000

GOAL
Food, Shelter, Water, Sanitation, Winterization
Samangan and Jozjan Provinces
$5,500,000

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Food, non-food items
All
$2,500,000

International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Food, non-food items
Badghis, Faryab, Balkh Provinces
$562,313

International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Food, potable water, well rehabiliation
North
$3,650,000

International Resource Group (IRG)
Food Augmentation Team
$614,820

International Mercy Corps (MCI)
Food, water, non-food items
South, Central
$2,000,000

MCI
Health
Heart
$735,000

UNOCHA
Coordination
All
$2,500,000

UNICEF
Water, sanitation
All
$2,500,000

UNICEF
Nutrition, health, water, sanitation
All
$1,650,000

Save the Children (SC)/US
Nutrition
North
$206,488

SC/US
Food, health
Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif, Faryab, Sar-e-Pul
$2,000,000

World Food Program (WFP)
Food - 15,000 MT, processing, transport
$6,000,000

WFP
Purchase of trucks for food delivery
$5,000,000

WFP
Joint Logistics Center
All
$2,500,000

Total FY 2002 USAID/OFDA	 $49,230,444



USAID/FFP

WFP
72,700 MT Food commodities
$38,555,000

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



USAID/OTI

Voice of America
Radio program
All
$1,687,820

Total FY 2002 USAID/OTI	$1,687,820



STATE/PRM

ICRC
Emergency Appeal
$6,500,000

IFRC
Emergency Appeal
$5,000,000

IOM
Emergency Appeal
$2,000,000

United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
Project Management Information System
$160,000

UNOCHA
Donor Alert for Afghans Program
$2,000,000

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Special Program for Afghanistan
$600,000

WFP
Operations/Logistics Support
$4,000,000

UNHCR
Emergency Appeal
$10,000,000

UNICEF
Emergency Relief
$2,000,000

Total FY 2002 State/PRM 	$32,260,000



DOD

Airdrop of 2,005,620 Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs)
$44,397,769

Total FY 2002 DOD **	 $44,397,769
Total FY 2002 USG Assistance to Afghanistan**	 $166,131,033



TAJIKISTAN - DROUGHT

USAID/OFDA

CARE
Purchase and distribution of winter wheat for 4,500 families
$998,180

Total FY 2002 USAID/OFDA  $998,180



USAID/FFP

WFP
35,000 MT wheat flour
$20,000,000

Total FY 2002 USAID/FFP  $20,000,000
Total FY 2002 USG Assistance to Tajikistan  $20,998,180



FY 2001/ FY 2002 SUMMARY

Total USG Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan for FY 2001*
$178,607,625

Total USG Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan for FY 2002
$166,131,033

Total USG Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan for FY 2002/2001
$344,738,658

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 USG Assistance
to Tajikistan FY 2001/2002 $88,208,180

* Note: Detailed breakdowns of FY 2001 and FY 2002 assistance are
available in previous Central Asia Region Situation Reports.

** Note: DOD funding totals are estimates. The previously reported total
of more than $120 million reflects the estimated total cost of the entire
four to five month airdrop operation.



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