Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

The Goal of the ICRC Country Appeal for Afghanistan is that most vulnerable people affected by conflict and/or other situations of violence in Afghanistan are able to meet their basic needs, notably regarding food/nutrition, access to water and sanitation facilities, and access to quality health-care services.

Expected results

The ICRC aims to achieve the following main targets per Assistance sub-programme for 2021:

Economic security

• Livelihood related needs gaps as well as basic needs gaps for 21,600 vulnerable people affected by conflict/violence reduced

Water and habitat

• Access to safe water supply for 237,520 individuals (civilian residents, displaced and/or returnees) established

• Improved medical treatment of 862 wounded and sick and/or people with disabilities ensured through maintenance and construction work at field hospitals and PRP centres (= 862 beds)

Target group / Beneficiaries

With a contribution of EUR 2 Million, the ICRC will be able to reach the following results to benefit 9.069 beneficiaries:

• Livelihood related needs gaps as well as basic needs gaps for 756 vulnerable people affected by conflict/violence reduced.

• Access to safe water supply for 8,313 individuals (civilian residents, displaced and/or returnees) established.

• Improved medical treatment of wounded and sick and/or people with disabilities ensured through maintenance and construction work in up to 3 field hospitals and up to 3 PRP centres.

THe ICRC works closely with the Afghan Red Crescent Society and carries out its program in Kandahar, Helmand, Sarpoza, Lashkar Gah, Farah, Herat, Kabul, Khost, Jalalabad, Ghanzi, Mazar-e-Sharif, Bagram, Gulbahar.

Activities

Water and Habitat

• repair or install boreholes, hand pumps and other small-scale water systems in rural or peri-urban districts, and in selected urban areas; enlist the help of water-management committees supported and trained by the ICRC

• repair or construct water and sanitation facilities at selected National Society-run health clinics; make repairs and upgrades at schools and other communal infrastructure

• carry out upgrades and maintenance work at the Mirwais Hospital; guide and train hospital maintenance staff

• repair or construct facilities at three field hospitals and three ICRC-run physical rehabilitation centres, including an indoor sports arena at one rehabilitation centre

Economic Security

• provide assistance in the form of cash to victims of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) violations

• provide the National Society with staff training and financial, material and technical support for developing its capacities, particularly in restoring family links, implementing water and sanitation projects and health programmes, managing human remains, and advocating protection for medical services

Context

The Afghan government and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (better known as the Taliban) began peace negotiations in September 2020; the negotiations followed the signing of a peace agreement between the United States of America and the Taliban in February. The peace process notwithstanding, fighting between NATO-backed Afghan armed/security forces and armed groups – involving ground operations and airstrikes – remains intense, especially in eastern and southern Afghanistan, and in both urban and rural areas. International military forces continue to provide technical support for local troops. The presence of numerous armed groups, including the Islamic State group, and rising crime rates complicate the situation.

Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the fighting: many of them are wounded, killed, displaced or prevented from obtaining basic services. Major deficiencies exist in the observance of IHL by parties to conflict; schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure continue to be attacked.

People struggle to meet their basic needs, as a direct result of conflict or other violence, and/or because health, water and agricultural facilities and services, especially in rural areas, are inadequate or dysfunctional owing to years of fighting, economic instability and climate change, a.o. leading to periods of drought. Persons with disabilities are unable to obtain rehabilitative care or to reintegrate into society. The COVID-19 pandemic further endangers people’s health, livelihoods and access to services.

The large numbers of arrests, the dysfunctional courts and the slow pace of judicial procedures contribute to congestion in places of detention. Prison infrastructure is dilapidated, and health care not readily accessible or available. All this makes it difficult for the authorities to ensure that the treatment and living conditions of detainees – including women, children and foreigners – meet internationally recognized standards.

Because of the volatility of the situation and the complexity of the political and military landscapes, humanitarian access is limited and conflict-affected people do not get the aid they need. Attacks on humanitarian workers and medical facilities and staff, and the movement restrictions imposed on them, persist.