Highlights
- Afghanistan still continues to suffer from massive internal displacement due to the ongoing and intensifying conflict among government security forces and non-state armed actors. As of March 2016, 1,900 civilians are reported to be killed or injured from armed clashes, and the internally displaced from the last six months have totaled up to 137,000. Afghanistan is also host to 238,000 refugees from the protracted crisis in North Waziristan Agency. In addition to conflict-related displacement, more than 5,000 individuals were affected and 506 houses were damaged due to floods and avalanche in the first quarter of 2016 (OCHA, 31 March 2016).
- 80% of the targeted 224,000 pregnant women and children under 5 benefitted from standby health capacity in emergency-affected areas.
- 30,989 school-aged children, including adolescents, accessed formal and non-formal education. In addition to emergency school-in-a-box kits, over 200 school tents were supplied to conflict-affected zones.
- 67,796 children out of 97,000 affected by severe acute malnutrition were admitted for treatment.
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
The conflict and security situation in Afghanistan continue to deteriorate, according to several media and political reports. Displacement occurred in 25 out of 34 provinces and is expected to continue. In the first quarter of 2016, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has recorded 1,943 casualties, with children accounting for almost one-third of the total. Security constraints hamper humanitarian access and timely delivery of assistance.
According to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), at least 6.3 million people require protection, mostly women and children; families displaced by conflict need support to access housing, water, education, health services and treatment of acute malnutrition. In Afghanistan, 17 out of 34 provinces have surpassed emergency thresholds in malnutrition and 1.57 million people are severely food insecure.