nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
Humanitarians have rapidly scaled up services to support the response to the pandemic, reaching millions of people with life saving assistance for new and existing needs. Since the beginning of the pandemic, humanitarians have implemented a multi sectoral response to COVID 19 needs and have reached over 3 million people across the country with COVID19 specific assistance.
Almost 9 per cent of the total confirmed COVID 19 cases are among healthcare staff. Health facilities across the country continue to report shortfalls in PPE, medical supplies and equipment, further challenging their capacity to treat COVID19 patients. In support of the Government, humanitarian partners have provided hundreds of thousands of pieces of PPE and several thousand items of life saving medical equipment to MoPH.
In urban areas, lower availability of income earning opportunities during winter, below average remittances, and above average food prices are likely to restrict access to food and income for many poor households, with Crisis  ( IPC Phase 3 )  outcomes expected throughout the projection period in the absence of assistance.
Late February precipitation and anticipated precipitation through mid March is likely to facilitate spring wheat cultivation in areas that received sufficient precipitation since mid February. However, lack of normal snowpack development during winter and current record minimum snow water volumes across various basins may adversely affect crop development.
Ongoing fighting has also forced the closure of a number of health facilities, interrupting access to critical health services and directly impacting more than 130,000 people. Assessment teams are currently verifying the immediate needs of affected families and organising assistance. COVID19 awareness raising and community engagement work is being incorporated into this response due to the increased risks facing people who are displaced and living in crowded conditions without proper access to hygiene facilities.
In view of the latest IPC analysis according to which 16.9 million people are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity  ( IPC Phase 3 “crisis' and IPC Phase 4 “emergency' )  until March 2021, WFP is currently revising its plans to reach more people. The total requirements for WFP in 2021 are expected to surpass US$460 million.
Afghanistan has a test positivity rate – positive tests as a percentage of total tests – of more than 33 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 more than 69 per cent of the total COVID 19 confirmed cases in the MOPH data, although this may be the result of over representation of men in testing. 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 overall in Afghanistan.
Tackling the underlying causes of undernutrition and strengthening nutrition resilience must go hand in hand with accessible child wasting treatment services including the under six months age group
This week, 7,755 people received cash assistance for winter in Bamyan, Daikundi, Kabul, Kapisa, Khost and Parwan provinces. Needs assessments are ongoing for vulnerable people who are in need of winter assistance in Bamyan, Daikundi and Ghazni provinces.
A total of 9,601 returnees, IDPs and people from host communities were reached with emergency outpatient health services and 7,482 children were vaccinated to protect them against polio and measles.
Fighting between Afghan National Security Forces  ( ANSF )  and a non state armed group  ( NSAG )  intensified with armed clashes, Improvised Explosive Device  ( IED )  detonations and airstrikes reported in Kandahar, Hilmand and Uruzgan provinces which impacted civilians and humanitarian activities.
The main roads in Zheray and Panjwayi are closed due to the presence of IEDs and ongoing military operations. Also, ongoing clashes disrupted humanitarian activities and reduced health services in Arghandab and Arghestan districts.
During the reporting period, 2,930 internally displaced persons  ( IDPs )  received humanitarian assistance including cash, food, relief items, tents, water, sanitation and hygiene supplies in Kandahar and Hilmand provinces.
Further geographical scale up of severe and moderate wasting treatment is limited by resource availability – the scaling up of severe wasting treatment services alone to around 75% coverage will require an additional USD5 million per year  ( to a total of USD25 million ) .
The transitioning of AFSeN A  [ Afghanistan Food Security and Nutrition Agenda ]  to the Administrative Office of the President  ( AOP )  and the UN agencies' continuous collaborative intentions to jointly address the nutritional situation in Afghanistan makes the last quarter of 2020 a prime time for planning and advocacy
The AFSeN A  [ Afghanistan Food Security and Nutrition Agenda ]  and agencies have also worked together on a complementary feeding framework with the same key areas of intervention as the GAP  [ Global Action Plan ]  on Child Wasting: framework for action  ( health systems, food systems, WASH and social protection ) .
The policy and programming environment in Afghanistan shows promise for an integrated prevention and treatment approach to tackle child wasting.
In response to drought and the COVID 19 pandemic, donors have become increasingly interested in social protection initiatives in which advocacy is succeeding in having a nutritional lens included.
