nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
the security outlook for 2019 has been characterized by high levels of civilian casualties due to the use of suicide and non suicide Improvised Explosive Device  ( IED )  attacks in civilian populated areas, a continued escalation of air strikes and, deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian sites, including election  related violence. July 2019 recorded the highest number of civilian casualties since UNAMA began systematic documentation in 2009. Women and children accounted for 41 per cent of casualties in the first 3 quarters of 2019.
The underpinning factor, however, is underdevelopment – which has inhibited the widespread availability of adequate basic water and sanitation infrastructure in the country. For many safe water is not available within 0.5 km of their home  ( as per SPHERE standards ) . This is particularly the case for displaced households, as 57 percent of displaced households with insufficient or barely enough water indicated that water points are too far to allow them to collect water to meet their water demands, while 15 per cent of households confirmed that water is not available within 0.5 km of their homes.
A considerable proportion of the population in Afghanistan has limited access to safe water, adequate sanitation facilities and hygiene practices. This is primarily attributed to decades of conflict in the country and repeated sudden onset natural disasters that damage the limited infrastructure that does exist. Unavailability of basic WASH services is more pronounced in districts that are hard to reach – where 59 percent of the districts were found to be in WASH stress and another 22 per cent are in severe need.
Analysis of the 2019 PiN figure shows that it did not accurately reflect the protection needs of the people of Afghanistan – representing only 33 per cent of the overall PiN figure at a time when millions are grappling with the impact of continued conflict, poverty and natural disasters.
In urban displacement settings, a UN Habitat survey has shown that less than eight per cent of women who were in a protracted state of displacement were in possession of a Tazkera. This exacerbates the insecurity faced by female headed IDP households, a third of whom say they are unable to return to their areas of origin due to land occupation.
Around 3.5 million Afghans suffer as a result of land tenure insecurity. Recently displaced and returnee households often face highly insecure tenure, immediate threats of eviction and severe restrictions placed on much needed upgrades to shelter and infrastructure  ( e.g. WASH ) . Many IDPs and returnees are in a protracted state of displacement, facing many years of tenure insecurity, shelter and infrastructure deficits. Land often cannot be made readily available to accommodate the influx of IDPs and returnees due to the complexity of land allocation processes and lack of clarity over ownership/property rights, even of government land.
The 2019 WoA Assessment shows that prevalence of disability was four per cent higher amongst host communities and non displaced shock affected households as compared to IDP households. The impact on the conflict on mental well being is also severe. One out of two Afghans is suffering from psychological distress and some 20 per cent of the population is impaired in his or her role due to mental health issues.
At lower secondary level, girls are more than twice as likely  ( 8.3 per cent vs. 4.1 per cent )  to drop out than boys. Denial of resources, opportunities, or services, emotional abuse, and forced marriage were the most highly reported types of GBV.
Almost 10 per cent of children are impaired in their daily lives by a mental health problem, affecting their ability to absorb knowledge at school and their overall cognitive development.
Normal structures that protect children at national, local and community level have broken down during conflict and natural disasters. This has created an environment with a high risk of separation of children from their families; psychosocial distress; recruitment into the armed forces and armed groups  ( particularly for boys ) ; exploitation of boys and girls through child labour; early and forced marriages  ( especially for girls ) , denial of education opportunities; and sexual exploitation.
With regard to the protection of children, education facilities continue to be heavily affected by ongoing conflict – often destroyed, forced to close or used for military purposes. The EiEWG notes that in the first 10 months of 2019, 722 schools were forcibly closed and remained closed due to insecurity. When schools closed, 328,094  ( 113,597 girls and 214,497 boys )  children were prevented from learning, missing the chance to build their future, and often risking engagement in dangerous work.
IDP women and children, returnees, and people affected by rapid onset emergencies face heightened risk that their nutritional status will deteriorate.
The World Bank estimates that under nourished children are at risk of losing more than 10 per cent of their lifetime earning potential, creating huge implications for national productivity. For those suffering as a result of stunting, estimates suggest their earning capacity may be reduced by as much as 22 per cent. In addition, women of reproductive age and adolescent girls affected by under nutrition suffer adverse effects on their own health, as well as later on the birth outcome of their infants.
Malnutrition in both childhood and pregnancy has adverse consequences for immediate child survival and long term well being. In low income countries like Afghanistan, under nutrition is associated with more than 50 per cent of all child deaths. The nutritional status of children under five continues to deteriorate in most parts of Afghanistan, directly threatening their lives. This partly stems from the surge in food insecurity over recent years, including as a result of the 2018/19 drought, but also because of chronic issues.
With more than 80 per cent of people in Afghanistan living in poverty, having less than $1.90 per day, their limited ability to cope and recover will continue to drive shelter and NFI needs across the country. In 2021, 3.77 million people are anticipated to need shelter, NFI and winterisation support. The scale, severity and complexity of needs for emergency and transitional shelter is anticipated to remain significantly high, particularly among protracted and newly displaced IDPs, requiring core, supplementary and seasonal assistance, as well as longer term support to build their resilience.
