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 #16, Fiscal Year (FY) 2002	January 18, 2002


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

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 percent 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   200,000
   Iran       Unknown
Old Caseload Refugees (UNHCR)
   Pakistan   2,000,000
   Iran       1,500,000
Internally Displaced (UN/WFP)
   Since September 11, 2001   300,000
   Old caseload   1,000,000

Refugee Returns Since January 1, 2002 (UNHCR)
   Pakistan   25,000
   Iran       10,800

Internally Displaced Returns (UNHCR)
   To Kabul                   30,000
   To Shomali Plain            6,937
   To northeast (see text)   117,000

Total FY 2001/2002 U.S. Government (USG) Assistance to Afghanistan**
$420,412,750

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




CURRENT SITUATION

Population movements continued into and out of Afghanistan, with some
13,000 new Afghan refugees reported camped at the Afghan-Pakistan border,
while more than 35,000 Afghans have reportedly returned home.

Substantial precipitation was reported throughout Afghanistan, with heavy
rain reported in Hirat, heavy rain and snow in Mazar-e-Sharif, rain in
Kandahar, and heavy snow in Faizabad.  Limited snow was also reported in
Kabul.  Despite the precipitation, it is too early to conclude that the
drought has ended, and precipitation has come too late for most winter
planting.  Precipitation also caused serious problems, including the
collapse of 1,000 shelters for internally displaced persons (IDP) in
Hirat.  Weather impeded access, including in Ghor and Badghis, where roads
into the provinces are now reportedly partially or completely blocked by
snow.

On January 17, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell traveled to Afghanistan,
where he met with Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai in the presidential
palace in Kabul.  Powell then traveled to the U.S.  mission, where he
announced the upgrade of the U.S.  Liaison Office to a full Embassy.
POLITICAL/MILITARY As of January 16, 1,400 International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) troops were deployed inside Afghanistan, according
to the office of the Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General.


Kabul International Airport opened on January 15 for military flights, and
is expected to open for civilian flights within a few days.  The airport
will supplement Bagram Air Base as an entry point to Kabul.

UN officials warned that Afghanistan's interim government could collapse
if unable to come up with $100 million within a matter of days to pay
current and back wages to civil servants and police.  Wages were as much
as six months overdue.  The Bush Administration announced on January 14
that it would free up $221 million in Afghan government assets frozen
since 1999, and Pakistan has reportedly pledged $100 million to the new
government.  The UN Security Council also moved to lift sanctions against
Ariana, Afghanistan's national airline. SECURITY On January 17, the UN
announced that two UN World Food Program (WFP) trucks carrying 20 MT of
wheat from Turkmenistan to Baghlan were stopped at gunpoint in the Afghan
city of Aibak, Samangan Province.  The gunmen reportedly took one of the
trucks to downtown Aibak, where they distributed the food to local
residents; the second truck was taken to a nearby military unit, according
to WFP.  The drivers were unharmed, and the trucks, which were
commercially leased, were eventually returned to the transport company.
WFP reported that it has contacted interim government officials in
Mazar-e- Sharif to request that all the stolen food be returned and that
the incident is not repeated.  Officials have promised to cooperate.  The
food was intended for the NGO FOCUS for distribution in the Pul-e- Khumri
and Dahana-e-Ghori districts of Baghlan.

In Kandahar, UNHCR reported January 17 that armed Taliban and bandits are
still prowling the region.  According to UNHCR, armed men have also been
present in the IDP camps near Spin Boldak.  UNHCR reported that forces
tied to Kandahar's new governor have sought to persuade gunmen in these
camps to withdraw or disarm.


FOOD AID AND LOGISTICS

>From January 5 through 11, WFP dispatched 15,314 metric tons (MT) of food
commodities into Afghanistan, at an average rate of 2,187 MT per day.
WFP and implementing partners are making efforts to identify and serve
remote "pockets of need" that have not yet been reached by relief
agencies.  Means used to reach these populations will include helicopters,
weather permitting, as well as snowmobiles and donkeys.  WFP also reported
that two C-130 cargo planes are available to airdrop food if other access
means are not available.  Areas of greatest concern are remote villages at
higher altitudes, some near former front lines.  Areas where access was
limited over the past few months due to security concerns are a high
priority.