Preliminary results from the ‘Fill the Nutrient Gap' assessment conducted during the first quarter of 2020 show that one third of Afghans would not be able to purchase diets that meet just energy needs and four out of five households would not be able to purchase diets that meet all nutrient needs for health, development and growth.
Agricultural production, processing, storage, preservation and dietary diversification programmes are the main interventions being implemented as part of preventive approaches to improve access to nutritious diets, as well as social behaviour change programming.
Limited funding to address adolescent nutrition issues including high anaemia prevalence is also a major challenge.
A further challenge is the overwhelming and increasing burden of wasting in Afghanistan, driven by issues beyond the immediate causes of inadequate diet and disease, including household food insecurity  ( leading to children not receiving the right amount of the right foods at the right time ) , inadequate care and feeding practices, inadequate hygiene and sanitation and a lack of access to health services. These underlying causes must be tackled together in order to curb the increasing wasting burden.
It is difficult to propose an additional USD48 million  ( at a minimum )  to cover supply costs for full coverage of wasting treatment services. Other types of longer term bilateral funding are urgently needed to support the government to sustain programming at full scale.
Health service delivery costs around USD180 million per year as part of SEHATMANDI. National spending accounts from 2018 reported that over 75% of expenditure is out of pocket, with households having to utilise their own resources to cover health service access.
Unlike other sectors, there is no committed longer term investment in nutrition services.
Most donor support currently either funds coordination activities  ( support for the Nutrition Cluster, for which there is no focal donor )  or the procurement of treatment supplies for humanitarian actions.
Simplified protocols for the treatment of severe wasting are currently being implemented as a means of mitigating recurrent RUTF  [ ready to use therapeutic foods ]  shortages in the country with treatment outcomes closely monitored to observe trends.
International procurement of RUTF  [ ready to use therapeutic foods ]  is challenging – all supplies must pass through customs clearance in Karachi in Pakistan before being moved to Kabul for distribution  ( given that Afghanistan is landlocked )  and this causes delays and breaks in the supply chain.
Treatment scale up is hindered by problems with the ready to use therapeutic food  ( RUTF )  supply chain.
However, an increasing number of rural households are likely to be exhausting food stocks with the progression of the lean season, particularly in areas that harvested less. At the area level, Crisis  ( IPC Phase 3 )  outcomes are currently expected in some central highland areas that typically harvest lower amounts, including Ghor  ( where production was also significantly below average ) , Daykundi  ( where terms of trade also remain below average ) , and Uruzgan  ( which is being impacted by conflict related access constraints ) .
6 Other joint initiatives have been the development of MIYCN  [ maternal, infant and young child nutrition ]  guidelines and a Social Behaviour Change and Communication Strategy and Operation Plan for Nutrition, implementation of emergency infant and young child feeding  ( IYCF )  activities and the strengthening of community based nutrition and food based programmes to contribute to the prevention of stunting.
Key collaborative initiatives have successfully increased admissions and the performance of wasting treatment programmes, including the training of health workers, last mile delivery of supply, counselling on MIYCN  [ Maternal, infant, and young child nutrition ] , community based nutrition package  ( CBNP ) , strengthening the engagement of community volunteers and Mothers'/Family mid upper arm circumference  ( MUAC ) .
Only 5% of the overall responders  ( total of 213 )  assessed have very high degree of stress, while in comparison it is marginally high at 6% among the COVID responders. But the high degree variation is observed in those who are experiencing moderate to high degree of stress, where in general it was only 21 %, but among the COVID responders it is as high as 61%.
Data indicates child labor, medical issues, child marriage and death present the top four child protection concerns. According to the FGD respondents the prevalence of medical concern has increased in January 2020 in comparison to December 2019 with 66% in January compared to 55% reports to prevalence in December 2019. This indicate a need for scale up of health interventions among the IDP population.
The adoption of negative coping mechanisms continues to be prevalent among the IDP populations. The data indicates an average of 52% of respondents engaging in negative coping strategies to address their living costs and economic hardships. Borrowing money , sending children to work, child marriage and begging on the streets are the most prevalent copying mechanisms among the IDP populations. Women and girls remain the most affected groups with 73% and 65% of respondents reporting engagement in mentioned coping strategies.. 60% of Boys and 31% of persons with disability are equally affected by negative coping mechanism.
Borrowing money, selling of assets, eating less food and sending the children to work are the main negative coping mechanisms among respondents recorded during the February 2020. Data indicates at least 52% of respondents using the mentioned negative coping mechanisms as strategies aimed at improving livelihoods. Data comparison indicates an increase in selling of assets, child marriage, begging on the streets and selling of the children during Feb 2020 as compared to Jan 2020.
