Winterization assistance Cordaid with IPs RRAA in Nangarhar and OHW in Kunduz conducted a rapid winterization assessment (Annex 1) from 18-24 September 2019, based on ESNFI cluster standard winterization household questionnaire totalling 212 interviews, 4 key informant interviews (DoRR and ANDMA), 17 surveys to local retailers and 30 technical shelter overview checklists. Additional information was obtained through triangulation with secondary sources (ESNFIs cluster coordination mechanism, rapid joint assessments). In both provinces, 49% is female and 51% is male. In Kunduz 51% is under 18yrs and in Nangarhar 61% is below 18yrs. An estimated 2% is disabled.
The ESNFIs cluster winterization strategy estimates that 95,350 families are in need of winterization assistance. In Kunduz and Nangarhar 8,602 HHs are are in need of winterization support (ESNFI cluster Winterization 2019/2020 - Partners Commitment and Gaps per Province, August 2019). Cordaid’s need assessment confirms that 71% of respondents in Kunduz and 61% in Nangarhar are in need of winterization (categorised as first priority for assistance considering access to heating, fuel stock and monthly income). In all districts where Cordaid/IPs operate, needs remain high, especially in Kunduz where fighting in August 2019 caused large displacements and considerable shelter damage (confirmed by KIIs and shelter status findings highlighting that at least 300 households (hh) are in need of one-room shelter, 200 hh are in need of shelter repair interventions and 2,000 families are in need of cash and NFIs, including winterization assistance).
In Kunduz, the individual shelters inhabited by conflict affected and IDPs are not prepared for winter and do not offer an adequate protection from the elements in most cases. Assessed shelter conditions are fairly divided between moderately (41%) and severely damaged (37%) shelters. The majority of damages are cracks in walls (63% of cases observed), broken windows and cracked foundations (53%), collapsed roof (27%), broken doors (23%) and holes in the walls (17%). 81% of the interviewees do not have any heating device in their homes, while 98% of respondents stated not having any stock of heating material available and not being able to purchase it (94%). Moreover, 61% of women and children in the target villages where poorly dressed and only 25% of households did have two double size blankets available. Considering an average household size of 9 members in the target districts, data suggests a lack of resources available to protect from the low temperature of the winter months. In Nangarhar needs in terms of winterization items is slightly higher, with 98% of households not having any heating device. 95% of the interviewees do not have any fuel in stock for winter with the main obstacle being price (97%). Furthermore, 86% of women and children in the target villages were poorly dressed. In Nangarhar, the average number of double size blankets is of 2 per household (46% of the sample), while 16% do not have access to any blanket. The lack of winterization and substandard shelters is affecting women, children, elderly and chronically ill the most. Data suggest the overall steep increase in respiratory diseases during winter, but in particular among children under 5 (43%).Overall, considerable obstacles impede households to access winter items, of great impact the price of heating material. Market assessment findings data confirms the main obstacle in accessing heating expressed by the interviewees being price (99% in Kunduz and 97% in Nangarhar). Only 18% of retailers in Kunduz and 17% in Nangarhar stated facing shortages of items at the moment of the interview and all of them mentioned blankets. Cash assistance is preferred by all respondents. In Nangarhar the most used modality for money transfer is by bank (100%), and in Kunduz mobile hawala (45%) and bank (36%) are most common. Overall objective of the project is to reduce the likelihood of disease and death during winter by providing winterization and shelter repair assistance to vulnerable people in Kunduz and Nangarhar. 60% IDPs, 20% Returnees and 20% host communities.