This  situation  update  provides  a  snapshot  of  the  inter-­‐agency  regional  humanitarian  response  in  full  coordination  with  host  Governments  and  partners  across  the  region.  

 

Photo:  Afghan  artists  performing  in  Gulan  Camp  on  mine  risk  awareness  Credit:  UNHCR/A.  Lewis  

1  

AFGHANISTAN  

KHOST  &  PAKTIKA  SITUATION  UPDATE  10  February  2016  

1.  OPERATIONAL  UPDATE  

During   conflict,   children   are   particularly  vulnerable,  both  emotionally  and  physically.  Child-­‐friendly   spaces   are   used   by  humanitarian   agencies   to   provide   safe  outlets   where   children   can   participate   in  educational   and   recreational   activities,  which   can   help   establish   a   sense   of  normalcy,   provide   structure   and  help   them  cope   with   traumatic   events.   As  displacement   continues,   it   becomes   even  more  important  to  ensure  that  children  can  access  social  and  educational  opportunities.  In   Khost   and   Paktika,   partners   have  supported   educational   activities,   however  

many  children  are  still  in  need  of  targeted  assistance.       In  mid-­‐December,   Afghan  Mobile  Mini   Circus   for   Children   (MMCC)   began   interactive   activities   for  children   including  mine  risk  awareness  education   in  Gulan  camp.  Using  visuals,  props,   story-­‐telling,  theatrical  comedy  and  juggling.  Afghan  artists  have  helped  educate  children  about  these  risks  in  fun  and   participatory   way.   The   combination   of   creative   and   interactive   activities   proved   effective   in  getting  the  message  out.      In   addition,   this  method  of   interactive   activities  helps   children   gain   self-­‐confidence   and  build   trust  with   their   peers.   It   is   also   possible   to   reach   their   mothers   in   educating   them   about   threats   and  unexploded  ordinances.  One  of  the  MMCC  staff  told  a  story  about  a  16  year  old  boy,  who  showed  a  lot  of  interest  in  the  circus  activities  and  eventually  won  a  prize  for  breaking  a  record  by  juggling  for  10  minutes.  Not  only  was  he  pleased  with  his  accomplishment  but  also  his   family  was  very  proud.  Three  teams  were  established  in  the  camp  and  MMCC  reached  2,000  refugee  children.  These  teams  continue  to  practice;  pictures  can  be  found  here  https://www.facebook.com/KhostCircus/  

2.  PROTECTION    

In  Paktika  province,  where  humanitarian  access  remains  a  concern,  UNHCR  and  partners  have  been  working   to   provide   assistance   and   verification   of   the   population.   Although   the   procedure   has  different  modalities  the  goal  is  to  get  a  better  understanding  of  the  numbers  and  profiles  of  people  and  their  needs.  Participants  go  through  a  screening  process,  interview  and  then  a  re-­‐verification  in  which   they   receive  a  new  ration  card.  As  of   last  week,  5,200   families  have  been  re-­‐verified.  At   the  same  time  UNHCR  is  providing  winterization  assistance  in  the  form  of  cash  transfers  and  have  already  reached  the  targeted  3,000  families.  

Khost  &  Paktika  Situation  Update  75  -­‐  Afghanistan      

 United  Nations  High  Commissioner  for  Refugees  (UNHCR)  –  www.unhcr.org  

2  

3.  HUMANITARIAN  RESPONSE    

Registration  ! UNHCR  began   the  biometric   verification  exercise  on  28  November   in  Khost,  which   is   collecting  

individual   biographical   data,   fingerprints,   photographs   (photos   are   for   men   only),   and   though  interviews   collect   protection   and   assistance   needs.   To   date,   11,176   people  were   registered   in  Khost  including  4,666  women.  

! UNHCR  began  the  re-­‐verification  exercise  in  Paktika,  which  due  to  security  and  access  constraints  has  different  modalities,  but  includes  assessing,  screening,  re-­‐verification  of  the  households  and  issuance  of  new  ration  cards.  As  of  last  week,  5,200  households  were  re-­‐verified.  

