1. Background of Situation/ News review

From initial news sources it appears that somewhere between 13 - 19 provinces have been affected by flash floods, avalanches and an earthquake. The Vice President of Afghanistan has declared 13 provinces as disaster areas, but there have been reports of damage in as many as 19 provinces. Initial reports of death are between 80 and 91, but exact numbers are as yet impossible to confirm.

Worst hit have been the central provinces of Kabul, Uruzgan, Parwan and Day Kundi; the western provinces of Ghor, Badghis and Herat; the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar; the southeastern province of Khost and Paktiya; and, in the south, Helmand and Nimroz provinces.

Kabul city was also heavily affected with 500 homes damaged or destroyed, 900 families displaced and a further 1,700 at imminent risk of being forced to flee.

As it continues to rain in some parts of the country the full toll of this disaster is as yet unknown. There is concern in many areas about the ability of existing canals to withstand the flood waters.

ACTED has been in contact with UNAMA, Afghanistan Red Cross and Red Crescent, DFID, IOM, UN Habitat, the Afghanistan Department of Disaster Preparedness, UNICEF, the WFP and our National Solidarity Program Facilitating Partners. In addition a team of six ACTED staff travelled to hard hit Parwan province Thursday 5 April 2007 to conduct an initial assessment of damage in Parwan Province.

2. Summary of Main Findings from Initial Emergency Assessment Team

ACTED Afghanistan sent an initial assessment team of 6 to Parwan Province, Jabulsaraj District on 5 April 2007. The team went to the field in order to begin to understand the effect of heavy spring floods that have left many homeless and without access to essential resources, and to develop potential strategies for an ACTED response.

After analyzing the information gathered in this initial assessment, and conducting further consultation with other NGOs and government agencies, ACTED will decide on the most appropriate course of action to take in order to provide the most needed assistance to the most people.

Early reports back from the field team identify at least 9,000 people affected in Jabulsaraj District by loss of access when a bridge gave out; this is in addition to families who have lost their homes and livelihoods. Water and Sanitation are also a concern, though less so than more general access and food security issues. One of the main calls from the affected areas has been for additional gabions to secure banks, and the restoration of access to fresh water mainly for irrigation (the topography of this particular region makes agricultural activity essential for livelihoods). Specifically, the District Governor could name 40-100 families in the immediate area who had lost their homes. The Jabulsaraj Bazaar has been destroyed, a loss of at least 40 shops. Ranchers reported the loss of livestock and farmlands. Due to access problems many areas (see upper Salang region, indicated in attached map with a black circle) were unable to be accessed for assessment. During the 1 day rapid assessment conducted, the following elements have been highlighted, which do not however aim at reflecting exhaustively the damage encountered.

SUMMARY DAMAGE:  Jabulsaraj, Salang, Sayed Khel, Bagram and Shinwari Districts of Parwan Province (from interview with Parwan Governor)  Jabulsaraj and Salang District (from personal observations of assessment team) … o .. o 4 dead, no reported injuries, 3 reported missing. (An additional 15 people have been reported dead by the Parwan District Governor) o 4,116 people displaced, many staying with friends and neighbors. o 588 families totally affected, additional 500 families unable to access. o 53% of houses totally destroyed o 47% partially destroyed o Most damage is to agricultural lands and lands where there used to be trees. o At least 100 head of livestock have been killed o A highway and big bridges are completely destroyed, 45 smaller bridges are destroyed. The passage between the highway and villages (secondary roads) is also completely destroyed, there are 25 such secondary roads. The retaining walls along the highways are destroyed as well. RESOURCES OF POPULATION o People still have the ability/ desire to work physically. o There is availability to use the government storage area. IMMEDIATE NEEDS NOT YET BEING MET o Cleaning and repairing irrigation canals o Gabions and retaining walls for both sides of the river bank (estimated 10,000 sheets) o Construction of secondary bridges. o Some tents would be useful for those still needing shelter (estimated need is 1000 tents) o Food. o Renewal of access to livelihoods.

The Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD), in conjunction with UNAMA and other partners have reported heavy floods in Parwan, specifically; Syed Khail, Ghorband, Bagram, Charikar, Salang, and Shinwari has resulted in the following losses:

• Siagerd: 50 houses destroyed • Shinwari: 150 houses destroyed • Salang: 400 houses destroyed • Jabul Seraj: 200 houses destroyed • Charikar: 150 houses destroyed • Bagram: 100 houses destroyed • Said Khail: 450 houses destroyed

3. Response

Additional responses, not recorded in the above chart include: The Ministry of Defence airlifting 350 people in Inchoo village, the distribution of food by the WFP, 3000 blankets from CARE International the IOM and the Ministry of Health, 200 family kits from UNICEF and assistance in the restoration of water supply by the Afghan Red Cross/ Red Crescent. ACTED Afghanistan will issue a concept paper detailing the proposed response and activities soon.