December 7, 2007

 

 

Overview

 

Afghan National Army to reach 70,000 troops by March

The Afghan National Army (ANA) is set to reach its target strength of 70,000-strong by March. However, some officials warn that the number may not be sufficient to cope with both internal and external threats. The ANA presently stands at around 57,000 troops. Zahir Azimi, spokesman for the Afghan Defense Ministry, said on Sunday (December 2), "We think we need a 200,000-strong Afghan National Army which is in the interest of both Afghanistan and the international community." He said a trained 200,000-member army will be much cheaper than the nearly 50,000 foreign troops in the country. Azimi said the cost of maintaining one foreign soldier is equivalent to maintaining 70-100 Afghan troops. He added that the US will soon start shipping NATO-standard weapons and helicopters to the Afghan army to replace its Soviet-era arsenal.

 

Hundreds flee as fighting intensifies in Afghanistan's restive Helmand province

Hundreds of families are reportedly fleeing their homes in Musa Qala district as Afghan and foreign forces intensify their military campaign against Taliban insurgents to regain control of Helmand province. Citing local residents, the UN’s Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) reported that many residents of Musa Qala have fled to the nearby districts of Sangeen and Garmser. Many families have also reportedly moved to the provincial capital, Lashkargah, some 100 miles (161 km) south of Musa Qala. Speaking to IRIN in Lashkargah on Thursday (December 6), Haji Ghulam Mohammad, provincial head of the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), said ARCS has dispatched several teams to Musa Qala to carry out a rapid assessment of the displaced population and its urgent needs. According to officials from the Department of Refugee and IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) Affairs and ARCS, there are at least 16,000 new and old displaced families living across Helmand. Most of these IDPs are living in critical conditions and do not have access to basic minimum services. Due to persistent insecurity, the UN and international NGOs do not have a presence in Helmand. The UN has sent relief aid through local NGOs and government departments to some of the most vulnerable groups in affected areas that are somewhat accessible. Aid agencies warn that with winter fast approaching, food and shelter for thousands of IDPs are becoming major needs.

 

WFP condemns killing of aid worker in southern Afghanistan

The UN World Food Program (WFP) is condemning the killing of one of its aid workers in southern Afghanistan earlier this week. An Afghan truck driver was killed and his assistant went missing when their truck carrying 14 tons of high energy biscuits for the WFP was ambushed by unidentified armed men on the road from Kandahar to Helmand in the early hours of Sunday (December 2). The driver, Ezatullah (also spelled Ezatollah, Izat Ullah), was shot dead at the scene while his assistant remains missing. Josette Sheeran, WFP executive director, said, "We strongly deplore this attack, as we do all acts of aggression against humanitarian workers assisting people in desperate need," adding, "No loss of life can be tolerated." The death of the driver who was contracted by WFP, was confirmed on Wednesday (December 5), while the truck and its cargo remain missing. The attack took place in the same area where WFP trucks were ambushed in October and November. Following those attacks, WFP had temporarily suspended relief deliveries to some areas of Afghanistan's restive south deemed as high-risk. Some operations were resumed later following security assurances by local Afghan authorities.

 

UN refugee agency seeks US$100 million for Afghan repatriation

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking nearly US$100 million to fund its repatriation operations for Afghan refugees over the next two years. In its 2008-2009 Global Appeal to donors, the UNHCR is seeking US$49 million for 2008 and US$50 million for 2009 to assist some 540,000 Afghan refugees in returning to their homes, primarily from neighboring Pakistan and Iran. UNHCR chief Antonio Guterres said in a statement that the new biennial budget cycle provides more predictability in funding. The new budget shows a slight decrease in allocations for Afghan operations, which for the current year is around US$52 million. UNHCR officials say insecurity and lack of economic opportunities are two major issues that have negatively affected repatriation trends over the past two years. According to UNHCR officials, Afghanistan's institutional capacity to effectively manage returnees and internally displaced persons remains very limited due to a high turnover of officials, both at the central and provincial levels.