An estimated nine per cent of people living in hard to reach areas have either severe or extreme ESNFI sectoral needs. Restrictions on freedom of movement, high levels of destruction, constrained services, limited access by humanitarian and commercial actors, and accessibility to markets contributes to high levels of vulnerability.
Sub standard living conditions in Afghanistan have threatened the well being of its people and resulted in poor protection and health outcomes across the country.
While in most households  ( 70% ) , all the children who normally go to school reportedly study  ( and in an additional 2%, just the girls, and 8%, just the boys ) , the focus has been on self study with materials, and studying supported by household members – which may be limiting in a context where overall educational levels are low.
Decades of conflict have put the Afghan health systems strained and the Governments have very restricted access to many geographical areas.
Mid March through to the end of July will likely be the peak period during which drought impacts on crops and livestock  ( agricultural drought )  would manifest.
A health worker should separate all of the clients from another and also maintain distance while treating patients. Health workers also should sit at a distance from one another.
IDPs mentioned borrowing money from their relatives as a coping mechanism. IDPs reported spending borrowed money primarily on buying food, NFIs, clothing and rent payments.
Provide dedicated market space and value chain linkages for women headed and people with disabilities households to facilitate their ability for limited production and sale of seasonal products, and to improve their future ability to access microcredit and diversify their income streams.
On the other hand, decreased remittances remain almost at the same level seen during the initial outbreak of COVID 19, with some improvements.
During February, the Humanitarian Access Group  ( HAG )  recorded at least 25 incidents involving interference in the implementation of humanitarian activities. NSAG TB continued to author most incidents  ( 20 ) , followed by GOA  ( 3 )  and ANSF  ( 1 ) , with one incident being authored by ACG.
As a result of below average precipitation, the risk of flooding and landslides during spring months is expected to be lower than usual. However, flash flooding is still possible due to storms in the coming months.
The loss of livelihoods and a dire food security and nutrition situation has left people to use up their savings and take on debt, cut meals and medical expenses, and risk being evicted from their homes.
Ongoing humanitarian winterisation assistance reached 2,386 vulnerable displaced people, people in the host community and returnees in Badghis and Ghor provinces.
Afghanistan has the highest proportion of people living under the poverty line, an estimate of 54% of the population lives under the national poverty line; livelihood challenges due to the lockdown is making difficult situation unbearable.
IDPs have told Norwegian Refugee Council staff that they are more concerned about the lack of livelihood opportunities and lack of food than Covid 19.
Lockdown measures earlier in the crisis significantly decreased daily labour opportunities, reducing household purchasing power and access to food – in a recent survey conducted by NRC, 78 per cent of respondents reported that they had lost a job as a result of the crisis.
IOM provided post arrival humanitarian assistance to 1,008  ( 7% )  undocumented Afghans at the IOM Transit Centers in Herat and Nimroz during the past week.
From the onset of the emergency, the government has mobilized civil and military departments in order to respond to the immediate needs of the affected people particularly on WASH, shelter, protection, and livelihoods restoration support.
( 29 November – 05 December 2020 ) Interviewed returnees from Pakistan were travelling to 34 provinces, with the majority  ( 85% )  intending to return to Kandahar, Nangarhar, Kabul, Helmand, Ghazni, Zabul, Kunduz, Uruzgan, Herat, and Maidan Wardak provinces.
The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority  ( ANDMA )  coordinates all interventions by humanitarian agencies with support from UNOCHA and through the Command and Control Centre under the supervision of the Minister of State for Disaster Management.
More than 119,000 children have been reached with home based learning materials. Nutrition partners have distributed more than 125,000 IEC materials across the country since the start of the crisis.
Protection partners have reached more than 301,000 people with psychosocial support services. More than 1.1m people have been reached with COVID 19 specific food assistance by WFP between 1 March and 11 November.
Also, 5,378 vulnerable people received winter assistance in Badakhshan, Baghlan, Kunduz and Takhar provinces.
On October 20, 2019, IMC organized a meeting with Governor of Batikot district Mr. AbdulWahab regarding Batikot district IDPs and returnees. During the meeting, he appreciated IMC activities in Batikot district that supported people through construction of Latrines and water pipe scheme.
Ongoing clashes resulted in the suspension of humanitarian activities, including health and education services in Maywand and Zheray districts. Increased insecurity in Arghestan district may also interrupt humanitarian activities at the border.
In Kandahar province, armed conflict was ongoing in Arghandab, Zheray and Panjwayi districts causing approximately 5,000 people to flee to Kandahar city.
The main roads in Zheray and Panjwayi are closed due to the presence of IEDs.
Assessment teams identified approximately 2,723 people displaced by conflict in Baghlan, Kunduz and Takhar provinces to receive humanitarian assistance in the coming days.
( 29 November – 05 December 2020 ) After a temporary suspension of voluntary repatriation between 04 March and 29 April due to COVID 19, UNHCR resumed its facilitated voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees from Iran as of 30 April and from Pakistan and other countries as of 10 August.
