Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

Most vulnerable people in Afghanistan, including residents, internally displaced and returnees are able to meet their basic needs, whilst sick or wounded people have access to timely and effective medical services.

Expected results

Economic Security:

? 35,000 IDPs and residents are able to meet their basic needs through the provision food rations and/or a one off distribution of household essentials

? 500 households headed by women (3,500 people in total) have improved livelihood conditions due to the distribution of cash grants or livestock and supplies.

? Up to 2,800 victims of violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) are supported with cash relief.

Water and Habitat:

? In some 10 health clinics run by the Afghan Red Crescent Society (= the National Society) to which the ICRC has access, water supply, waste management and other facilities are constructed and/or repaired.

? 300,000 people will benefit from repaired hand pumps and wells in 20 rural/suburban communities.

? 50,000 people profit from the repair of water and sanitation in selected urban areas.

? Emergency relief supplies are prepared for 5,000 households (35,000 individuals) in urban areas.

Health:

? 47 National Society-run health facilities are provided with drugs and other supplies, assistance for rehabilitation infrastructure, training and technical guidance for staff and other forms of support is provided.

Target group / Beneficiaries

Together with its partner, the Afghan Red Crescent Society, the ICRC will be able to support the following target groups (a total of 64,000 people) with this Austrian contribution:

Economic security:

? up to 4,000 people, including vulnerable residents, internally displaced and returnees can cope with the immediate effects of conflict. Special focus will be given to females and people with special needs through applying a gender sensitive approach.

Water and habitat:

? 21,000 people have access to clean water and/or maintain their access to water and electricity during emergencies

Health:

? 39,000 conflict affected civilians in the catchment areas of 3 Afghan Red Crescent Society-run health facilities receive primary-health-care services in line with national Standards.

The ICRC has a delegation in Kabul and sub-delegations in Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif.

Activities

Economic Security:

? Distribute essential household items and food rations

? Distribute cash grants or livestock and supplies to households headed by women

Water and Habitat:

? construct or repair water-supply, waste management and other facilities in some 10 National Society-run health clinics to which the ICRC has access Clean and repair community irrigation systems

? repair hand pumps and wells; do so with the help of water management committees supported and trained by the ICRC

? repair water and sanitation facilities for 50,000 people in selected urban areas

Health:

? provide drugs and other supplies, assistance for rehabilitating infrastructure (see below), training and technical guidance for staff, and other forms of support for 47 National Society-run health facilities

Context

The conflict between NATO-backed Afghan armed/security forces and armed groups remains intense, and continues to be exacerbated by the fragmentation of weapon bearers and the presence of the Islamic State group.

Civilians bear the brunt of the fighting. Many of them are wounded or killed, displaced or prevented from obtaining basic services. Major deficiencies exist in the observance of IHL among parties to the conflict. Many households are unable to meet their basic needs and/or have lost their livelihoods, as a direct consequence of the conflict and/or because health, water and agricultural facilities and public services, especially in rural areas, are inadequate or dysfunctional owing to the fighting and economic instability. Disabled people receive insufficient rehabilitative assistance.

Conflict, detention, migration and natural disasters disperse families; some people have no news of the fate of missing relatives. Families need help to recover the remains of dead relatives, but national capacities for managing human remains are limited. When detainees are transferred from one prison to another, they often lose touch with their families.

Afghans continue to flee the country because of the precarious security conditions and/or economic instability. Intensified fighting prevents people wounded during the conflict from receiving first aid and hospital care. Medical personnel and facilities lack the necessary equipment. Attacks on humanitarian workers and medical facilities and staff persist. In 2017, seven ICRC staff were killed in two incidents in northern Afghanistan – six in an attack on an ICRC aid convoy; one shot inside an ICRC-run physical rehabilitation centre – while two other staff travelling with the convoy were abducted and then released seven months later. The volatility of the situation and the complexity of the political and military landscapes restrict humanitarian access.