Afghanistan Conflict Monitor

Increase in Humanitarian Workers Being Targeted: UN

 Afghanistan: Humanitarian Workers Must Be Protected - Not Targeted, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) / Relief Web, 18 August 2010

EXCERPT: "World Humanitarian Day marked on 19 August is an occasion to pay tribute to the men and women in Afghanistan who work to save the lives and protect the health of those affected by emergencies, whether caused by the ongoing conflict or natural disasters. [...] This year has seen an increase in the number of targeted attacks on humanitarian personnel across the world. According to United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan statistics there have been 47 incidents of direct intimidation of United Nations staff and aid workers between 1 January and 30 June this year. In addition, 19 United Nations staff members and aid workers have been attacked, 63 United Nations staff members and aid workers have been abducted and seven United Nations staff members and aid workers have been killed."

Source: World Humanitarian Day 2010: Security Trends, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 18 August 2010

Read the full story.

Related articles:
Afghan aid workers freed after Taliban prison is liberated, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 19 August 2010
Aid workers increasingly in firing line, CNN, 18 August 2010
Special Coverage: World Humanitarian Day, Reuters AlertNet, 18 August 2010
Marking World Humanitarian Day, UN lauds heroic efforts on the front lines, UN News Centre, 18 August 2010

Related resource:
2010 World Humanitarian Day Film, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 18 August 2010

Related posts:
Taliban kill 10 on medical aid mission, 9 August 2010
Humanitarian space easing in Afghanistan?, 9 July 2010
UN vehicle shot in Afghan capital, driver killed, 29 June 2010
UN envoy urges coordinated assistance for development, 9 December 2009
Afghanistan: High risk humanitarianism, 18 August 2009

Security Firm Ban Could Affect Afghan Aid: US Officials

Security Firm Ban Could Affect Afghan Aid: Officials, Reuters, 18 August 2010

EXCERPT: "A ban on private security companies in Afghanistan could affect development and aid work as many of the firms guard Western projects in the country, U.S. officials said on Wednesday. Afghan President Hamid Karzai issued a decree on Tuesday ordering private security companies to disband within four months -- part of an ambitious plan for the government to take responsibility for all security in the country from 2014. The firms, who compete for billions of dollars in contracts, employ around 40,000 heavily armed guards -- mostly Afghans but including many foreigners. They are also used to guard convoys, embassies and other mainly Western interests. Karzai has long been critical of the firms, saying they had caused horrific accidents, but the speed with which the decree was issued took some by surprise and U.S. officials in Afghanistan said they were still studying it."

Read the full story.

Related articles:
US fights Karzai security demand, The Australian, 18 August 2010
Hired guns prove trouble for Karzai, Al Jazeera, 18 August 2010
Wartime contracting changing in Afghanistan, Federal News Radio, 18 August 2010
Ex-US security firm workers deny Afghan killings, BBC News, 17 August 2010
Officials: Karzai blindsided U.S. Embassy with contractor-ban announcement, Newsweek, 17 August 2010

Related posts:
Afghan president orders private security closures, 17 August 2010
Military aid work "risks charity staff", 3 March 2010
Counting contractors, managing the drawdown, 4 November 2009
The public cost of private security, 18 September 2009
Private security companies and local populations: An exploratory study of Afghanistan and Angola, 7 April 2008

United Nations Development Assistance Framework: In Support of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy 2010 - 2013

United Nations Development Assistance Framework: In Support of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy 2010 - 2013, Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan & United Nations (UN) / ReliefWeb, 10 August 2010

EXCERPT: "Afghanistan is at a crucial stage in its struggle to rise out of poverty and conflict. The intensifying insurgency adds to the critical need for the international community to do more to help Afghans build effective institutions and promote equitable economic growth. The Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) charts how the Government and its partners meet the country's development needs. Based on the United Nations system's unique role and breadth of expertise, the UN framework in support of the ANDS focuses on three priority areas: (i) Governance, Peace and Stability, (ii) Sustainable Livelihoods and (iii) Basic Social Services, underpinned by cross-cutting issues such as human rights, gender equality, environment, mine action and counter-narcotics. These three priority areas are where the UN is best placed to support the Afghanistan National Development Strategy by focusing on the nexus between stability and poverty alleviation, particularly for the most marginalised and vulnerable."

Read the full story.

Related articles:
The worsening situation in Afghanistan, Pravda, 11 August 2010
Afghanistan challenging for humanitarian workers, NPR, 10 August 2010
United States writes off all debts to Afghanistan, RTT News, 23 July 2010

Related articles:
Afghan officials want to direct more foreign aid, 13 April 2010
UN envoy urges coordinated assistance for development, 9 December 2009
Problems plague rebuilding of war-torn Afghanistan, 30 July 2009
Afghanistan National Development Strategy, 5 June 2008
Afghanistan's development and functionality: Renewing a collapsed state, 6 May 2008

Taliban Kill 10 on Medical Aid Mission

Taliban Kill 10 on Medical Aid Mission, The New York Times, 7 August 2010

EXCERPT: "At least 10 medical personnel, including six Americans, were slain in northern Afghanistan, officials confirmed Saturday. The Taliban, through one of its spokesmen, claimed responsibility for the killings. The workers, who were on an expedition to bring eye care and other medical services to remote areas, were found shot to death in a mountainous area of Badakhshan Province, according to the provincial police chief, Aka Noor Kentoz. The International Assistance Mission said six of the dead were Americans, one was German and one was British. Dirk Frans, the executive director of the I.A.M., said the team was headed by Tom Little, an American opthamologist with four decades experience in Afghanistan and a fluent Dari speaker."