COVID 19 comes to an already fragile economy with high levels of poverty, serious threats to security and safety, and an unclear political future.
A total of 2,600 people affected by conflict received humanitarian assistance including food, household items, water, sanitation and hygiene supplies in Badghis, Ghor and Farah provinces. Needs assessments of people affected by conflict continued in Badghis, Ghor, Hirat and Farah provinces.
50% of the interviewed returnees stated that they returned to Afghanistan to reunite with family members, 25% due to threat of detention/forced quarantine, 10% due to lack of employment opportunities and 9% due to denied access to health facilities;
International Military Forces should thoroughly review and strengthen current tactical protocols to prevent civilian casualties, particularly in the context of airstrikes carried out in support of forces on the ground who come under attack and strikes carried out on structures in any context
The SHURA programme, implemented by GoIRA with technical support from UN Habitat, is operationalizing the PD 305 in two pilot sites in Kabul and Herat, with a view to up scaling nationally.
International Military Forces should continue to fund the Civilian Casualty Mitigation Team to enable it to conduct in depth and timely assessments of civilian casualty incidents, and to expand the functions of the team to allow for engagement in lessons learned exercises.
Close to 100% of the respondents stated that they had received information about COVID 19 in Iran through TV, radio and local communities;
A total of 4,346 household members aged 5 17 years were interviewed and tested in this survey.
The national COVID 19 morbidity and mortality survey in Afghanistan reveals that about 10 million people  ( 31.5% )  had either current or past COVID 19 infection, while about 6 million adults aged 18 or above and 3 million children aged 5 to 17 years old had either current or past infection .
According to the IOM, around 4 million people have returned to Afghanistan, mainly from Iran and Pakistan since 2012, while there are currently 4.2 million IDPs across the country  ( IOM, 2020 ) .
The COVID 19 pandemic has exacerbated the rate of returns, particularly from Iran, from where nearly 225,000 Afghan's returned in the first quarter of 2020  ( OCHA, 2020 ) .
The reintegration of these communities provides an opportunity for long term socioeconomic development, and for a lasting peace, as marginalised groups are integrated into formal social, economic and governance systems.
Consequently, HLP rights is the focus of GoIRA's flagship returnee reintegration mechanism, the Presidential Decree 305  ( PD 305 ) .
Many Afghans living in protracted urban displacement are rural dwellers, forced from their agricultural land by insecurity. Often, they must adapt to fragile employment situations as unskilled laborers after their former agricultural livelihoods become out of reach. In this environment youth may get pulled into criminal activities, join armed groups or be forced to migrate in search of employment opportunities.
Multi scale urban agriculture activities can incorporate innovative HLP regimes to provide secure property rights, access to livelihoods and incentives for investment, working at the household  ( backyard gardens )  and community  ( communal gardens and street shrubbery )  levels.
32% of the respondents stated that they returned to Afghanistan due to economic problems including lack of employment opportunities  ( 26% )  and high cost of living  ( 6% )  in CoPR; 26% to reunite with family members in Afghanistan, 23% due to fear of COVID 19, and 19% due to other reasons.
Enikaas TV  ( based in Nangarhar )  is broadcasting Educational programmes only for 10th, 11th and 12th Grade students and around 10 15 % have access to it. In Kunar, Khokola Radio is broadcasting Educational programmes which is also for higher grades only.
The findings of Accessibility survey in Norwegian Refugee Council coverage Area reveals that children in remotes areas specifically in hard to reach areas do not have access to any other alternative education pathways since the closure of schools. They are eagerly waiting for start of their schools/classes or other education opportunities during the lockdown period.
Afghanistan also has millions of people living in high density formal or informal settlement who are vulnerable partly because of the health risks associated with movement/displacement, overcrowding, increased climatic exposure due to sub standard shelter, and poor nutritional and health status
Millions of citizens of Afghanistan cannot access basic services including health, education and water.
All Anti Government Elements should cease all attacks and threats against health care facilities and health care workers, including polio vaccinators and campaigners; and provide unimpeded access to medical and humanitarian workers, especially those thatworkin relation to the COVID 19 pandemic
All Anti Government Elements should cease all threats and attacks against media, and any other acts impacting freedom of the press and freedom of expression;
Physically disabled, pregnant women and elderly persons supporting the household were highlighted as part of prevalent vulnerabilities within the communities.
According to FGD data collected, medical concerns, child labor and child marriage are reported as the top three main protection concerns affecting children during February 2020.
Advocate with Govt and INGos to focus interventions on providing income generation projects for IDP families to reduce negative coping mechanism like child labor/marriage
Child Labor has remained prevalent in Herat, this reflects the prevailing economic hardships and the need for livelihood opportunities for the adults to enable them provide for their families.
Frontline Afghan health workers find themselves in dire straits as the coronavirus pandemic ripped through their ranks with an upward trajectory killing at least eight doctors as of 04.05.2020.