WFP has rented 300 donkeys to deliver food to remote villages in Zarah
District, south of Mazar-e- Sharif in Balkh.  The area includes Bonawash,
which was recently cited by media sources as a pocket of food insecurity.
According to WFP, as of January 5 1,500 MT of food had reached this
district, or enough food to feed more than 150,000 people for one month.
Food distribution in this area is now taking place.

In the Northern Region, DART/Islamabad has contacted WFP and USAID/OFDA's
primary implementing partners to discuss progress in the distribution of
food and other relief commodities.  Partners contacted were Save the
Children/US (active in Faryab, Jozjan, Balkh and Samangan), International
Rescue Committee (active in Balkh), GOAL (active in Jozjan and Samangan),
and ACTED (active in Faryab).  All partners indicated that distributions
were going relatively smoothly, with no problems in relief supply
pipelines.  WFP's chief Logistics Officer for Mazar-e-Sharif reported that
there are currently no significant problems in their operation other than
the recent hijacking in Samangan.

In Hirat, WFP reported that an ongoing citywide distribution of 2,641 MT
of food covering 53,000 families is expected to end on January 19.  The
distribution, which followed a similar program in Kabul, was aimed at
helping the urban population recover from the recent war impact, according
to WFP.  A 250-person all-female team delivered food coupons over the past
11 days to the poorest 80 percent of Hirat's population, according to WFP.

The 1.9-mile long Salang Tunnel, which was a key route between Kabul and
Northern Region cities until it was blown up in 1996, has re-opened to
vehicular traffic.  A fofrmal opening for the tunnel, located in Parwan
Province north of Kabul, is scheduled for January 19.  USAID/OFDA has
supported efforts to re-open the tunnel through a grant to ACTED.

Cross-Border Food Aid Deliveries
January 5 - January 11

Dispatch Point        MT
Turkmenabad        2,296
Peshawar           4,430
Quetta             2,781
Termez                 0
Mashad             2,212
Osh                1,290
Chabahar           1,999
Ishkashim            251
Kulyab/Dushanbe        0
Kurgan/Tyube          70

Total Cross-Border Deliveries   15,329
(From WFP 01/11/2002)



REGIONAL UPDATES

Northern Region.  In Takhar and Kunduz, the UN reported that 600,000 doses
of measles vaccines and related supplies are being prepared for
distribution.  Public health officials, as well as staff from UNICEF, the
World Health Organization (WHO), and non- governmental organizations
(NGOs), are training vaccination teams for a campaign to begin next week

According to the UN, UNICEF and implementing partners are providing winter
emergency relief supplies to the Northern Region, including shelter,
clothing, and footwear.

IOM reported that it is preparing to transport 200 IDP families (an
estimated 1,300 people) from Mazar-e-Sharif to their homes in Zarah
District.  The operation is scheduled for next week, pending a road
reconnaissance mission.  NGOs are assessing needs and distributing food in
the area of return, according to IOM.

Northeastern Region.  The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (UNOCHA)  reported on January 15 that most of the 18,000 IDP
families (estimated as 117,000 individuals) in the northeast have now
returned to their areas of origin.  Areas of return have been severely
affected, both by systematic scorched-earth tactics used by the Taliban in
1999 and 2001, and by drought.  In addition, this population is considered
highly vulnerable due to the length of time for which it was displaced.
UNOCHA reported that NGOs are conducting a multi-agency damage assessment
of houses in Takhar and Kunduz.  Initial estimates indicate that at least
10,000 houses were badly damaged or destroyed due to Taliban occupation
and conflict.

A measles vaccination campaign is ongoing in four districts of Badakhshan,
according to the UN.  Approximately 13,000 children have been vaccinated
so far, according to UNICEF.

Central Region.  In Bamiyan, the first UN plane to land since 1998 arrived
at Bamiyan City this week.  The UN is hoping hopes to resume regular
flights to Bamiyan.  Teams are on standby in the central highlands to
clear all strategic passes in the event of snow blockages, in order to
maintain access routes through the winter.  Snow clearing efforts have
allowed food deliveries to continue to Yakawlang and Balkhab.

In Kabul, WFP and the private telecommunication company Ericsson, which is
providing equipment free of charge, are establishing a mobile telephone
network for up to 5,000 users.  The network is intended as an emergency
measure in support of humanitarian workers and key Afghan government
officials. Users will be able to communicate within the city and make
international calls.  Communications within Kabul, as well as throughout
Afghanistan is very poor, representing a major constraint for relief
operations.  The initiation of mobile phone service is hoped to be a
significant step forward in addressing this problem.