 

 

Movement

 

2007: UNHCR temporarily suspends the Afghan voluntary repatriation campaign in Pakistan until March 2008 due to seasonal slowdown. (IRIN, Nov-2). Pakistan has reportedly extended the deadline to close Jalozai camp until March 2008. (IRIN, Sep-4). The UNHCR has asked Pakistan to temporarily suspend closure of Jalozai refugee camp in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) that was originally scheduled to be closed on August 31. UNHCR said due to the fast approaching Muslim holy month of Ramadan and winter season, conditions were not conducive for the return of some 100,000 camp residents. UNHCR said any forceful return of these refugees could lead to secondary displacement.

 

Pakistan is to close all Afghan refugee camps by December 2009 and to repatriate all refugees living in the country. UNHCR says it has repatriated over 306,000 Afghan refugees from Pakistan so far this year under its voluntary repatriation campaign. (UNHCR, Aug-10)

 

4.2 million refugees have returned to Afghanistan, and 500,000 IDPs returned home since early 2002. Close to 3 million of the refugees returned from Pakistan. 2.6 million Afghans remain in Pakistan, including one million in 74 long-term camps. About 1.5 million Afghans returned from Iran. Taking into account unassisted returns, perhaps 600,000 to 700,000 Afghans remain in Iran—up to 30,000 are in seven camps.

 

Iran deported some 85,000 unregistered refugees to Afghanistan during April 21 - May 14, 2007. Iranian officials say they plan to initially send back 500,000 of over a million illegal refugees in the country. Earlier this week, Iran said it has reached an agreement with the Afghan government to slow down the pace of expulsions for illegal Afghans living in the country.

 

Some 200,000 Afghan refugees in Pakistan have returned to their homes under the UN-assisted voluntary Afghan refugee repatriation program since it resumed on March 1, 2007, following a seasonal winter suspension. Pakistani authorities said voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan that are without proof of registration (PoR) ended in April, and refugees remaining in the country without PoR are now considered illegal and subject to government action. Repatriation campaign for Afghan refugees with PoR.

 

2006: UNHCR expects to assist 550,000 returnees—400,000 from Pakistan and 150,000 from Iran. However, so far this year only some 60,000 Afghan refugees have repatriated from Pakistan. Unassisted returns are a factor from Pakistan and have been a major contributor to returns from Iran. The tripartite arrangement among UNHCR-Afghanistan-Pakistan is good through 2006. The UNHCR-Afghanistan-Iran Joint Program has been extended into 2007. Repatriation from Pakistan, halted for the winter, recommenced on March 1. UNHCR assisted nearly 9,000 refugees in returning from Pakistan and over 500 from Iran during March. In April 2006, Pakistan closed two long-term camps in NWFP, and two in Baluchistan Province with 250,000 long-term residents. Refugees in Baluchistan can either return to Afghanistan or relocate to Mohammad Kheil camp near Quetta. Refugees in NWFP are moving to Afghanistan or one of ten camps in NWFP—refugees are pushing for a one-year delay.

 

2005 plans called for 400,000 Afghan refugees to return home from Pakistan and 200,000 from Iran, down from an earlier 350,000 estimated from Iran. 453,000 returned from Pakistan. 67,000 from Iran were assisted and over 210,000 returned on their own to Iran for a total of nearly 280,000, and a combined Pakistan and Iran total of 733,000—close to the original projection.

 

2004 plans were for one million to return. Actual returnees were around 850,000, with 385,000 from Pakistan and 460,000 from Iran, including 80,000 spontaneous returns. Pakistan closed camps in South Waziristan and all new camps, with remaining new refugees going to Mohamed Kheil camp in Baluchistan Province.

Emphasis in 2003 was on repatriation from old camps and cities in Pakistan to rural areas in Afghanistan. 70% of returnees from Pakistan were from cities and 30% from camps. Over a third returned to Kabul, another 10% went to other central provinces, and just over 20% returned to each of the north and east. The Southern region received 6% and the Western region 4%. The 2003 peak months were June and July.

 

In 2002 over 2.3 million Afghan refugees returned with 2 million assisted by UNHCR. UNHCR repatriated 1.53 million Afghan refugees from Pakistan, including 125,000 from Baluchistan and 1.4 million from the North West Frontier Province. 82% were from urban areas; only 3% were from new camps. 265,000 refugees were assisted in returning from Iran; and 10,000 refugees from the central Asian republics.

 

 

Afghanistan Relief Efforts: United Nations Coordination Regions

 

 

Central Region

 

 

East Central Region

 

Eastern Region

 

 

Northeastern Region