As on 23 April 2020, 1,251 confirmed cases of COVID 19  ( Coronavirus )  and 43 deaths attributed to the disease  ( Ministry of Public Health ) . Kabul  ( 432 confirmed cases and 14 deaths ) , Herat  ( 358 confirmed cases and 7 deaths ) , and Kandahar  ( 139 confirmed cases and 2 death )  have the most cases
As the number of cases in Afghanistan rises, there are fears that prisoners in overcrowded detention facilities, often where up to five people are squeezed into a single cell in unsanitary conditions and without access to adequate health facilities, are at high risk of infection.
COVID 19 pandemic has impacted prisons around the world. There have been outbreaks of Covid 19 reported in prisons and jails around the world, with the housing density and population turnover of many prisons contributing to increased risk of contracting the virus compared to the general population
Key concerns for Afghanistan are Border crossing areas, low testing capacity, lack of protective equipment for frontline workers, commodity prices, impending floods, plans for camp and camp like quarantine sites, messaging and rumour management, lockdowns with restricted movement.
The shower and toilets functional in Kunduz prison are quite different comparison to the number of prison inmates. Among women prisoners, it is 3 per 38 persons  ( that includes 20 prisoners and 18 accompanied children )    The number of showers for men is quite low. Only 6 per nearly 700 prison inmates
In Kunduz, 70% of the female health workers responded are experiencing moderate to high degree of stress than men  ( 63% ) . Both are higher than the general average level assessed in the study.
The official website of MoPH on COVID 19 as on 24.04.2020 stated that 134 health workers are affected to COVID 19 and 3 deaths  ( the deaths are increased to six as per the report shared on 26.04.2020 )
It is important to note that any peace agreement that materialises between the Government and the Taliban will not apply to other NSAGs, particularly ISK, who have claimed responsibility for a series of attacks around the country since the start of the peace talks.
Taliban in some provinces like Kunduz didn't not restricted women staff, but need to have Mahram along with her to attend schools and health facilities. The outreach services of vaccination are not allowed by either women or men  ( door to door vaccination is not allowed )
Due to cultural taboos and mobility restrictions, women have less access to higher grade health facilities, unless it gets complicated where they were brought to provincial or regional hospitals.
After COVID 19, 20% mentioned that the health facilities are running below its capacity. The reasons are that in some health facilities, the patients don't prefer to receive normal and non emergency services like Anti Natal Care, Post Natal Care, Family Planning and some EPI services. These indicate that people have fear of COVID 19 and they do not go to health facilities as frequented before.
Afghanistan has an Inform Risk Index of 8.1, the second highest country out of the 191 profiled
News media includes radio, television and print media is the major source of information related to COVID 19, 41% identified it as the source of information. It is high among women with 45% and with men it is 39%.
69% use ambulances for transportation of suspected or positive cases to designated hospital/isolation /Quarantine centres. All of them have mentioned that the ambulances are disinfected for every trip
52% mentioned that, they ask the patient who feel sick with symptoms of COVID even after 14 days of isolation, they would send them to treatment centre in designated hospital and release them until they are symptom free for 48 hours
They need to take care of their basic needs and employ helpful coping strategies  ensure rest and respite during work or between shifts, eat sufficient and healthy food, engage in physical activity, and stay in contact with family and friends
Overall there are 48% of the responders among the 213 interviewed showed great stress shaped while compared to none in the case of the COVID 19 responding health staff.
In general, 26% of the responders assessed have low to average degree of stress, where as it is 33% among the COVID 19 responders.
IDPs largely work as daily laborers but reported they are unable to find work in their area of displacement. There is no market located in the community.
Approximately 60 HHs displaced from Paktiya Province to different parts of Kabul province, due to ongoing armed conflict between Armed Opposition Groups  ( AOGs )  and Afghan National Army  ( ANA ) .
In Chel Dukhtaran Village, approximately 12 20 HHs are settled, and IDPs are living primarily in unfinished houses. 10 out of 12 houses rented by IDPs have no window, while 3 out of 12 houses have curtains as front doors, posing security risks to the IDPs.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Make sure that communications and feedback mechanisms are accessible for all intended audiences.
Humanitarian Mine Action survey and clearance are recommended to reduce mine risks in community. Mine Risk Education is recommended for both IDP and host community members.
Case management:26 isolation wards have been opened by partners since the start of the crisis.
( 29 Jan 04 Feb 2021 ) During the past week a total of 10,797 patients were served by IOM's 7 mobile health teams, inclusive of 3,828 outpatient consultations, health education sessions for 10,797 persons and psychosocial counselling sessions for 1,265 patients.
The security situation remained unstable in the centre. Fighting and IED attacks were reported in Kabul, Logar, Maidan Wardak, Khost, Ghazni, Paktika and Paktya provinces. This week, 448 people displaced by conflict received humanitarian assistance in Khost province. Also, 16,975 people received humanitarian assistance for winter in Bamyan, Maidan Wardak, Parwan and Paktya provinces. Interagency assessment teams identified 10,797 people to receive winter assistance in the coming days in Daykundi and Kapisa provinces. Needs assessments of people in need of winter support are ongoing across the central part of the country.
38,550 Received assistance  ( including 2020 caseload )  IN 2021  ( AS OF 7 FEBRUARY ) .