56% of respondents through HHs level protection monitoring reported that the had no access to the civil documentation especially Tazkera. Access to Tazkera is still a challenge and affecting mostly the women and children  ( both girls and boys ) . This is impacting on assess to assistance especially enrolment in education facilities, search for livelihood opportunities, legal service and rental acquisition  (  land and housing )  for IDP families.
Child marriage, medical concerns, and child labor are recorded to be the most prevalent protection concerns affecting children living within the IDP sites. Medical concerns and child marriage reports have increased during the reporting period. Attention is need to find solutions to these.
Increase awareness on the negative impact of child marriage and child labor/marriage as a coping mechanism.
Clarify and communicate to agency and affected communities about the requirement related to Tazkera and access to humanitarian assistance.
In support from IFRC  [ International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent ]  and other available RCRC  [ Red Cross, Red Crescent ]  partners  ( i.e. Turkish Red Crescent Society   TRCS ) , ARCS  [ Afghan Red Crescent Society ]  has been on the ground since the onset of disaster delivering humanitarian assistance to affected families. Summary of ARCS's interventions to date, not limited to the support provided through this DREF  [ Disaster Relief Emergency Fund ]  is:  [ 4,200 people  ( 600 households )  received distributions of emergency food packages. Each food package included 2 liters of cooking oil, 0.5 kilogram of dates, 0.5 kilogram of dry tea, 5 kilograms of rice, 2 kilograms of sugar, 2 kilograms of beans, and biscuits.
Advocacy with Government and ICCT on the implementation of guidelines or directive on the usage of Tazkeras and other forms of ID as a means to access government services and humanitarian assistance.
Joint teams consisting of IOM  [ International Organization for Migration ] , WFP, DRC  [ Danish Refugee Council ] , DACAAR  [ Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees ]  and ANDMA  [ Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority ]  continued assessment on 29 August 2020 that identified 394 families eligible for humanitarian assistance.
27 August 2020 873 families are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance with 390 houses destroyed and 483 houses severely damaged.
In February 2020, debt accumulation, theft and drug addiction have continued to be the top three concerns affecting the safety and security among IDPs, this is similar to the findings in January 2020. The reports on debts and borrowing money have increased in February compared to January 2020, it shows that the reliance on debts and borrowing as a coping strategies to address the economic hardships has increased.
Its impacts  [ 2018 drought ]  continued in 2019 as poor harvests increased food insecurity across the country, leaving many IDPs in dire conditions of poverty and malnutrition.
Women and girls have remained the most affected groups in reference to adoption or impact of the negative copping mechanism at 74% and 61% respectively. Boys and persons with disability are next in ranking in reference to community groups affected by negative coping mechanism with 56% and 43% respectively.
Based on information collected, lactating women, elderly and female headed households are highlighted as the top three vulnerability groups among the IDPs.
A lack of services, markets and social protection has forced many people to move from rural to urban areas, fuelling the rapid expansion of informal settlements in the country's main cities. Around 1.2 million people were thought to be living in displacement at the end of the year 2019 as a result of disasters3
Continuous heavy rains from 25 August 2020 that led to flash floods has affected 14 provinces  ( Parwan, Maidan Wardak, Kabul, Kapisa, Logar, Nuristan, Kunar, Laghman, Nangarhar, Panjshir, Khost, Paktiya, Paktika, and Ghazni )  in Afghanistan.
Seasonal rains, floods and landslides regularly affect the northern and north eastern regions, destroying homes and infrastructure. The country is also exposed to drought, extreme temperatures, avalanches, and storms.
The Ministry of Information and Culture  ( MoIC )  can also partner with UNICEF and broadcast specific information regarding returns, so that families and communities welcome children – and other returnees – back with solidarity and not fear.
The nominal retail price of wheat flour in Nili was maximum in September 2020 and minimum in October 2020.
The nominal retail price of rice in Hirat was maximum in September 2020 and minimum in October 2020.
Overall annual trends of out migrants to Pakistan   2012 2015: 191,049; 2016: 126,596; 2017: 92,693; 2018: 80,865; 2019: 66,151
Children often travel long distances to fetch water for their families, which poses protection risks
401,823 IDPs and returnees in Afghanistan live in tents under very poor living conditions in informal settlements
The lack of hygienic latrines and sewage systems is a prevalent public health challenge. Open defecation and open raw sewage pits can result in the spread of infectious diseases.