Western region.  In Hirat, WHO reported that the death rate in Maslakh,
Hirat's largest IDP camp, is averaging 40 to 60 persons per week.  This
report contrasts sharply by a recent report indicating that as many as 100
people per day were dying.  Acute respiratory diseases are the principal
cause of death, according to WHO. In order to improve the accuracy of
reporting on mortality rates in Maslakh, monitors will be posted at the
camp to record official deaths.

Southern region.  USAID/OFDA implementing partner Mercy Corps has
initiated a pilot cash-for- work project in Tirin Kot district, Urozgan.
The project is currently employing 106 laborers to rehabilitate a four
kilometers stretch (including five culverts) on the road linking Tirin Kot
city with Khas, Uruzgan district.  Mercy Corps reported that the project
is going smoothly and there have been no security incidents.

Following an assessment of four districts in Helmand province, Mercy Corps
has identified a total of 8,064 IDP families.  Mercy Corps is planning to
begin relief distributions to these families, and is coordinating with
Medecins Sans Frontieres, which plans to deploy mobile clinics to the
area.

Pakistan.  An estimated 13,000 Afghans are now waiting to enter Pakistan
at the Chaman border crossing near Killi Faizo transit center.  UNHCR has
expressed increasing concern about this group.  Conditions are poor,
according to UNHCR, with many of the refugees spending their second week
in the open with little or no protection from winter conditions.  Recent
rains have worsened the situation.  UNHCR reported that it has provided
blankets, as well as food and water, to the Afghans.

On January 16, Pakistan permitted 600 of the 13,000 Afghans to enter the
country.  On January 17, UNHCR moved 2,000 refugees from the Killi Faizo
center to a new location.  UNHCR also moved 334 Afghans from Quetta to the
new Latifabad refugee camp, south of the city.  In North West Frontier
Province (NWFP), UNHCR reported that it had moved 1,265 refugees from
Jalozai to new refugee sites.  UNHCR reported that in total, it has
established twelve new camps in Pakistan's border provinces of Baluchistan
and NWFP. More than 25,000 Afghans have returned from Pakistan's
Baluchistan Province since January 1, according to UNHCR.

Iran.  According to UNHCR, there are currently 4,000 IDPs living in the
Afghan town of Zaranj near the Iranian border.  IDPs are currently
sleeping in the open and face shortages of food and water.  UNHCR reported
that it is working with other relief agencies to deliver necessary
assistance to this population.

UNHCR reported that more than 10,000 Afghan refugees have returned from
Iran in the first half of January.  More than 140,000 refugees returned
from Iran in 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
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 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 one Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART)
deployed to Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan to assess humanitarian
activities and logistical capacity in each area, and in the region as a
whole.



NEW U.S. GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES

Afghanistan

USAID/OFDA has provided $3,250,104 to the International Rescue Committee
(IRC) for medical, public health, education and self-help programs in both
camp and urban settings in Afghanistan.  In addition, USAID/OFDA provided
$2.5 million to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for food
security surveillance, water resource management, farm power, and spring
seed distribution.

USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (USAID/OTI) has provided $500,000
in funding for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)  Trust Fund,
which supports the operations and activities of the interim Afghan
administration established under the Bonn Agreement.

The State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
(State/PRM) has provided additional funding in support of the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UNOCHA UNHCR, UNICEF, and
Mercy Corps.  New funding for these programs totals $29,287,775.



USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO CENTRAL ASIA

USG AGENCY
IMPLEMENTING PARTNER
ACTIVITY
REGION
AMOUNT


AFGHANISTAN - COMPLEX EMERGENCY FY 2002

USAID/OFDA

Airlift - Turkmenistan
20,000 blankets, 100 rolls plastic sheeting, 20 MT BP-5 High Energy
  biscuits, 1 MT sugar
$743,543