According to WFP's market monitoring, the average wheat flour price  ( low price and high price )  increased by 13 per cent between 14 March 2020 and 31 January 2021, while the cost of pulses, sugar, cooking oil and rice  ( low quality )  increased by 23 per cent, 21 per cent, 46 per cent, and 19 per cent, respectively, over the same period. This price increase is accompanied by a declining purchasing power of casual labourers and pastoralists – which have both deteriorated by more than 18 per cent  ( compared to 14 March ) .
RECOMMENDATIONS: Include conflict indicators in MEAL plans and conduct regular, systematic and deliberate analyses of conflict environments. Have well run feedback mechanisms in place as they are often the only way in which beneficiaries can flag issues before they escalate into conflict.
45% of respondents mentioned of Social media as the health information provider. Even in this case women  ( 48% )  consider it higher than men  ( 43% )
The negative impact of COVID 19 on labour opportunities, wage income and poor inflow of remittances from neighbouring countries will continue to be felt through until the end of the lean season.
In Takhar province, illegal check points are hindering civilian movements on the main roads connecting Taloqan to Baharak, Fayzabad, Khanabad and Baharak to Dashti Asrchi. Two civilians were reportedly killed in Takhar province as a result of the illegal checkpoints. In Badakhshan province, fighting continued in Baharak, Raghestan and Yaftal e Sufla districts.
Clashes between Afghan National Security Forces ( ANSF )  and an non state armed group ( NSAG )  intensified in the east mainly in Khogyani, Sherzad and Hesarak districts of Nangarhar province. On 11 February, five Afghan Directorate of Protection Service personnel escorting a UN vehicle were killed in an attack on the Kabul Jalalabad highway in Surobi district of Kabul province.
UNICEF and partners are on the ground working to ease the dire conditions faced by internally displaced families, helping to prevent the spread of COVID 19 and reducing the devastation to these already fragile communities.
On 13 14 February, a devastating fire led to the explosion of hundreds of fuel tankers at the Islam Qala customs depot in Hirat province, resulting in 17 injuries according to the Government of Afghanistan. All humanitarian workers, including IOM's field team, were unharmed in the incident. However, the nearby International Organization for Migration  ( IOM )  reception centre facility was partially damaged and assessments are ongoing.
Quarantine measures and restrictions on movement will disrupt children's routine, placing new stressors on parents and caregivers. This disruption creates vulnerabilities to violence, exploitation  ( child labor ) , and psychosocial distress, especially for IDP and returnee children who already face increased risk of physical and emotional maltreatment and gender based violence  ( GBV ) .
Apart from learning continuity, the lack of clean water and hygiene/sanitation in government public schools is of principal concern to the MoE in order to reopen schools and prevent the spread of COVID 19 within and across communities.
Afghanistan now has a test positivity rate – positive tests as a percentage of total tests – of close to 17 per cent, suggesting overall under testing of potential cases. The majority of recorded deaths were men between the ages of 50 and 79. Men account for almost 67 per cent of the total COVID 19 confirmed cases in the MoPH data, although this may be the result of overrepresentation of men in testing.
To prevent drop out, teachers and community members must remain engaged with families not only to monitor children's well being but also to reinforce child rights messaging and promote good hygiene practices to prevent the spread of COVID 19 and enable children to go back to school more quickly.
On 23 November, 14 civilians were reportedly wounded by mortar fire in Qara Bagh district, Ghazni province.
Institute strong policies and approaches to prevent, mitigate and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse  ( SEA )  within the context of COVID 19 interventions.
Education achievements as of 31 August 2020: 140 men and women certified in ICDL  ( International Computer Driving License ) ,
Interagency teams verified 1,785 people displaced by conflict to receive humanitarian assistance in Balkh, Faryab, Sar e Pul and Jawzjan provinces.
Humanitarian partners urge the Government to ensure laboratories are appropriately equipped, staff receive timely remuneration and that procured supplies go to under resourced health centres in a transparent manner so that life saving support can be delivered to those most in need.
The Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund through the sixth reserve allocation has disbursed $10.8 million to 18 partners including three national NGOs, 13 international NGOs and two UN agencies for 22 projects that will provide lifesaving winter aid to support over 326,000 people in Afghanistan.
The decrease in remittances remains at almost the same levels as during COVID 19 with some improvements.
In Q4, the HAG recorded 68 incidents stemming from violence against humanitarians, a decrease compared to the 86 recorded in Q3 but nonetheless above Q1 and Q2 numbers. The drop can be predominantly attributed to a decrease in the number of incidents initiated by criminal elements.
The fragile health system in Afghanistan is insufficiently prepared in terms of capacity and resources to manage severe cases of COVID 19.
1,091 hygiene kits – which include hygiene supplies such as soap for hand washing, bathing and laundry as well as toothpaste and a toothbrush – were distributed during the reporting period, reaching 8,102 people across 6 districts.
The WASH pipeline is in urgent need of replenishment to cover both existing conflict and natural disaster activities, as well as COVID 19 response needs; hygiene kits tailored for the COVID 19 response are also in high need.