Overall annual trends of out migrants   2020: 119,504
Annual trends of fled IDPs   2012 2015: 617,596; 2016: 1,119,665; 2017: 944,285; 2018: 840,103; 2019: 1,001,437
3,405,699 fled IDPs displaced due to conflict  ( 69% )
4,947,223 fled as IDPs and have not yet returned to their homes
The top 25 districts hosting the greatest numbers of returnees and IDPs  ( total inflow )    Returnees: 53,067; IDPs: 18,340
The top 25 districts hosting the greatest numbers of returnees and IDPs  ( total inflow )    Returnees: 68,613; IDPs: 3,046
Such a system needs to maintain effective communication channels from people, to specialised agencies, and back again. Opportunities for information, counselling and assistance – even over the phone – are required. Platforms for referral services – such as Avaaz.org – can include a focus on high return provinces to monitor child protection
A balance between child labour and education is required to support deportees and their families in the reintegration phase. The education system for them requires flexibility. A partnership between MoLSA  [ Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs ]  – MoE – MoEd and UNICEF could provide a phased approach to cash assistance to families, and re schooling initiatives for their children.
Expenses have also increased for the NGOs supporting children. Additional cars have been rented to take children back safely to their homes. Social workers required more chairs, more psychosocial support, gloves, masks and two soaps for every child.
Smaller cars are required, replacing the larger vans used by social workers and NGOs to take children from the western border back to their province of origin. These are currently forbidden as a preventive measure by the government during coronavirus.
Parents of children who experienced these violations reported noticeable changes in their child's behaviour upon their return, including being withdrawn, expressing humiliation and shame, aggressive behaviour, and physical pain as a result of assault injuries lasting at least a week.
One deportee interviewed recalled being 17 years old and seeing dead bodies strewn along the road during his migration journey. Previous research highlights similar risks, including increased risks of violence or detention along the return journey.
Insecurity is often the impetus of an initial familial internal displacement that precedes a child's migration to Iran. This internal displacement, while addressing concerns of safety, can have an impact on a family's financial situation and debt.
Families are aware of the risks they or their children may face on the migration journey. Parents or guardians interviewed specifically named the dangers surrounding vehicle accidents, hunger and thirst, robbery, kidnapping, sexual violence, physical assault, torture by police, shootings and death.
Internal displacement due to drought or conflict, before migration or following the return, was very common amongst research participants from Badghis.
Poverty is linked to other concerns related to conflict and climate and cannot be delinked from this. In Badghis, a region highly dependent on its agricultural production, severe droughts in the past few years have had a devastating effect on households. This has translated into both internal displacement and migration to Iran as coping mechanisms for dealing with climate disasters.
Recent geopolitical shocks in Iran  ( a revolution, economic sanctions, and now a global pandemic )  put at risk the situation of two million refugees and undocumented refugees, Afghan workers in niche sectors in Iran, and several generations of Afghan children now born in exile. Their return to Afghanistan is not just a migration issue; it is a historical and cultural break in regional exchanges
To establish a protection system from the Western border to minors' home communities at a time of COVID 19 is particularly important. Migration in and out of Iran remains forced. In areas of return, a stronger understanding of the attitudes and practices around unaccompanied minors' migration, their vulnerabilities, and exploring models for community based responses is essential for children to find a home they feel safe in.
Among these large return numbers, research has highlighted the increased presence of children, with a rise in the number of unaccompanied children since 2015, as well as of children returned with their families. Sustained, widespread violence, insecurity, lack of economic opportunities and displacement in Afghanistan have led Afghans to migrate to neighbouring countries, or further to Europe in the hope for stability and a better future.
Since 2012, over 1,362,900 Afghans have returned from Pakistan and 445,700 from Iran. Returns from Europe, from Gulf countries, and from Pakistan and Iran have increased since 2015, with mass returns from Pakistan shadowing returns from Iran.
Even in light of the pandemic and its closeness with the Iranian border, UN agencies, NGOs and other implementing partners are less present and have reduced movements to the border.
Gaps in knowledge still remain concerning reintegration needs at individual and community levels in high return areas in Afghanistan, and especially children's reintegration needs, and possibilities for supporting their journey 'home'.
