Rapid Response Payment Request No. 6/2008

Funds Sent To: Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA)

Amount Sent: US$ 49,340

Date: 30 January 2008

Details of Response

Emergency: Severe Winter Conditions in Afghanistan

Date of Emergency: January 2008

Implementing Member: Hungarian Interchurch Aid

Details of the Emergency: Afghanistan is one of a number of countries in southern and central Asia that has been suffering extreme cold and snow throughout January 2008. More than 300 people have died as a result throughout Afghanistan, said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on January 22. This is the most severe winter in Afghanistan for 30 years. In Baghlan province, hundreds of families have lost their livestock and means of income, and road access is blocked in some areas. The governor for Baghlan, as well as the Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development (MRRD) and the Ministry of Returnees along with local Shura leaders, have appealed for assistance to the most vulnerable people in the hardest hit villages and internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in camps in Baghlan province, warning that the number of people requiring external assistance is likely to increase should the snow fall continue. (Source: Hungarian Interchurch Aid). In the Hazarajat (central highlands) region of Afghanistan the deteriorating security situation caused by both a growing Taliban presence and the onset of a harsh winter has resulted in increased numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout the area, with IDPs leaving their communities from within Ghazni province and other neighbouring provinces, such as Uruzgan. Displaced families find themselves facing food shortages and the need for heated shelter. Many are now in the centre of Ghazni, which is a safer area than some of the nearby surrounding regions. (Source: Church World Service).ntral highlands) region of Afghanistan the deteriorating security situation caused by both a growing Taliban presence and the onset of a harsh winter has resulted in increased numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout the area, with IDPs leaving their communities from within Ghazni province and other neighbouring provinces, such as Uruzgan. Displaced families find themselves facing food shortages and the need for heated shelter. Many are now in the centre of Ghazni, which is a safer area than some of the nearby surrounding regions. (Source: Church World Service).

On 19 January 2008 HIA's field staff started coordination with the ACT Forum; the Governor of Baghlan Province; the Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development Baghlan Province (as focal point); NGOs working in Baghlan Province, the Ministry of Returnees, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as well as 15 shura leaders from each district in Baghlan Province.

At the same time HIA Field Offices coordinated its proposed assistance with Church World Service (CWS) Kabul and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA). An emergency co-ordination meeting with the ACT Forum took place at the NCA Kabul office. It was agreed that HIA would respond in Baghlan Province through an RRF request. Other ACT members are already responding in their own operational areas.

Response so far: At the beginning of January HIA assisted 720 families with 105 kg coal per family in the Khoja Alwan (Etehad) returnee camp near to Pul-i-Khumri, Baghlan province. This was carried out with the support of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There is no information of any other international humanitarian activities in the area.

PROPOSED RESPONSE: Hungarian Interchurch Aid plans to provide emergency food, clothes and heating items to 400 of the most vulnerable IDP families in Baghlan Province.

BENEFICIARY INFORMATION & LOCATION OF RESPONSE

HIA is targeting the poorest internally displaced families, most of whom live in appalling conditions in tents or basic adobe houses. They don't have any income even to buy basic necessities such as warm clothes, blankets, food, firewood or coal. In these circumstances they are facing extreme hunger and prone to illness. Some of them have a few cattle but, as the families have no fodder to feed the animals, they are likely to die under the extreme cold conditions. The Governor of Baghlan Province and the Director of the Ministry of Returnees has called upon NGOs to provide assistance to these IDPs.

The beneficiaries are internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in the following returnees camps in Baghlan province:

o Shemerq returnees camp - 65 families (520 persons) are living in Shemerq camp. They include ethnic Tajiks and Hazaras who came from Badakshan Province which has suffered severe drought. Included in this group is a large number of women and elderly persons, many of whom are ill.

o Bande Du (2) camp - 35 families (280 persons) - ethnic Pastun from Pakistan.

o Dani Ghuri camp - 50 pastun families (400 persons) are living in the camp who originate from Nahrin, Khost, Burka and other districts in Baghlan province. Also included are 100 ethnic Gojar farmer families (800 persons) whose living conditions are extremely poor.

o Etehad returnees camp - IDPs in this camp include more than 150 Kuchi (1,200) nomad families without any protection against the winter.

PROPOSED ASSISTANCE

The main objective of the emergency aid is to prevent further casualties in the returnees/IDP camps in Baghlan province.

HIA wishes to distribute relief packages containing the following items: heating items - coal, blankets; insulation material - straw, foil; food items - oil, tea, sugar, salt, rice and beans.

IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD

Approximately between 1 February 2008 - 31 March 2008.

BUDGET: US$ 49,340

(For the detailed budget, kindly visit the ACT site. Thank you.)

ACTION

The ACT Co-ordinating Office has approved the use of US49,340 towards the budget from its Rapid Response Fund and would be grateful to receive contributions to wholly or partially replenish this payment.

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ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.