Protection Cluster partners in Hirat and Badghis province report that some parents and caregivers are unable to meet their children's most basic needs due to increasing prices and loss of livelihoods as a result the COVID 19 pandemic.
There is currently limited funding to support programming activities addressing child labour.
MoPH  [ Ministry of Public Health ]  data shows that as of 15 July, 10 per cent of the total confirmed COVID 19 cases are among healthcare staff.
[ According to the IPC  [ Integrated Food Security Phase Classification ]  analysis, four provinces, namely Parwan, Kapisa, Panjsher and Kunduz urban, were classified in Stressed  ( IPC Phase 2 ) .
On 11 November, four women were reportedly killed when a rocket hit a house in Sangi Hesar village in Zheray district.
Torkham border crossing site remains open but is plagued with administrative irregularities that have caused unrest amongst drivers.
Mitigation: Information dissemination on the reason for lockdowns, identification of vulnerable households without daily incomes so families receive individual protection assistance in cash.
Girls are also more stressed by losing access to food at home  ( p=0.03 ) .
On 8 November, four civilians were reportedly killed and 13 wounded including women and children by a vehicle borne improvised explosive device  ( VBIED )  in the Maywand District Administrative Center. The incident also resulted in partial damage to the nearby Maywand health facility.
The nominal retail price of wheat grain in Hirat was maximum in October 2020 and was minimum in September 2020.
The nominal retail price of wheat flour in Jalalabad was maximum in October 2020 and was minimum in September 2020.
There is a critical need to improve and sustain safe school/CBE  [ Community Based Education ]  environments by providing access to clean water, hygiene kits and disinfectant for when schools/CBEs re open.
The nominal retail price of rice in Jalalabad was maximum in October 2020 and was minimum in September 2020.
In 2020, humanitarian actors will continue to deliver needs based assistance that reduces reliance on negative coping mechanisms, promoting the safety and dignity of the people they serve.
Between 9 November and 13 December, 202,384 people were reached with WASH assistance, bringing the total to 3,123,622 people reached since the start of the crisis.
To address the effects of COVID 19, the  [ Emergency Shelter and Non Food Items ]  Cluster will additionally expand its rental support to people with insecure tenure in informal settlements.
When interviewed girls and boys were asked about the resources and support they need during the COVID 19 fight, they first mentioned the support needed from parents and caregivers to help them cope with changes resulting from the pandemic.
many women are unable to seek support due to the movement restrictions, disruptions of services, and lack of privacy or freedom to seek help.
Even at the highest risk level, safe one to one service delivery should continue, with the necessary safety precautions put in place.
Reaching the most vulnerable with adequate funding is essential for all girls and boys to ensure their families are able to engage in sustainable income generating activities in these devastating times.
Needs analysis and response planning in 2020 have been conducted in line with the 2019 IASC  [ Inter Agency Standing Committee ]  guidelines on inclusion of persons with disabilities in humanitarian action. Handicap International also provided a peer review of this year's needs analysis to ensure it fully reflects the scale and impact of disability on the Afghanistan population.
Between 6 and 12 July, 12,267 people – including pregnant and lactating mothers – were reached with COVID 19 awareness raising sessions by Nutrition Cluster partners across 9 provinces. A total of 59,952 people across the country have been sensitised on COVID 19 preventive measures by Nutrition partners since the beginning of the COVID 19 response.
Apart from the challenges mentioned, the education ministry announced the closure of all public and private education institutions over fears of the spread of the COVID 19.
Private expenditure on health is the highest in the region and this strains financially ordinary household most of whom  ( 55% )  are below the poverty line.
Both returnees and IDPs may also face limited economic opportunities because of the countrywide lockdown.
43% of respondents report tiredness as a sympton of COVID 19 in their household
40% of respondents report dry cough as a sympton of COVID 19 in their household
8.3% of households reported that they deal with reduced income by sending children to other relatives.
The WASH Cluster will now include prisoner populations in its activities in response to the intensified COVID 19 risks that people in detention face.
Only 25% are aware of the treatment, women  ( 12% )  fare much lower than men  ( 36% ) .
In Kandahar province, armed conflict is ongoing in Shah Wali Kot, Panjwayi, Zheray and Maywand districts.
During the reporting period, a total of 1,494 internally displaced persons  ( IDPs )  received humanitarian assistance in Kandahar and Hilmand provinces.
The nominal retail price of cooking oil in Kabul was maximum in October 2020 and was minimum in September 2020
In 2020, the Nutrition Cluster will continue to address the needs of vulnerable, ‘borderline' cases of acute malnutrition through prevention oriented services such as counselling on optimal care practices to mothers of children who are ‘borderline' in terms of their Mid Upper Arm Circumference  ( MUAC ) . This approach has potential to reduce the risk of rapid deterioration of the nutritional status of children with a MUAC result of 12.5 13.5 cm.
Main reasons for disruption in livelihood activities: Movement restrictions  ( ex: curfew )  28.4%
The government also released over 5,300 prisoners to reduce the risk of mass infections in penitentiaries.