Security incidents on the road from Herat to Islam Qala limit the number of organisations present at the border, as well as the presence of female staff. Overall, the few organisations that are present are operating with reduced staff capacity, and some activities have stopped or have been scaled down. This has allowed for COVID19 related activities to be scaled up or added, with such measures tempered by temporary halts in operations as staff were affected by the pandemic.
The response remains insufficient to meet the needs at the border, especially for children and women. Apart from the United Nations Refugee agency  ( UNHCR )  and CHA  [ Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance ]  – which are focused on smaller refugee returns – the International Organization for Migration  ( IOM )  and War Child UK, an implementing partner of UNICEF, are the main international actors assisting deportees, alongside the national Department of Refugees and Repatriation  ( DoRR )  and the Department of Public Health  ( DoPH ) .
Consequently, reintegration efforts are widely considered a key component of a lasting peace in Afghanistan, as represented in a range of GoIRA policy documents and national strategies.
The nominal retail price of diesel in hirat was maximum in September 2020 and was minimun in October 2020.
Regarding Health Protection measures, women  ( 61% )  are more informed than men  ( 55% ) .
Information related to transmission of COVID 19, men  ( 64% )  are more informed than women  ( 61% )
The spread of COVID19 pandemic across the country drastically impacted Norwegian Refugee Council programming including Education. All Norwegian Refugee Council classes and other education activities are suspended since 16th March 2020 and students are left behind with no access to any other learning alternatives.
Programmes should provide tailored agricultural solutions that respond to the spectrum of HLP conditions in Afghanistan – from high tenure security/ low eviction threat to low tenure security/ high eviction threat – and be implemented in partnership with government entities to legitimize the property rights of marginalized groups.
Availability of Television: 37.6% of families own televisions, which they use mostly for watching news and the serials broadcasts by television channels, while 62.4% of families do not have televisions in their homes.
Beneficiary Settlement  ( Urban vs. Rural ) : The internally displaced persons  ( IDPs )  who are covered by education projects in these six provinces of Afghanistan are settled in both urban and rural areas. 48.1% of total beneficiaries are temporarily settled in cities or in the outskirts of cities, which have access to electricity and television coverage, and 51.9% of total beneficiaries are living in rural areas where availability of electricity, television coverage and radio broadcast are inconsistent or lacking
Applicability of alternative pathways  ( distance learning and self learning )  of MoE plan disaggregated by province. Respondents were asked if the alternative learning pathways suggested by the MoE were applicable for CBE students' learning. If they responded yes, then they chose an option of which distance learning modality was most accessible to their household. If they chose no, then they had no access to distance learning modalities and only reduced size classes would benefit their child ( ren ) 's learning during the school closure period. Jawzjan   No: 43.4%, Yes: 56.6%
Applicability of alternative pathways  ( distance learning and self learning )  of MoE plan disaggregated by province. Respondents were asked if the alternative learning pathways suggested by the MoE were applicable for CBE students' learning. If they responded yes, then they chose an option of which distance learning modality was most accessible to their household. If they chose no, then they had no access to distance learning modalities and only reduced size classes would benefit their child ( ren ) 's learning during the school closure period. Kunduz   No: 70.5%, Yes: 29.5%
There are also strong gendered aspects to food insecurity. Food consumption and dietary diversity reduces during crisis and this burden falls heavily upon women who often adopt negative coping mechanisms such as skipping meals.
Applicability of alternative pathways  ( distance learning and self learning )  of MoE plan disaggregated by province. Respondents were asked if the alternative learning pathways suggested by the MoE were applicable for CBE students' learning. If they responded yes, then they chose an option of which distance learning modality was most accessible to their household. If they chose no, then they had no access to distance learning modalities and only reduced size classes would benefit their child ( ren ) 's learning during the school closure period. Kandahar   No: 24.9%, Yes: 75.1%
Applicability of alternative pathways  ( distance learning and self learning )  of MoE plan disaggregated by province. Respondents were asked if the alternative learning pathways suggested by the MoE were applicable for CBE students' learning. If they responded yes, then they chose an option of which distance learning modality was most accessible to their household. If they chose no, then they had no access to distance learning modalities and only reduced size classes would benefit their child ( ren ) 's learning during the school closure period. Kabul   No: 30%, Yes: 70%
Applicability of alternative pathways  ( distance learning and self learning )  of MoE plan disaggregated by province. Respondents were asked if the alternative learning pathways suggested by the MoE were applicable for CBE students' learning. If they responded yes, then they chose an option of which distance learning modality was most accessible to their household. If they chose no, then they had no access to distance learning modalities and only reduced size classes would benefit their child ( ren ) 's learning during the school closure period. Faryab   No: 66.9%, Yes: 33.1%
Food insecurity is particularly prevalent within displaced urban/peri urban populations who have seen their purchasing power decrease dramatically during COVID 19 as casual/day wage livelihood opportunities disappear.
