Asia and the Pacific

Situation Report
Afghanistan — Emergency Response
Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (5 – 11 July 2021)

South: 11,200 people in Kandahar displaced by conflict according to initial reports

Fighting, including airstrikes, that started on 10 July between the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and a Non-State Armed Group (NSAG) continued in Police District 6, 7, 8 and 13 in Kandahar City. An NSAG has reportedly warned residents, including humanitarian organizations in Police District 7 and its vicinity to leave the area due to anticipated violence. The Kandahar-Hirat highway remained closed due to ongoing conflict, checkpoints and the presence of improvised explosive devices. Civilians, including humanitarian workers, are unable to use main roads and are using alternative routes.

According to local authorities, some 11,200 people in contested areas have fled to safer parts of Kandahar city. To address immediate needs, provincial authorities provided internally displaced persons (IDPs) with temporary shelter, but the allotted spaces are insufficient for the number of people who need shelter. Some IDPs are staying with relatives and others are renting accommodations. Interagency teams have deployed to affected areas to assess needs. Local authorities and traders have been providing some cooked food to IDPs. Based on initial reports, food, water, relief items, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene assistance are the most urgent needs.

Overall, four out of five provinces in the south witnessed a spike in conflict during the reporting period as an NSAG continued to expand their control of districts and the outskirts of provincial capitals; and ANSF clearing operation supported by airstrikes continued in Nahr-e-Saraj (Hilmand province), and the outskirts of Kandahar, Lashkargah and Qalat cities. Civilian casualties were reported in Panjwayi, Zheray, Spin Boldak and surrounding areas of provincial capitals, particularly in Kandahar City.

The intermittent closure of both primary and secondary roads to/from districts and provinces continued to hinder the movement of civilians, and the transportation of basic food items and humanitarian/medical supplies. Intermittent outages of mobile service caused some delays in information sharing among humanitarian partners.

Humanitarian partners are urgently working to assess needs and provide aid to displaced people in Kandahar City despite ongoing conflict and other challenges. Between 4 and 6 July, interagency teams provided 759 IDPs in Zabul and Nimroz provinces with food, emergency shelter, relief items, water, sanitation, hygiene and hygiene education, physiotherapy services and cash aid.

North-east: Over 17,000 people affected by conflict provided with aid

An NSAG expanded their territorial control to 58 out of 69 districts (where an estimated 82 per cent of the total population in the north-east live) and provincial capitals are reportedly surrounded. There are reports of NSAG members taxing crops and businesses and allegedly demanding residents provide fighters with food in Takhar and Badakhshan provinces.

Due to ongoing fighting and movement restrictions, humanitarian assistance is currently limited to Government controlled areas and provincial capitals reaching 17,346 people affected by conflict. Ongoing needs assessments identified an additional 11,088 people to receive assistance in the next few days.

East: health facillities closed due to fighting and damage to buildings

The security situation remained volatile as fighting continued and a bridge was reportedly destroyed by a party to the conflict. According to local authorities, health services resumed in Alishang and Dawlatshah districts, Laghman province; and the road between Mehtarlam and Dawlatshah opened for civilian movements.

Between 4 and 5 July, two health facilities in Kunar and Laghman provinces were closed due to fighting that damaged the two buildings. Some civilian homes were reportedly burned. The Protection Cluster in the east is monitoring the protection environment and mobilising partners to address emerging protection issues.

Out of 12,411 people assessed this week, 5,992 IDPs were recommended to receive immediate humanitarian assistance. Interagency teams continued needs assessments in Nangarhar, Nuristan, Laghman and Kunar provinces. During the reporting period, 4,172 people received humanitarian assistance: 4,116 newly displaced IDPs and 56 undocumented returnees who received post arrival assistance at the Torkham Transit Centre.

This week, 11 mobile health teams provided nutritional aid to IDPs and vulnerable people among host communities in Nangarhar, Laghman and Kunar provinces. A total of 1,590 children under five were screened, among whom 48 suffered from Severe Acute Malnutrition and 100 suffered from Moderate Acute Malnutrition. The severe cases were admitted into therapeutic feeding centres for treatment. In addition, 266 children were provided with vitamin A and 817 pregnant and lactating women received counseling services, and information on breast feeding and COVID-19.

West: Deteriorating security situation and fighting causes sporadic displacement and civilians casualties

The security situation continued to deteriorate in the west as insecurity and armed clashes are putting civilians and humanitarian workers at risk. Due to the unpredictable security situation along the Hirat-Islam Qala road and border, humanitarian partners working at the crossing point temporarily suspended their activities in the area.

Armed clashed are ongoing in all four provinces in the west, causing sporadic displacement towards provincial capitals in Hirat and Ghor as well as across both provinces. All districts in Badghis are currently under the control of an NSAG with fighting reportedly ongoing in the capital, Qala-e-Naw City. According to local authorities, 71 civilians were injured and three others killed due to the recent fighting in the capital.

Needs assessment teams were mobilized and the response to people in need is ongoing although ongoing fighting is hindering the work of the teams in Badghis province. In Hirat, Ghor and Farah provinces, assessment teams have identified at least 3,500 IDPs in the past week, and response to people in need is ongoing.

Centre: Increasing insecurity and violence affecting civilians

The security situation has become increasingly unstable and unpredictable with reports of increased NSAG activities and violence against civilians in Kabul, Logar, Wardak, Parwan, Kapisa, Khost, Ghazni, Paktya, Paktika, Daykundi and Bamyan provinces. On 3 July, in the Qala-e-Kholkhak area in Ghazni province, four civilians were reportedly killed and two others wounded during ANSF ground operations. During the reporting period, 2,114 internally displaced people received humanitarian assistance in Panjsher and Khost provinces, while 12,021 IDPs have been identified to be in need of aid in Kabul, Paktya, Khost, Parwan and Paktika provinces. Joint interagency needs assessments are ongoing for 14,350 IDPs in Bamyan, Daykundi and Lal Wa Sarjangal in Ghor provinces; and 161 people affected by recent natural disasters received humanitarian assistance in Panjsher province.

North: Almost 10,000 people displaced by conflict receive aid

The security situation remained volatile in the north while the situation in Mazar-e-Sharif city remained relatively calm. Joint inter-agency teams identified 8,617 people displaced by conflict as eligible for humanitarian assistance. Aid agencies based in the north distributed humanitarian aid including food, hygiene kits and relief items to 9,828 IDPs in Balkh, Faryab, Samangan provinces.

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