The UNDP  [ UN Development Programme ]  is focusing on increased risk communication, contact tracing, case detection and home based care follow up: fixed and mobile teams in Kandahar, Jalalabad and Herat through the Rapid Response Fund; two mobile teams and one fixed health center for COVID 19 in each of the above three provinces.
To further support frontline medical and security personnel, UNDP is procuring protective and sanitary kits including hand sanitizers, rubber gloves, face masks, and other protective gear and equipment.
The security situation remained unstable in the central part of the country. A total of 15 civilians were reportedly killed and two injured by roadside IEDs in Kabul, Ghazni, Kapisa and Maidan Wardak provinces.
In April 2020, the United States announced immediate aid reductions of $1 billion for Afghanistan and threatened to cut a further $1 billion in 2021. This will impact the nation's healthcare system, which is highly dependent on foreign aid from donor countries also grappling with the pandemic.
In the beginning of the pandemic, hospitals were able to treat all patients, but due to lack of resources, had to prioritise those with more symptoms as the number of cases increased in May and June.
16% of households reported not having enough water for drinking, cooking, or bathing
Families were also concerned about passing the virus to elderly members, as they were unable to practice social distancing or access PPE  [ Personal Protective Equipment ] .
Ninety per cent of victims  [ civilians injured in attacks ]  suffered financial loss, usually due to the death of a family breadwinner, and expensive medical bills.
The pandemic and lockdown further exacerbated these vulnerabilities, especially as families in IDP settlements were unable to provide special care for older members of their families due to their economic situation.
According to Biruni Institute data, 6 million people lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
Due to the lockdown, many people lost jobs and income.
Ex government employees are typically the only group that receives pensions. There is no available social security assistance available for retirees or jobless persons.
Two older residents interviewed stated that elderly residents of their IDP camp received no additional outside assistance, which forced them to collect paper for fuel and beg for money in order to survive. For many, this practice put many at risk for contracting COVID19 and contributed to clusters within the IDP camp that spread rapidly.
Advocacy is required to ensure that humanitarian partners are able to identify and address new nonCOVID 19 related needs.
At Al Hayat hospital, mental health consultants were hired to speak to older patients to help them relax, given high levels of anxiety and stress in those suffering concurrently from other diseases, such as diabetes, blood pressure, and heart disease.
WFP expanded its COVID 19 response from Kabul and Herat provinces to Nangarhar, Kandahar and Mazare Sharif provinces.
With school closure as part of necessary lockdown measures, girls' and boys' education in Afghanistan was totally disrupted.
Maintaining an adequate health care workforce in this crisis requites not only an adequate number of physicians, nurses, advanced practice clinicians, pharmacists and other allied health workers, but also maximising the ability of each health workers to care for a high volume of patients.
Furthermore, UNAMA documented an increase in civilian deaths from pressure plate IEDs, which function as improvised anti personnel landmines. During the first quarter, UNAMA documented 100 civilian casualties  ( 47 killed and 53 injured )  from pressure plate IEDs, all of which were attributed to the Taliban.
Due to limited public health resources and testing capacity, lack of people coming forward for testing, as well as the absence of a national death register, confirmed cases of and deaths from COVID 19 are likely to be under reported.
So far, India has pledged to donate 500,000 doses  ( one person requires two doses to have a complete course )  of its domestically produced COVID 19 vaccine to Afghanistan which may arrive to the country as soon as the first half of this month. This vaccine is in the process of approval by WHO.
Around 30 50 per cent of patients experienced high levels of stress and anxiety that exacerbated their physical condition.
Concurrently, cold winter conditions continue to cause suffering for Afghans in inadequate shelter and millions are struggling to keep themselves warm amid soaring poverty driven by the economic shock of COVID 19.
And almost half of all children will be acutely malnourished this year
Almost 870,000 Afghans had to return from Iran and other neighbouring countries in 2020, having lost their jobs, thus shrinking remittances to the country by a staggering 40 per cent compared to 2019.
During the first nine months of 2020, almost 6,000 civilians were killed and injured, including 2,400 women and children.
In response to COVID 19, the government has provided accurate information about COVID 19   Great & moderate extent: 63%; A small extent: 15%; Not at all: 20%
Wheat: The average price increased by 0.8% compared to the fourth week of November, and was 21% higher than 14 March. The increase occurred in: Farah  ( 20% ) , Samangan, Sari Pul, Faryab and Jawzjan  ( 4% ) , Takhar and Badghis  ( 2% ) , mainly due to supply disruptions to the market and usual price increase during this season. Meanwhile prices decreased in Nimroz and Kandahar  ( 3% ) , and Urozgan  ( 1% ) , due to sustained supply. The highest wheat prices were observed in Paktika, Wardak , Ghazni and Nuristan  (  37, 37, 36 and 35 AFN per kg, respectively ) . While the lowest prices were in Baghlan, Sari Pul, Samangan and Kunduz  ( 25, 26, 26 and 26 AFN per kg, respectively ) .
