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Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (2 December – 8 December 2019)

Countries
Afghanistan
+ 2 more
Sources
OCHA
Publication date

Northeast: Over 13,000 people received humanitarian aid Fighting between the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and a NonState Armed Group (NSAG) continued in Kunduz and Baghlan provinces.

According to initial reports, around 1,000 families (approximately 7,000 people) were displaced due to ongoing clashes in Kunduz province. Armed clashes reportedly intensified in Khan Abad district in Kunduz along the road between Kunduz and Taloqan. An NSAG allegedly prevented the movement of civilians on the main roads linking Kunduz to Taloqan and Pul-e-Khumri roads and reportedly killed two civilians including a woman in the Malarghi area in Kunduz Province on 2 December.
Across the region, 13,139 people received humanitarian assistance.

Moreover, 1,750 internally displaced people (IDPs) who were affected by conflict were assessed and will receive assistance in the coming days in Baghlan and Kunduz provinces.

West: 9,000 people received cash aid for winter
Based on the latest profiling exercise, over 77,000 IDPs (almost 18,000 families) are still residing in informal IDP sites in Hirat province. On 4 December, humanitarian partners began distributing winterisation assistance to drought-affected IDPs (since 2018) in Hirat province. During the reported period, 2,000 IDP families (about 9,000 people) received cash assistance for winter in the amount of 15,500 AFG.

Partners are working with clusters and donors to ensure that all remaining IDPs receive critical assistance as temperature continues to drop.

As a result of joint efforts and advocacy, local authorities in Badghis were able to procure and dispatch food items to 300 stranded families (approximately 2,100 people) and medical supplies for the local health facility in the Jawand District Administration Centre. Access to the district centre has been obstructed for almost one year, including movement of commercial goods and services. Road access is further hampered by an NSAG and reports of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

East: Six people killed, including the head of an INGO
Fighting and military operations continued in Nangarhar and various districts in Kunar and Laghman provinces.

Interagency assessment teams identified 27,741 IDPs across the region as being in need who will receive humanitarian assistance in the coming days. 12,561 IDPs were reached with cash, food rations, WASH, health services and relief items such as items for winter.

The number of IDPs from Achin, Nangarhar province displaced to Jalalabad has risen to 844. The IDPs continue to be sheltered in a Government facility in Jalalabad City. The displaced include 505 children and 339 women.

Humanitarian partners continued life-saving humanitarian activities. The conditions at the site have reportedly improved following WASH and health responses, while food distributions are ongoing. Humanitarian partners are providing nutrition supplies for children and lactating mothers.

On 4 December, six people including the head of an international Non-Government Organisation (INGO) were killed when their vehicle was fired upon in Jalalabad city. The director of the INGO had worked in Afghanistan since 2008 and was awarded honorary Afghan citizenship for his work in Nangarhar province. No group has claimed the attack thus far. Prior to this attack, 32 aid workers had been killed, 41 injured and 57 abducted thus far in 2019.

North: Clashes continued in five provinces, IDPs flee to Maymana City
Clashes between ANSF and an NSAG continued in Balkh, Faryab, Jawzjan, Sar-e-Pul and Samangan provinces.
Fighting in different districts in Faryab province displaced people to Maymana city.
Inter-agency assessment teams verified 1,596 people displaced by conflict in Balkh, Faryab, Jawzjan and Sar-ePul provinces. 1,771 IDPs received humanitarian assistance in Balkh and Faryab provinces.

In the North, demonstrations continued against the recount of presidential election votes affecting humanitarian coordination, assessments and response in the provinces of Balkh, Jawzjan, Sar-e-Pul, Faryab and Samangan.

South: Ongoing conflict displaced thousands
Conflict between an NSAG and ANSF continued to affect civilians and displaced thousands of people in Tirinkot city, Uruzgan province and in Shah Wali Kot district, Kandahar province. Three members of a family were reportedly killed by an IED in Nad-e-Ali and Marja areas during the last week.

Last week, 1,130 IDPs who were affected by conflict received humanitarian assistance in Kandahar and Zabul provinces. Interagency assessments are ongoing to identify people who were displaced by conflict in Hilmand, Nimroz and Zabul provinces.

Centre: Over 4,500 people received winter assistance
Last week, inter-agency teams identified 890 IDPs to receive humanitarian assistance in Kabul and Paktika provinces in the coming days. Also, 4,595 people received winter assistance across the Central Highlands.

Moreover, assessments of vulnerable families in need of winter assistance is ongoing in Bamyan, Daykundi, Khost, Kapisa, Paktya and Maidan Wardak provinces.

On 1 December, a health clinic run by an NGO was reportedly affected by ANSF military operations in Andar district in Ghazni province. 0n 28 November, airstrikes on Ali Sher district in Khost province reportedly killed a family of five including two women and a new born baby.

Funding updates
The fourth Reserve Allocation of the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund in 2019 was completed. US $6.16 million was allocated to 10 projects covering nutrition, protection, and food security and agriculture.

For further information, please contact:
Ian Ridley, Head of Office, OCHA Afghanistan, ridleyi@un.org
Noroarisoa Rakotomalala, Deputy Head of Office, OCHA Afghanistan, rakotomalala@un.org
Linda Tom, Public Information Officer, OCHA Afghanistan, toml@un.org, Cell: +93 79300 11 10
For more information, please visit: unocha.org | reliefweb.int
facebook.com/UNOCHAAfghanistan | twitter.com/OCHAAfg

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.