Airlift - Turkmenistan
1,000 rolls of plastic sheeting for UNICEF
$403,200

Airlift - Islamabad
35,400 blankets
$312,350

Airlift - Pakistan
5 health kits
$29,415

Airlift - Turkmenabad
5 health kits
$33,923

Airlift - Uzbekistan
350,000 wheat bags

$67,000
Airlift - Turkmenistan
10,000 kitchen sets and 20,000 blankets
$473,400

Airlift - Turkmenistan
1,000 winterized tents
$167,000

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

ACTED
IDP camp management
Baghlan
$630,000

ACTED
Livelihoods, agriculture, emergency rehab
Takhar, Baghlan, Shamali, Kabul, and Faryab.
$750,000

CARE
Water/sanitation, agricultural rehabilitation, shelter
All
$3,537,035

Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Non-Food Items for 200,000 people
Central Highlands
$988,087

Church World Service
Transport of non-food items
$49,902

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

Concern Worldwide
Distribution of seeds & tools, rehabilitation of agricultural
  infrastructure, income generation activities
Badakshan, Baghlan, Takhar, Bamiyan provinces
$1,737,318

Field Support
Operational support for DARTs in
Central Asia Region
1,339,456

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

FAO
Agriculture, seed multiplication
$300,000

FAO
Security surveillance, water resource management, farm power, & spring
  seed distribution
All
$2,500,000

FOCUS / Aga Khan
Seed multiplication, water supply rehabilitation, and complementary food
  distribution
Bamiyan, Baghlan, and Balkh
$1,436,134

GOAL
Food, shelter, water, sanitation, winterization
Samangan and Jowzjan provinces
$5,500,000

GOAL
Emergency agricultural, potable water and sanitation rehabilitation, and
  shelter repair
Samangan and Jowzjan provinces
$1,000,000

International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA)
Seed multiplication, technical assistance for see procurement and regulation
All
$2,525,000

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

IOM
Distribution of charcoal for cooking and heating fuel
Hirat, Kunduz, and Faryab
$1,069,760

International Medical Corps (IMC)
Primary health care
Hirat
$735,000

IMC
Primary health care
Bamiyan, Wardak, Parwan provinces
$3,500,000

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

IRC
Medical, public health, education & self-help programs in camps and urban
  settings
Balkh, Ghor
$3,250,104

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

Mercy Corps
Food, water, non-food items
South, Central
$2,000,000

Mercy Corps
Rehabilitation of wells & agriculture infrastructure, seed multiplication
Nimroz, Helmand, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Takhar, Kunduz & Baghlan provinces
$3,000,308

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
Central and North
$2,000,000

SC/US
Spot reconstruction, cash-for-work, and medical clinic rehabilitation
Faryab, Sar-e-Pul
$3,262,312

Shelter for Life
Cash-for-work road reconstruction & emergency home repair for returning
  IDPs
Kunduz & Takhar
$1,294,550

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
$2,000,000

WFP
Logistics support equipment and services
All
$2,500,000

Total FY 2002 USAID/OFDA	 $82,116,761

USAID/FFP
WFP
Airlift from Quetta, Pakistan to Osh,
Kyrgyzstan
$2,000,000

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

Total FY 2002 USAID/FFP	$40,555,000



USAID/OTI
Voice of America
Radio program
All
$187,820

IOM
HEAR Bulletin and Radios
All
$1,500,000


UNDP

UNDP Trust Fund in support of the interim Afghan administration
All
500,000

Total FY 2002 USAID/OTI	$2,187,820




STATE/PRM
ICRC
Emergency Appeal
$13,500,000

IFRC
Emergency Appeal
$5,000,000

IOM
Emergency Appeal
$2,000,000

Mercy Corps
Operational support
$162,775

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

UNOCHA
Donor Alert for Afghans Program
$2,125,000
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Special Program for Afghanistan
$600,000


WFP
Operations/Logistics Support
$4,000,000

UNHCR
Emergency Appeal
$30,000,000

UNICEF
Emergency Relief
$4,000,000

Total FY 2002 State/PRM 	$61,547,775




DOD

Airdrop of 2,423,700 Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs)

$50,897,769

Total FY 2002 DOD **	 $50,897,769
Total FY 2002 USG Assistance to Afghanistan**	 $237,305,125


TAJIKISTAN - DROUGHT FY 2002

USAID/OFDA

CARE
Purchase and distribution of winter wheat to 36,000 people
$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*
$183,107,625

Total USG Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan for FY 2002
$237,305,125

Total USG Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan for FY 2002/2001
$420,412,750

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.  UDSA
estimates for FY2001 donations increased by approximately $4.5 million due
to unforeseen costs for transport

** 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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