Wheat Flour  ( High Price ) : The average price decreased by 0.5% compared to the fourth week of November, and was still 11% higher than 14 March. The decrease occurred in: Badakhshan  ( 7% ) , Kandahar  ( 5% ) , Nimroz, Nangarhar and Takhar  ( 3% ) , due to sustained supply. Meanwhile prices increased in Badghis and Hilmand  ( 3% ) , mainly due to a temporary supply shortfall and daily price fluctuations. The highest prices were in Badakhshan, Nuristan, Urozgan and Ghor  ( 4o, 40, 39, 38 AFN per kg, respectively ) . The lowest prices were in Hirat, Logar, Paktya and Bamyan  ( 31, 32, 33 and 33 AFN per kg, respectively ) .
Onion: The average price increased by 0.7% compared to the third week of November. The increase occurred in: Nuristan  ( 14% )  and Nimroz  ( 5% ) . The main reasons for the increase were higher seasonal demand and its export to Pakistan. Meanwhile price decreased in Takhar and Kandahar  ( 5% ) . The main reason for the decrease was improved supply.
On 8 November, three civilians were reportedly killed and another wounded in Dehrawud district.
On 24 November, at least 15 people were killed and 60 others wounded by two IED detonations in Bamyan city.
Early alerts indicate that the fighting displaced approximately 2,800 people in Kunduz province.
Around 600 people were reportedly displaced from Sherzad in Nangarhar province and interagency assessment teams are coordinating the response.
Support the provision and implementation of safe spaces for women and girls at risk of gender based and domestic violence. Ensure safe space initiatives for women and girls are specifically adapted to the COVID19 context, including leveraging different technologies such as mobile phones.
Ensure meaningful opportunities for women and girls to participate in all levels of decision making structures.
Eighty three per cent of victims interviewed indicated that they did not receive information from a party to the conflict after the incident, and over half of the interviewees stated that they were not contacted by the parties after their loss or injury.
22 per cent of victims indicated that they had been displaced because of the incident  [ attack ] . These interviews are but a small sample of the enduring harm that civilians have suffered as a result of the war.
The top two needs voiced by victims as most important to them, moving forward were financial compensation and efforts to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
Ground engagements remained the leading cause of child casualties, with 313 child casualties  ( 82 killed and 231 maimed ) , accounting for approximately 50 per cent of the overall total during the reporting period.
Since the start of the pandemic, the United Nations and its partners have delivered water, sanitation and hygiene assistance to 2.2 million people.
Since the start of the pandemic, the United Nations and its partners have provided home based learning materials to 54,000 children.
The response to the pandemic in urban areas entails a planned scale up in cash based transfers of $27.9 million for 2.5 million people, to be distributed between July and December 2020.
More than 120,000 children with severe acute malnutrition have been reached with specialized assistance since the start of the year.
Amidst a fragile peace process and escalating conflict, Covid 19 has created new risks and humanitarian needs across the country and severely exacerbated existing vulnerabilities   most notably for internally displaced persons  ( IDPs ) , returnees and host communities.
RCCE  [ Risk Communication and Community Engagement ]  Working Group to continue and reinforce messaging countering stigma and discrimination against returnees which puts them, their dependents and communities at further risk.
The head of Al Hayat hospital stated that he had personally trained medical staff on how to use them  [ ventilators ]  based on WHO guidelines
Under the Global Fund multi country TB grant in partnership with UNDP, a total of 8,864 undocumented Afghans were screened for tuberculosis at the Zero Point Reception Centres in Herat, Nimroz, Kandahar and Nangarhar. Of the total screened, 307 presumptive TB cases were identified and samples lab tested and 6 persons were confirmed positive for TB.
Protection: IOM's Protection programme has supported 222 undocumented returnee households comprising at least one person with specific needs  ( PSN )  in 2021 through provision of timely information, facilitating safe and dignified access to services, and provision of assistance including cash to mitigate identified protection risks and avoid resorting to negative coping mechanisms when referral pathways are exhausted.
Community Engagement and Accountability  ( CEA ) : Afghan Red Crescent Society CEA approach emphasizes a more regular or permanent presence in the communities, and strong community engagement from the outset. It promotes resilience among the affected communities by ensuring they are able to access humanitarian assistance as necessary, have the required information on the services available to them, and are involved in the planning and delivery of assistance, including beneficiary selection, distribution of cash assistance, and implementation of post distribution monitoring  ( PDM )  activities.
Another rapid assessment conducted by Samuel Hall on child returnees confirms this  [ view that COVID 19 is being spread by foreigners ] , as minors pushed by fear of COVID 19 return from Iran, and on return they and their communities fear they are carriers
Since the start of March 2020, partners have medically screened 537,764 people at points of entry, provided 335,068 people with psychosocial support to cope with the mental health effects of COVID19 and distributed more than 5.6 million bars of soap in 379 districts across the country
The gender gap in education grows bigger for secondary and university education, with only 4.9% of women accessing tertiary education, compared to 14.2% of men.
Only 37% of adolescent girls are literate compared to 66% of adolescent boys.