Applicability of alternative pathways  ( distance learning and self learning )  of MoE plan disaggregated by province. Respondents were asked if the alternative learning pathways suggested by the MoE were applicable for CBE students' learning. If they responded yes, then they chose an option of which distance learning modality was most accessible to their household. If they chose no, then they had no access to distance learning modalities and only reduced size classes would benefit their child ( ren ) 's learning during the school closure period. Balkh   No: 40.3%, Yes: 59.7%
The applicability of alternative pathways of Ministry of Education  ( distance learning and self learning )  for surveyed projects: Community Based Education Italy   No: 25.7%, Yes: 74.3%
The applicability of alternative pathways of Ministry of Education  ( distance learning and self learning )  for surveyed projects: Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund   Education in Emergencies   No: 53.3%, Yes: 46.7%
Afghanistan is referred to as an agricultural country because of agriculture industry, while contributing 30% to GDP, is a source of employment for approximately 70 percent of population, mostly in rural areas.
Decline in agriculture activity due to movement restrictions and also lack of demand due to unemployment worsened socioeconomic condition of most which ultimately affected well being of children.
Analysis of the suggestions provided by the respondents in terms of potential solution to the listed problems shows that mostly suggested solutions include CASH and Voucher transfers so that the household can directly meet their needs through buying food, hygiene and health related items and products.
Analysis of the suggestions provided by the respondents in terms of potential solution to the listed problems shows that mostly suggested solutions are the distribution of health and hygiene products  ( 68.5% ) .
Food consumption and dietary diversity scores are low amongst urban Afghan populations: over 75% of displaced people ranking food as their most important need and their highest household expenditure  ( Afghanistan SFSA 2019 ) .
Information related to Symptoms women  ( 58% )  are marginally less informative than men  ( 60% )
1,346,907 people living in PARRs  [ Priority Areas of Return and Reintegration ]  as of August 2020   Host Community: 698,797; Returnees: 508,388; IDPs: 139,722
Enhanced access to health services and reintegration support upon return and at the community level is essential in the current context.
1656 Household have been reached by IOM's  [ International Organization for Migration ]  Protection program with key WHO messages on COVID 19. Information was provided in response to gaps in respondents' knowledge.
A significant proportion of returnees do not have access to proper sanitation facilities, PPE  [ Personal Protective Equipment ]  or health services in their homes or communities, compromising positive health seeking behaviors.
Recommendation: Cash interventions including cash for Protection  ( particularly to families with children at risk of being sent to work )  in combination with comprehensive case management is needed to mitigate protection risks and limit resort to a range of negative measures which put the most vulnerable households at risk.
Recommendation: Government, humanitarian and development partners must ensure that the latest Risk Communication and Community Engagement  ( RCCE )  messages are communicated in an appropriate, timely manner, with and through trusted partners, to all populations under their control – using mediums preferred by communities, and encouraging community engagement through the entire process with a focus on increasing access to women and the most vulnerable.
Survey results demonstrated that elderly persons  ( 55% )  and returnees  ( 46% )  face discrimination and mistreatment because of COVID 19 in certain localities such as Kunduz, where returnees from Iran are singled out with the highest rates of discrimination  ( 86% ) , followed by those from Pakistan  ( 63% ) .The main perpetrators of this discrimination were family members, the community and the authorities, with restriction on movement  ( 75% )  and detention  ( 36% )  cited as the most common consequences.
Urban agriculture is particularly important for sustainable townships as a livelihoods intervention that builds on the skills of Afghan IDPs and returnees. Agriculture is the dominant economic sector in Afghanistan, and also represents the skills and experience of the majority of the Afghan population  ( Bolton, 2019 ) .
