A snapshot of the Consolidated Appeal for Afghanistan for 2000

How much is required
Total of US$ 220.7 million for:

Alleviation of human suffering: US$ 83.8 million; Advancement of human rights: US$ 637,700

Provision of basic services: US$ 57.2 million; Sustainable livelihoods: US$ 50.9 million

Refugee repatriation: US$ 19.9 million; Coordination: US$ 8.3 million

WHY IS ASSISTANCE NEEDED ?

  • The current crisis is a result of 20 year of conflict. The humanitarian condition of many Afghans is being worsened by ongoing conflict between the Taleban and the United Front in the central and northern regions of Afghanistan.
  • Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world. As a direct result of the conflict as many as 2.6 million Afghans are refugees in neighbouring Pakistan and Iran, one of the largest caseloads of refugees in the world. The majority of Afghans continue the struggle to survive in the absence of functioning social and economic support structures
  • Natural disasters and the contamination with landmines of some 700 square kilometers of farmland intensify the vulnerability of populations. Drought in 1999 has compounded a critical food security situation. Civilians are exposed to a significant deficit in human rights throughout the country. In conflict areas, they have often experienced direct abuse of human rights.

WHAT IS OUR COMMON HUMANITARIAN ACTION PLAN ?

  • Through Principled Common Programming and in accordance with the Strategic Framework for Afghanistan, to address priority needs in the areas of (a) alleviation of human suffering, (b) protection and advancement of human rights, (c) provision of basic social services, (d) empowerment of Afghans to build sustainable livelihoods, (f) return of refugees:

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CONSTRAINTS WE FACE?

  • Disregard for humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law by warring parties.
  • Access and Security: limited international staff presence in-country as a result of insecurity.
  • Limited local institutional capacity to enable sustained improvement in social service delivery
  • Severe restrictions on education and employment opportunities for girls and women.

WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE?

  • Reduce the vulnerability of Afghans from the risk of natural disasters, man-made disasters as well as food insecurity and epidemics
  • Improve the impact and quality of assistance from a human rights perspective
  • Improve quality and delivery of basic social services
  • Promote sustainable licit livelihoods through support to human and physical resource development
  • Facilitate voluntary repatriation and providing assistance for sustainable reintegration of returnees.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DO NOT GET THE RESOURCES?

  • Increased deaths due to severe malnutrition, preventable diseases, landmines and conflict;
  • Further increase poverty levels if essential rehabilitation of agriculture and income generating structures are not supported
  • Health indicators, already some of the highest in the world, may deteriorate even further. Less than 35 % of the population will have access to health services, EPI coverage will not increase over 45% and child mortality rate will deteriorate beyond 257 deaths per 1,000.
  • Some 200,000 refugees will lose the opportunity to return from Pakistan and Iran. Most of these refugees are children under the age of 18 (62 %).
  • The curtailment or reduction of vitally needed mine clearance activities of some 700 square kilometers identified as being mined of which 318 are required for immediate activities geared towards housing, food production and other social activities.

Please find more information on the Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeals for 2000 at http://www.reliefweb.int/appeals