Countrywide Conflict Displacement
From 1 January to 22 February, a total of 20,614 displaced people have been recorded in OCHA’s Displacement Tracking System (DTS). The provinces sheltering the highest number of displaced families are Kunduz with 10,815 IDPs, followed by Farah with more than 2,000 displaced people.
Central Region: Some 4,500 people have been displaced within Wardak Province and to the provincial capital Maydan Shahr according to initial reports due to insecurity and clashes between members of an NSAG and a pro-Government militia. Teams were dispatched to assess the situation and humanitarian needs of the displaced families. Local authorities expect further displacements in the coming weeks in the area.
Northern/North Eastern: No significant displacements have been signalled from the two regions during the reporting period. The North Eastern region currently hosts 13,440 IDPs, the highest number in any region of the country.
Eastern: Authorities in Kunar reported that 1,428 people were displaced within the province. The displacements were triggered by threats and intimidation by members of NSAGs.
Southern/South Eastern: No significant displacements have been reported from the southern region.
Western: Nearly 250 people were reportedly displaced to Qalae-Naw, Badghis Province, from Balamurghab, Muqur, Abkamari, Qadis and Jawand districts due to conflict. More than 400 people reportedly were displaced to Chaghcharan City, Ghor, from Taywara, Dawlatyar, Shahrak, Tolak, Charsadra, Chaghcharan, DoLayna and Pasaband districts due to the ongoing dry spell.
Natural Disasters
Heavy rains in and around Kandahar City damaged or destroyed more than 100 houses, according to the findings of an inter-agency assessment mission. According to unconfirmed reports, flash floods caused damages in Spinboldak and Panjwayi districts, Kandahar.
Returns to Afghanistan
From 25 February to 3 March, 481 people returned spontaneously from Pakistan to Afghanistan and 2 were deported, according to IOM. In the same week, 5,105 people returned from Iran and 9,510 were deported. In total, 15,101 Afghans have arrived in Afghanistan since the beginning of the year.
Ongoing Response Activities (please also see page 2)
During the past week, more than 50,000 displaced people, returnees, refugees and host families received some form of humanitarian assistance across the country.
CR: In Khost Province, WFP distributed food to more than 16,000 Pakistani refugees in Matun (Khost), Gurbaz, Shamal, Tani and Spera districts. To fill nutrition gaps in Daykundi Province, WFP dispatched 185 metric tons of food including ready-use supplementary food to Nili. The food will be sent to health facilities participating in the Targeted Supplementary Feeding Program (TSFP) in all districts.
NR/NER: In Aybak City, Samangan Province, 679 conflict IDPs received cash assistance from PIN, food from WFP, NFIs from UNHCR and hygiene kits from DACAAR. In Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh, CARE distributed cash to 539 IDPs, WFP distributed food and SCI emergency household and hygiene items. In Kunduz City, Kunduz, 50 IDPs from Emamsaheb and Aliabad districts received cash from ACTED, food from WFP and NFIs and WASH packages from SCI. Following an ad-hoc coordination meeting, ARCS agreed to cover a gap of NFI for 380 families in Kunduz with stocks from UNICEF.
ER: DACAAR distributed hygiene kits to more than 3,400 IDPs in Nangarhar, Laghman and Kunar provinces. ZOA/SHPOUL distributed hygiene and water kits to more than 1,400 displaced and returnees in four districts of Nangarhar. SVA distributed winter and kitchen kits to 2,600 returnees in Behsud District, Nangarhar. In Chaparhar, NGO Japan Emergency NGO (JEN) completed a WASH project with 11 wells and distributed 300 hygiene kits to returnee families. UNMAS conducted mine risk education and awareness sessions with more than 10,000 people in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. Partners of the Health Cluster provided consultations to more than 3,300 IDPs or returnees and vaccinated more than 540 children.
SR: In Kandahar, 101 households or more than 750 people affected by the recent heavy rains were provided with food by WFP, NFIs by IOM, winter clothing by SCI and hygiene kits by DACAAR. 51 families also received a tent from IOM. In Tirinkot, Uruzgan, a local NGO partnering with Cordaid started a project to provide 700 displaced or returnee families with cash for NFIs, 200 families with rent assistance and 300 families with cash to repair their shelters.
WR: WFP distributed food to 670 displaced people in Qala-eNaw, Badghis, and UNICEF supplied them with winter kits. The families also received cash for NFIs or in-kind NFIs and hygiene kits from either IRC or UNHCR.
Gender Based Violence (GBV)
Partners of GBV Sub-Cluster provided health education to more than 6,200 women and men in Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Nimroz, Baghlan and Kunduz provinces. The audience was made up equally from members of displaced, returnee or host communities. More than 2,200 people received psychosocial counselling, including more than 700 victims of physical, psychological or emotional violence. More, more than 140 individuals forced into marriage were assisted.
Security Incidents and Access Constraints
NR: Members of an NSAG reportedly entered a health facility in Chaparhar, Nangarhar, during the night of 24 February and took some medicine and furniture. The health facility continues to provide its usual services.