Information related to Risks and Complications, women  ( 32% )  have more information than men  ( 29% )
In this regard, country wide studies of Afghanistan show limited economic activity in peripheral urban settlement sites, and a prevalence of urban based informal work  ( ILO, 2013 ) . Such livelihood profiles are a cause of vulnerability, and have effects in relation to health, food security and intergenerational poverty
A series of studies suggests that there is also a higher incidence of MERS CoV and influenza in men than in women, which is probably due to a higher level of testosterone and a corresponding suppression of their immune response
In this study, we observed a higher rate  ( twothird )  of COVID 19 incidence and deaths in men than in women which is not unexpected because the country is conservative society and more males are involved in social and economic affairs. It means that men are likely to spend more time outdoors and thus have a higher risk of exposure to a source of infection.
There are only 9.4 skilled health professionals, and 1.9 physicians per 10,000 individuals in Afghanistan; physicians are disproportionately distributed across the country, with 7.2 physicians per 10000 people in urban areas and as few as 0.6 physicians per 10000 in rural areas.
Out of those households which reported that they are using cash in hand and savings to handle negative impacts on the income, the average days that they reported to be able to survive is 36.6 days with a minimum of 2 days and maximum of 6 months.
The health system of the country has been steadily progressing over the last 17 years, with increasing coverage of health services throughout the country. In 2018, a total of 3,135 health facilities were functional, which ensured access to almost 87% of the population within two hours distance .
On 4th June, 2020, Afghanistan ranked 41st as compared to six weeks back  ( 72nd )  based on total number of 18,969 confirmed cases and 49th compared to six weeks back  ( 66th )  based on total number of 309 deaths out of 215 countries and territories in the world . Comparison of the rate of confirmed cases per million population, the country ranked 90th as compared to six weeks back  ( 149th ) .
As of 04 June, in Afghanistan, total number of confirmed official cases and deaths were 18,969 and 309, respectively; while total active cases were 16,898 and total recovered cases were 1762 all over the country.
The first COVID 19 case in Afghanistan was confirmed on February 24, 2020 in one of the returnees from Iran in Herat province  ( COVID 19 Update: Ministry of Public Health   Afghanistan ) . Since then, many cases and clusters have been confirmed in various provinces.
Afghanistan's close proximity to the Iran, which was initially a global hotspot for the corona virus, has positioned the country at heightened risk, with tens of thousands of people and commercial movements across the border from Iran each day.
Security situation continues to be deteriorated in many districts of the province. Both conflict actors  ( AOG  [ Armed Opposition Group ]  and ANSF [ Afghan National Security Force ]  )  has increased their offences against each other and number of security incidents has significantly increased in 2020 compared to previous years. Tagab, Nejrab, Hisa e Awal e Kohestan and Hissa e Duwum e Kohestan have been the violent districts this year. SAF attack is the most common tactic  ( 80 per cent )  employed by AOG members in the province against ANSF checkpoints and convoys.
In general, 2020 security situation in Parwan province was not stable, with at least 14 AOG  [ Armed Opposition Group ]  authored incidents recorded every month. Most of the AOG authored incidents in the province were SAF attack against ANSF  [ Afghan National Security Forces ]  checkpoints along the highway between Parwan to Kabul and Parwan to Bamyan. AOG  ( especially IEA  [ Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ]  )  are active in districts of Siya Gird, Shinwari, Koh e Safi and Bagram
Based on the results of joint needs assessment carried out by the emergency operation committee, the affected populations are in need of immediate food assistance. This also aligns with IFRC's  [ International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent ]  broader emergency response strategy for food security to ensure that the disaster affected families have access to food in sufficient quality and quantity to meet daily basic needs.
A quarter of the labour force is unemployed, and 80 percent of employment is ‘vulnerable' and insecure, comprising self employment, day labour, or unpaid work. It is also important to note that Afghanistan's economy and millions of families have grown reliant on remittances from Iran and other neighbouring countries.
In Afghanistan, the COVID 19 outbreak came against the backdrop of the flood season. The shocks of COVID 19 have also impacted the labour markets, purchasing power and lost productivity – all of which are significant factors for Afghanistan, not least because few Afghans have access to productive or sustainable remunerative employment
IFRC  [ International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent ]  country office and ARCS  [ Afghan Red Crescent Society ]  are currently continuing the emergency operations under the support of IFRC Emergency Appeal to meet humanitarian needs of the people affected by the floods and complex drought emergency in nine provinces in Afghanistan through the provision of multipurpose cash grant, livelihoods restoration activities through cash, health services, disaster risk reduction and preparedness, protection, gender and inclusion until 30 September 2020.
