This briefing seeks to provide a quick overview of the humanitarian situation and response in Afghanistan, main advocacy issues and programmatic concerns from the Country Office. It will be updated on a monthly basis.

CARE's humanitarian response: • High food prices aggravated by drought • Limited access due to insecurity • NGOs under attack

Humanitarian situation:

The humanitarian situation is dominated by high food prices aggravated by drought. Shrinking access and increased security incidents against aid agencies are causes for concern. Lack of safe drinking water and an anticipated poor harvest may trigger population movement/displacement before winter and possibly cause households to enter winter with their asset base eroded. Rural communities in rain-fed areas across Northern and Central Afghanistan are likely to be the most affected. (Source: UNAMA Monthly Humanitarian Update)

Food crisis:

Afghanistan is facing an acute food and livelihood crisis and figures as one of seven countries on the WFP hunger hotspots list of August 21, 2008. It was estimated that roughly half of the population was already having trouble meeting daily food requirements before the food prices began to rise. It is estimated that 35 percent of Afghan households do not meet their minimum daily requirement for food.

Vulnerable groups are increasingly reducing consumption, migrating to cities, selling assets, accumulating debt and resorting to harmful practices such as increased child labor and the very early marriage of girls. Sheep prices have plummeted as people sell productive assets and many households are being displaced by worsening economic conditions. Cities, the end point of most moves, are in crisis.

CARE's humanitarian response:

The ongoing Kabul Widows Humanitarian Assistance (KWHA) food project extended for two months. The goal of the project is to maintain the health and nutritional status of 3,000 most vulnerable widows and their families in the city of Kabul as well as assist them in finding durable solutions.

To seek to limit the negative effects of the drought, CARE initiated projects in the northern province of Balkh. Through cash-for-work activities, the program is aiming to provide income opportunities to 2,400 families. Additionally, CARE will focus on rehabilitation of infrastructure such as canals, as well as activities aiming to reduce the future vulnerability of the communities.

Humanitarian access:

Access continues to be seriously affected by the widespread insecurity. As NGOs, our ability to provide assistance to the people in need is becoming increasingly difficult and dangerous. NGOs have had to withdraw staff due to attacks, kidnappings and murders. Roads which were considered relatively safe a year ago now have restricted or no use, and none of the main roads out of Kabul are considered safe.

Civilian casualties: Afghanistan has seen a sharp increase in violence and insecurity during 2008. It has been the bloodiest year since the U.S.-led toppling of the Taliban in 2001.

Anti-Govt Forces: 700 (source: UNAMA) Pro-Govt Forces: 629 Other: 194 Total: 1523

Programmatic update:

The security situation in Afghanistan has become an issue for all humanitarian organizations. CARE is continuing to review its procedures and is looking into new programming strategies for implementation in medium and high risk areas. Security concerns have resulted in the modification or suspension of CARE's education programs in more than half of the 25 districts we are working in.

Advocacy issues:

• Humanitarian response: a joint letter was sent to the SRSG of the United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan highlighting the need for increased support from the UN to the NGO community in terms of humanitarian response. Concrete issues raised in the letter: increased logistics support for NGOs needed; coordination capacity within the UNAMA must be strengthened; more independent humanitarian funding needed.

• Civil military: CARE represented the NGO community at the quarterly PRT conference in Kabul, advocating for: the clear separation between military forces and civilians; ISAF forces to follow the Afghan-specific civilian-military guidelines; and pre-deployment training in the same guidelines.