Winterization Response Assistance to HHs, affected by the conflict and natural disaster in two provinces (Jawzjan and Uruzgan) of Afghanistan The HRP of Afghanistan, 2018-2021, is one of the key guidance of humanitarian needs in Afghanistan is displacement due to conflict and natural disasters. Over 227,200 people have fled from their villages and settled either in the provincial center or provinces by conflict this year. Worsening of the situation in the country lead to a large population movement including the selected Provinces. Many of these people remain displaced across the country, as conflict prevents them from returning to their areas of origin. Displacement of the population created domestic conflict in the settlement areas. 

The natural disaster also affected more than 42,000 Afghans families who have been displaced an estimated 277,000 people due to flooding in the different regions (32 provinces) of the country in the first and second quarters of 2019, which have destroyed infrastructures, water points, roads, and agriculture. 

Actually, the selected areas are affected last year drought and this year floods badly various infrastructures of the community of the targeted provinces. Due to whatever reason, the emergency response with regard to ESNFI support was limited and these areas severely underserved for the conflict and natural affected population. 

For appropriate response, ZOA Afghanistan together with other players conducted multi-sector need assessment in 2019 in the targeted provinces, which have severely affected by both conflict and natural disasters this year. The collected data of the target communities show that over  547 households in Jawzjan and  953 households in Uruzgan provinces need emergency winterization assistance. ZOA presence in the selected areas helped to verify the needs on the ground rapidly. Moreover, numerous villages in Uruzgan destroyed and were empty for many years, which AOG have defeated in the area and families started gradual return are in dire needs.

This project supports humanitarian needs according to HRP and assessment results for the above-mentioned locations. The target areas have prioritized in consultation with the ES/NFI cluster in coordination meetings. ZOA communicated with local line departments and community elders as well. The intervention will provide Winterization Response to 1500 HHs of the 2 targeted provinces. The project will distribute cash to beneficiaries to buy fuel for heating of their shelter. Women headed and disabled households will be the primary priority to get assistance. 

The project will provide various training (hygiene, protection mainstreaming) to the targeted households in order to promote hygiene and reduce waterborne disease risks. The beneficiaries will also receive protection awareness sessions on GBV and Child protection, in which women find a safe environment. 

The intervention winterization response executes based on the ESNFI guideline, through cash for fuel consumption for IDPs in displacement sites and for those in need of assistance to voluntarily return to areas of origin. ZOA has adequate monitoring in place in which the intervention supervised with appropriate technical support.