Read the full story.

Related articles:
Afghans tentatively identify foreign medical workers killed in northeast, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 7 August 2010
International Assistance Mission slayings: Part of Taliban war strategy, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 August 2010
Taliban claims responsibility for killing foreigners, The Hindu, 7 August 2010

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Humanitarian space easing in Afghanistan?, 9 July 2010
Attacks make South Asia terrorism hot spot, 28 April 2010
War-zone medical aid doubly endangered, 26 April 2010
Afghanistan aid presence shrinks further, 10 November 2009
Afghanistan: High risk humanitarianism, 18 August 2009

UN Agency Sends Largest-Ever Medical Delivery to Afghanistan

UN Agency Sends Largest-Ever Medical Delivery to Afghanistan, UN News Centre, 6 August 2010

EXCERPT: "The United Nations health agency is conducting its largest-ever delivery of medicines and health supplies to Afghanistan as it helps the country to be ready to respond quickly to conflicts, disasters such as the current floods and other possible humanitarian crises. About 430 tons of materials, sufficient to cover the immediate health needs of 1 million people, are being provided to the Afghan public health ministry and its non-governmental organization (NGO) partners, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported today. The supplies will make it possible to treat at least 1,000 major, and many minor, casualties; 170,000 cases of pneumonia and other respiratory diseases endemic to the Afghan winter; and 40,000 cases of life-threatening diarrhoeal diseases. WHO has also procured equipment needed for four complete intensive care units, which will be established in existing hospitals for the benefit of remote and underserved communities."

Read the full story.

Related articles:
Afghan floods pose health concerns, UPI, 6 August 2010
Afghanistan to provide Pakistan with 4 helicopters for rescuing flood affectees, International News Network, 6 August 2010
Afghan refugees rendered homeless again, The News International, 4 August 2010
Floods kill over 60 in Afghanistan, Press TV, 31 July 2010

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Afghanistan faces public health emergency, 12 January 2009
Lack of access may spread diseases: Health ministry, 4 November 2008
Insurgency, insecurity threaten health progress, 23 July 2008

Britain to Boost Afghan Aid by 40%

Britain to Boost Afghan Aid by 40%, The Guardian, 19 July 2010

EXCERPT: "The government is to announce a 40% increase in aid funding to Afghanistan amid warnings it should not use development money for military ends. Andrew Mitchell, the international development secretary, will increase aid from £500m to £700m over the next four years to help Afghanistan stabilise. Mitchell is to redirect funding from projects in other parts of the world that his department has identified as underperforming. The UK currently gives aid to 90 countries, but has found that some countries, such as China and Russia, no longer need it and that funding to India, which Mitchell described as 'roaring out of poverty' would be reviewed. Tomorrow, Mitchell will set out how he thinks the new aid will help Afghanistan. He will say securing progress in the country is his 'top priority', including setting targets such as getting six million children into school."

Read the full story.

Related articles:
Afghanistan: Beyond "empty promises"?, IRIN News, 19 July 2010
Warlords set to siphon off Afghan aid millions, Scotsman, 19 July 2010
UK steps up pressure on Afghanistan over exit target, The Guardian, 18 July 2010
UK Afghan drive puts aid for India at risk, Financial Times, 18 July 2010

Related resource:
Press release: UK’s Afghan aid effort set to increase by 40% - Andrew Mitchell, United Kingdom Department for International Development, 19 July 2010

Related posts:
Corrupt Afghan officials "creaming off US and British aid money", 28 June 2010
Afghan officials want to direct more foreign aid, 13 April 2010
Military aid work "risks charity staff", 3 March 2010
Despite aid, hunger still stalks Afghan children, 22 December 2009

Mid-Year Review of the Appeal 2010 for Afghanistan

Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP): Mid-Year Review of the Appeal 2010 for Afghanistan, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 11 July 2010

EXCERPT: "The Afghanistan Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP) initially requested US$871 million for humanitarian actions including early recovery. At mid-year this figure has been revised downwards to $773 million to reflect the most urgent needs that can be met between now and the end of the year. The revised HAP includes 144 projects from 40 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and nine UN organizations. Based on increasing needs, some new projects have been added, while others have been withdrawn or revised. As of 25 June 2010, the Afghanistan HAP is 62% funded with $483 million. This leaves unmet requirements of nearly $290 million."

Read the entire report [pdf].