! UNHCR  also  manages  the  database  of  registered  refugee  families,  while  verifying  records,  cross-­‐checking  data  against  attendance  at  the  last  two  food  distributions,  and  updating  information  to  assist   with   coordination   of   distributions.   As   of   this   week,   the   total   active   caseload   is   38,698  families  (26,606  families  in  Khost  and  12,092  families  in  Paktika).    

Protection  ! SGBV:   UNHCR   is   working   with   partners   to   strengthen   coordination   and   information   among  

women,   SGBV   partners   and   government   agencies;   the   women’s   coordination   committee   is  working   to   improve   outreach   to   women   including   participation   by   ACTD,   APA,   NRC,   teachers,  community  mobilizers  and  UNHCR.    

! Mine  Risk   Reduction:  UNMAS  partners  Halo   Trust   and  MDC  have   cleared   919,546  m2   in  Gulan  camp  and  2,426,737  m2  around  the  camp,  while  82,700  people  including  children  have  received  education.  

! Education:  NRC  is  providing  Education  in  Emergency  in  Gulan  camp,  Gurboz,  Tani,  Mandozai  and  Khost  (Matun);  UNICEF  is  working  with  DoE  to  improve  refugee  children’s  access  to  education.  

Food  Assistance      ! In  January,  WFP,  UNHCR  and  partners  distributed  food  packages  to  10,728  families.    

Health  &  Nutrition  ! WHO,  UNICEF,  IMC,  and  HNITPO  supported  polio  vaccinations  for  over  180,000  children  under  10  

in  Khost  and  Paktika  and  were  currently  conducting  vaccination  campaigns;  UNICEF  has  provided  supplies   to  DoPH  facilities;  ACTD   is  providing  health  services   in   the  camp,  HNI-­‐TPO   is  providing  health   services   through  2  mobile   clinics  and  2   static   clinics   in  Khost  and   IMC   is  providing  basic  health  services  in  Paktika.  

Emergency  Shelter  &  NFIs:      ! 8,192  families  received  vouchers  to  help  construct  or  improve  transitional  shelters  ! Blankets,  firewood  and  winter  clothes  were  distributed  to  11,765  families  during  the  winter  

WASH:    ! 10   boreholes   are   functioning   in   Gulan   camp;   Solidarités   is  managing  WASH   activities   in   Gulan  

camp  with  hygiene  kits,   latrines,  WASH   infrastructure  and  hygiene   sessions;  DACAAR  has  been  rehabilitating   wells,   drilling   boreholes,   installing   handwashing   facilities   and   latrines   and  conducting  hygiene  trainings  in  Lakan,  Mandozai,  Gurboz  and  Alisher;  NCA/CoAR  is  also  providing  WASH  services  in  Tani  and  Gurboz;  UNICEF  and  IMC  are  supporting  WASH  activities  in  Paktika.  

 

Summary:  In  June  2014,  following  military  operations  in  North  Waziristan  Agency,  Pakistan,  families  began  crossing  into  Khost  and  Paktika  Provinces,  Afghanistan.  Many  families  left  suddenly,  with  few  belongings  and  settled  in  host  communities,  or  Gulan  camp,  Gurboz  District,  Khost.  UNHCR  and  partners  have  been  on  the  ground  since  the  situation  began,  conducting  assessments,  delivering  assistance  and  coordinating  response  efforts.  Food,  water,  sanitation,  shelter,  health  and  mine  clearance  continue  to  be  urgent  priorities.      

Khost  &  Paktika  Situation  Update  75  -­‐  Afghanistan      

 United  Nations  High  Commissioner  for  Refugees  (UNHCR)  –  www.unhcr.org  

3  

 

Contacts:    Maya  Ameratunga,  UNHCR  Afghanistan  ameratun@unhcr.org    Kahin  Ismail,  UNHCR  Afghanistan  ismailk@unhcr.org