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 #19, Fiscal Year (FY) 2002    February 8, 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.

After September 11, 2001, fears of a reprisal to terrorist attacks against
the United States triggered population movements in Afghanistan, as well
as a complete exodus of international relief staff, greatly complicating
humanitarian assistance.  Nonetheless, assistance programs continued even
after October 7, when the U.S.-led campaign against the Taliban and Al
Qaeda began.  The Taliban began to collapse in November, abandoning
Mazar-e-Sharif on November 9, Kabul on November 13, and finally their
Kandahar stronghold on December 7.  The new Afghan Interim Administration
(AIA) was sworn in on December 22.  The demise of the Taliban has allowed
increased humanitarian access to Afghanistan; relief agencies have
re-established operations within the country, and from December 30 -
January 7, 2002, USAID/DART Islamabad made the first of an ongoing series
of trips into Kabul to assess the situation and meet with implementing
partners.

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   84,000
   Iran       20,000

Internally Displaced Returns (UNHCR)
   To Kabul            30,000
   To Shomali Plain     8,300
   To northeast       117,000


Total FY 2001/2002 U.S. Government (USG) Assistance to Afghanistan**
$422,383,113

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



CURRENT SITUATION

Overview.  Factional tensions have continued in eastern Afghanistan,
without further fighting to date, but appear to have lessened in
Mazar-e-Sharif.  Relief agencies are working to bring additional food into
the northeast.  U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan C. Crocker and USAID
Reconstruction Coordinator Jim Kunder traveled to Bamiyan, where they
observed considerable damage.

Political/Military. Tensions have continued in parts of eastern
Afghanistan.  Paktia, which had experienced inter-factional fighting at
the end of January, remained calm, but the forces of the warlord
controlling the city of Gardez continued to refuse to recognize the
authority of the AIA- appointed governor of the province.  A similar
situation in which a local council does not recognize the AIA-appointed
governor is reportedly occurring in neighboring Khost, but fighting has
not broken out.

Meanwhile, in northern Afghanistan, a BBC News report indicated that a
major outbreak of fighting in Mazar-e-Sharif was averted last week after
U.N.  intermediaries intervened.  Forces loyal to two rival warlords,
Uzbek General Dostum and Tajik General Atta, reportedly mobilized an
estimated 1,000 troops each to march on the city.  Following U.N.-led
mediation, the groups agreed to hand over control of Mazar-e-Sharif to a
new security council, which will include a multi-factional security force.
A third group, the ethnic Hazara Hezb-e-Wahdat, was also involved in the
talks.  All heavy weaponry is to be withdrawn from the city under the
agreement.

Security.  According to the U.N. World Food Program (WFP), the security
situation in Kabul City is generally calm; however, other reports indicate
that there have been at least two abduction attempts in the capital in the
last week.  The Kabul-Jalalabad road is open and no security incidents
have been reported.  The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (UNOCHA) reported February 6 that three provinces of the Eastern
Region - Paktia, Khost and Paktika - remain off-limits for humanitarian
workers due to insecurity.  Elsewhere, the road from Kandahar to Herat and
the road from Herat to Bamiyan remain off limits due to security concerns.

Food Aid and Logistics.  In Afghanistan's northern province of Balkh, WFP
is now conducting a citywide distribution of 2,500 metric tons (MT) of
food to 53,000 families (roughly 344,500 people).  In the southern part of
the province, security concerns in Sholgara and Keshende districts have
delayed food distributions.  WFP is investigating reports of villagers
demanding food and blocking the road in Charkent district, also in Balkh.

In the northeast, relief agencies are working to allay concerns about
inadequate food aid stocks and transport in the region.  A convoy of food
aid from Emercom, the Russian emergency affairs ministry, arrived in
Faizabad on January 25 with 25 MT of wheat.  WFP reported that an
additional 17 MT was delivered by air on January 31.  WFP plans to airlift
an additional 400 MT this week.  WFP reported that during the week of
January 26 – February 1, NGO partners distributed 553 MT of wheat flour in
the Northeastern Region.  USAID/DART/Islamabad reported that following
reports of malnutrition in Takhar Province, International Medical Corps
(IMC)  will conduct nutritional assessments of a random sample of the
province's children.

According to USAID/DART/Islamabad, WFP reported that in terms of actual
food distributions during the month of January, its partners provided
55,413 MT of food to its beneficiary population of 6.5 million people.
This compares to distribution figures of 23,767 MT in October, 41,746 MT
in November, and 100,173 MT in December.

Two WFP helicopters that had been expected to arrive in Mazar-e-Sharif
this week to participate in rapid emergency assessments were delayed due
to inclement weather.  Inclement weather also led to an avalanche at the
Salang Tunnel, north of Kabul, which has killed at least four people and
trapped an unknown number of others inside the tunnel or under snow.
Rescue efforts are under way but have been impeded by weather conditions.