Related article:
Afghanistan: More fighting, greater humanitarian needs, IRIN News, 13 July 2010
Afghan government seeking bigger slice of aid pie, ReliefWeb / Reuters AlertNet, 12 July 2010

Related posts:
Afghan officials want to direct more foreign aid, 13 April 2010
New UN humanitarian plan aims to benefit 7 Million Afghans, 17 February 2010
Afghanistan aid presence shrinks further, 10 November 2009
Mid-year review of the 2009 humanitarian action plan, 21 July 2009
The A to Z guide to Afghanistan assistance 2009, 13 February 2009

Humanitarian Space Easing in Afghanistan?

Analysis: Humanitarian Space Easing in Afghanistan?, ReliefWeb / IRIN News, 8 July 2010

EXCERPT: "Humanitarian agencies are seeing promising signs of regaining space and acceptance from Taliban insurgents while attacks against NGO workers have reduced significantly over the past six months. Up to 1,200 security incidents were recorded in June - more than in any month since the fall of the Taliban - but attacks on NGOs by armed opposition groups in the first half of 2010 were 35 percent lower than in 2008-2009, according to the Afghanistan NGO Safety Office (ANSO). ANSO, which provides free safety analysis and advice to member NGOs, said attacks on NGOs had diminished due to their own enhanced security measures, and also because the insurgents appear to have stopped targeting NGOs. Unlike previous years when the armed opposition abducted aid workers and held them for 6-8 weeks, only releasing them in exchange for money or prisoners, this year the detention period has dropped to 6-8 days; abductees have been released quickly and often unconditionally, ANSO said."

Read the full story.

Related articles:
UN: Civilians increasingly being targeted in war, The Canadian Press, 8 July 2010
Afghanistan war: Taliban attack in north targets civilian organization, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 July 2010
Taliban threaten to attack NGOs, The News International, 1 July 2010

Related resources:
ANSO Quarterly Data Report - 1st Quarter 2010 [pdf], The Afghanistan NGO Safety Office, 9 July 2010
Broaden Focus to Causes of Conflict, Secretary-General urges Security Council, in Debate on Civilian Protection, ReliefWeb / UN Security Council, 7 July 2010

Related posts:
UN vehicle shot in Afghan capital, driver killed, 29 June 2010
Civilian deaths increase by 33%: Govt, 3 May 2010
War-zone medical aid doubly endangered, 26 April 2010
A tight squeeze on humanitarian space, 3 February 2010

Afghanistan Presents National Priorities to UN and International Partners

Afghanistan Presents National Priorities to UN and International Partners, UN News Centre, 8 July 2010

EXCERPT: "The United Nations today welcomed the priority programmes laid out by the Afghan Government in such areas as governance, development, and peace and security ahead of a major international conference to be held in the country later this month. The Government presented 23 national priority programmes at the 14th Joint Coordination & Monitoring Board (JCMB) meeting held in the capital, Kabul, which brought together senior Afghan ministers and representatives of the international community. 'These programmes are evidence of the transition to Afghan responsibility and leadership,' said the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura. The JCMB, which is co-chaired by the Afghan Government and the UN, oversees implementation of the Afghanistan Compact – a five-year development blueprint launched in January 2006 by the country and its international partners. The Government and the UN will also be co-chairing the Kabul Conference – the first major international gathering inside Afghanistan – on 20 July."

Read the full story.

Related article:
Top Afghan Ministers and international community meet ahead of Kabul Conference, ReliefWeb / UNAMA, 8 July 2010

Related posts:
Corrupt Afghan officials "creaming off US and British aid money",28 June 2010
Afghan officials want to direct more foreign aid, 13 April 2010
New UN humanitarian plan aims to benefit 7 million Afghans, 17 February 2010
Quick impact, quick collapse, 27 January 2010

Corrupt Afghan Officials "Creaming Off US and British Aid Money"

Corrupt Afghan Officials "Creaming Off US and British Aid Money", The Telegraph, 28 June 2010

EXCERPT: "The sum haemorrhaging from one of the poorest countries in the world has led officials to believe the money is from plundered Western aid projects and security or reconstruction contracts, it has been reported. Proceeds from the country's rampant opium and heroin businesses also account for part of the sum, which is more than the Afghan government's entire tax revenue. The money is packed in suitcases or even stacked on pallets and flown mainly to Dubai. Customs records for legally declared money leaving the airport showed £2.1 billion left between since the start of 2007 and the end of February 2010. The declared cash is likely to be a fraction of what actually leaves the country. Customs records are incomplete and money is also smuggled out unregistered."

Read the full story.

Related articles:
Afghan aid on hold as corruption is probed, The Wall Street Journal, 28 June 2010
Afghan elite derailing corruption inquiries, The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 June 2010
Hamid Karzai given timetable by G8 to tackle corruption in Afghanistan, The Guardian, 27 June 2010
Corruption leads to new rules for Afghan contracts, Stars and Stripes, 26 June 2010
Corruption suspected in airlift of billions in cash from Kabul, The Wall Street Journal, 25 June 2010

Related posts:
Corrupting the state or state-crafted corruption?, 8 June 2010
With US aid, warlord builds Afghan empire, 7 June 2010
Corrupt Afghans stealing millions from aid funds, 9 March 2010
Corruption widespread in Afghanistan: UNODC, 19 January 2010
High-level corruption hampers local governance, 21 December 2009