Winterization Assistance for conflict and natural disaster-affected families in Herat,  Badghis and Balkh Provinces The Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF) sixth Reserve Allocation was launched to address shelter needs of displaced populations, particularly in regards to winterization, which remains a major concern. Drought-displaced Afghans in Herat and Badghis informal displacement sites are currently hosted in sub-standard make shift shelters (mud block houses), the roof is poorly constructed and risks collapsing during the winter season. In Balkh, IDPs who settled in informal settlements are living in tents or make shifts shelters which are susceptible to weather elements particularly the cold weather and thus expose vulnerable families to respiratory diseases like pneumonia and coughing. Persons at risk include children, nursing mothers and the elderly. There are many IDP families who are living in overcrowded shelters that lack windows and doors making them susceptible to the cold weather.  

In Herat, Badghis and Balk the temperatures started dropping in mid-October. The temperatures are expected to lower further in November and December below zero. With lack of adequate physical protection vulnerable households will be exposed to freezing weather conditions with sometimes fatal consequences. 

The released, 6th Reserve Allocation will therefore directly respond to the needs of this vulnerable families which are displaced or live within displacement locations with high priority needs since they have limited capacity to cope with the harsh winter conditions and will require basic assistance, including interim shelter and household heating solutions in order to survive.

The proposed project will target displacement-affected communities currently residing in Shahrak-e-Sabz IDP site in Karukh District (Herat Province) and Qala-e-Naw IDP sites in Qala-e-Naw District (Badghis Province) for winterization support through a standard package of heating/ fuel that meet Cluster specifications, and shelter upgrades through provision of sealing-off kits (SOK) to ensure safer and dignified living conditions for displacement-affected households. In Balkh, NRC will target displaced communities in Mazar-e Sharif, Dehdani and Nahri Shahi Districts with cash for heating support. 

NRC proposes to provide shelter upgrades through in-kind distribution of SOK to 1,155 families in Karukh Districts, Herat Province and winterisation support to 1,450 IDP households in Qala-e-Naw, Badghis Province. In Balkh Province, NRC will target 375 individuals in Mazar-e-sharif, 3,240 individuals in Nahri Shahi and 2,340 individuals in Dehdadi Districts. The numbers of individuals also depend on the number of members per household.

The winterisation assistance will be provided through a one-off cash support of USD $200 (~15,600 AFN - distribution time market exchange rate to be used) as markets remain functional in target locations in Badghis Province. Cash distributions will be held in NRC’s community centers across the informal IDP sites through an existing financial service provider (Hawala agent). NRC will ensure that the distribution will follow both NRC’s SoP and the Cash and Voucher Working Group’s (CVWG) recommendations on cash delivery mechanisms. 

The project, implemented directly by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), continuing recent and long-standing interventions in these areas, is aligned with the AHF Reserved Allocation strategy priorities, and has been coordinated through relevant fora, notably the Afghanistan Emergency Shelter and NFI (ES/NFI) Cluster – both at the regional and national level – as well as UNOCHA.

This will fill anticipated gaps in ES/ NFI support to the affected population and complement activities undertaken through other funding mechanisms.