During the week of January 26 - February 1, WFP dispatched 12,712 MT of
wheat and mixed commodities into Afghanistan.

Cross-Border Food Aid Deliveries
January 26 - February 1

Dispatch Point      MT
Turkmenabad      4,441
Peshawar         2,854
Quetta           1,803
Termez           3,046
Mashad               0
Osh                  0
Chabahar             0
Ishkashim          552
Kulyab/Dushanbe      0
Kurgan/Tyube        17

Total Cross-Border Deliveries   12,712
(From WFP 2/1/2002)


IDPs and Refugees.  A joint WFP/U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) survey of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the former Soviet
Embassy compound has reduced the estimated number of IDPs there from 5,000
to 2,490.  IDPs, many of whom are believed to be from the Shomali Plain
area, expressed a desire to return to their homes, although most said they
prefer to wait until spring.  WFP completed a food distribution to these
IDPs on February 5.

In Herat, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) plans to
re-register IDPs in Maslakh Camp.  According to UNOCHA, although some
population estimates go as high as 350,000, an informal shelter survey
conducted in December indicated that 141,000 was a more realistic figure.
When registration is complete, Maslakh will be closed to new arrivals, who
will then be directed to a new site.

According to UNHCR, more than 105,000 Afghan refugees spontaneously
returned home from Pakistan and Iran during January 2002, including 50,000
via Torkham border crossing at the Khyber Pass from Pakistan's North West
Frontier Province, and 34,000 via Chaman in Baluchistan; and from Iran,
20,000 via the Dogharoun-Islam Qala crossing.

Afghans continue to travel in the opposite direction as well, according to
UNHCR.  As of February 4, there were an estimated 7,500 people waiting to
enter Pakistan at the Chaman border crossing near Quetta.

Central Region.  The NGO Solidarites has completed an initial assessment
in Bamiyan Province to determine the number of dwellings either damaged or
destroyed by the Taliban.  Solidarites looked at 6,000 houses in total and
is now categorizing the houses as to the level of repairs required.  In
cooperation with UNCHS/Habitat, Solidarites plans to assist approximately
2,000 - 2,500 families to rehabilitate one room of their damaged
residences.

Also in Bamiyan, the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) is
rehabilitating the city's hospital.  ICRC reported that an ICRC team
performed the hospital's first surgical operation in three years on
January 27, when they amputated the leg of a woman who had stepped on a
land mine.  According to ICRC, the operating theater is now completely
fitted with the latest medical equipment and supplies; the hospital had
previously been looted and abandoned.  As a next step, ICRC plans to train
the hospital's Afghan surgeon and his team in use of the new equipment.

In Kabul, concern is growing about the effects of soaring rents and
unregulated salaries on local relief agencies.  In response, the Agency
Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR), a consortium of local NGOs,
is working with the AIA to establish policies to inhibit inflation in the
cost of these goods and services.

Eastern Region.  U.N. international staff have returned to Kunar and
Laghman Provinces, and are now providing assistance in these areas, which
reportedly host significant numbers of IDPs in need of non-food emergency
support.

Health.  UNICEF reported February 5 that more than one million children
were vaccinated for measles in Afghanistan in January, as part of an
ongoing campaign that has vaccinated more than 2.3 million children
against measles since July 2001.  USAID/OFDA is supporting the effort as
part of its $1.6 million grant to UNICEF for nutrition, health, and
water/sanitation activities (see "USG Humanitarian Assistance," below.)



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.

New USG Activities.  On February 7, U.S.  Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan
C. Crocker and USAID Reconstruction Representative Jim Kunder traveled to
Bamiyan to briefly assess the area and meet with political leaders. The
team observed extensive infrastructure damage, as well as continuing
effects of drought.  The team was able to visit the ICRC hospital project,
described above.


USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE

Grants.  USAID/OFDA is providing $1,739,115 to Solidarites for
rehabilitation and agricultural revitalization activities for vulnerable
people in north and central Afghanistan.

Personnel.  USAID/OFDA currently has one Disaster Assistance Response Team
(DART)  deployed to Pakistan and Turkmenistan to assess humanitarian
activities and logistical capacity in each area, and in the region as a
whole.  USAID/DART members are traveling into Kabul to coordinate with the
humanitarian relief community and assess the humanitarian situation.




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
Herat, Kunduz, and Faryab
$1,069,760

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

IMC
Primary health care
Bamiyan,
Wardak, Parwan
$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
$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

Solidarites
Rehabilitation, agricultural revitalization
Balkh, Bamiyan, Samangan
$1,739,115

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	 $83,855,876



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

IRC
Operational Support
$231,248

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   $61,779,023



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**   $239,275,488



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
$239,275,488

Total USG Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan for FY 2002/2001
$422,383,113

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.  USDA estimates for FY
2001 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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