ARCS  [ Afghan Red Crescent Society ] , using its existing resources such as available household items and hygiene kits in its warehouses, mobile health teams, and Basic Health Clinics, have been distributing the kits as well as providing basic health and treatment services to the people in need in target provinces.
Providing emergency food assistance will enable the target households to meet their household food needs and decrease use of negative coping mechanisms to gain income and increasing their prospects for early recovery. However, it will only be with longer term interventions that a longer term, sustainable solution to communities' vulnerability to the natural disasters, climate change, and reoccurring problem of the disasters will be significantly reduced.
Parwan Province as the most affected among all has also experienced livestock loss and productive assets damage. The disruption on local market, related to access and supply chain, has worsened the food security among the affected people.
Afghanistan is also the country heavily affected by the negative impacts of climate change that have already been felt by millions of farmers and pastoralists across the country. The chronic drought and flood risks have changed over the past decades and have been impacting the livelihoods and food security in rural Afghanistan where the majority of population are relying on agriculture and livestock as their primary livelihood means. This recent flooding, which took place in an unusual time of the year hitting multiple provinces of the country.
The security situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate as the ongoing conflict between NSAG  [ Non State Armed Groups ]  and ANSF  [ Afghan National Security Forces ] , exposing civilians, particularly women and children, to daily deadly risks, prompting mass displacement and choking the country's unstable economy
In support from IFRC  [ International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent ]  and other available RCRC  [ Red Cross, Red Crescent ]  partners  ( i.e. Turkish Red Crescent Society   TRCS ) , ARCS  [ Afghan Red Crescent Society ]  has been on the ground since the onset of disaster delivering humanitarian assistance to affected families. Summary of ARCS's interventions to date, not limited to the support provided through this DREF  [ Disaster Relief Emergency Fund ]  is: Distribution of 500 sets of hygiene kits  ( 3,500 people  ( 500 households )  )
Preliminary findings from the third round of the Whole of Afghanistan Assessment show that 79 per cent of women and 63 per cent of men have observed at least one change in behaviour.
Unfavourable social norms result in women and girls receiving less food than male members in households suffering food shortages.
Afghanistan's annual public expenditure on mental health services is less than US$1 per capita. This is an area requiring dedicated attention from both the public health system and its partners, including humanitarian assistance providers. COVID 19 is not only impacting the physical health of women and girls' physical but also their mental well being.
Survey shows that a higher percentage of women than men increased the amount of time they spent on both unpaid domestic  ( 83 per cent )  and care work  ( 80 per cent ) . This same holds true for women respondents within the IDP, returnee and host community categories. When looking at the intensity of the increases, measured by whether a person performs at least three such activities, the results show that women are carrying the heaviest burden.
A total of 78 percent of women and 77 percent of men reported that their mental and emotional health had been adversely affected since the start of the pandemic. These numbers are the highest in the region.
A higher proportion of men than women found the information they attained clear and helpful in preparing for the pandemic  ( 58 per cent, versus 50 per cent of women ) . Overall, women noted that such information on COVID 19 either came too late to enable adequate preparations  ( 24 per cent )  or was confusing or contradictory  ( 20 per cent ) ; compared to 20 per cent and 16 per cent of men, respectively.
According to the findings of the survey, the proportion of COVID 19 positive infection among respondent of 18 years or above was 35.2% and the proportion of COVID 19 negative infection was 64.8%  ( Table 1 ) . The proportion of COVID 19 positive was 33.9% among males and 37.1% among females. Likewise, the proportion of COVID 19 positive was 42.3% in urban areas compared to 31.6% in rural areas.
A total of 5,168 household members of 18 or above were interviewed and tested for the survey.
So far, no vaccine has been introduced and there is no effective and specific treatment for COVID 19; hence, the countries have recommended non pharmaceutical measures such as social distancing, home quarantine, closure of schools and universities, and avoiding gathering in order to decrease the virus transmission within the society and decrease the burden on healthcare system.
Only 22% of children are following classes broadcast on TV, and 7% following classes broadcast on the radio.
According to UNHCR's latest border monitoring report  ( covering the month of February 2021 ) , 38 per cent of returnees interviewed at the Islam Qala and Milak border crossing points and 20 per cent of returnees interviewed at the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossing points said they faced problems during the COVID 19 outbreak in neighbouring countries, such as lost work/wages, discrimination/stigmatisation by local communities, lack of access to markets, pressure from authorities to return to Afghanistan, movement restrictions related to the lockdown, and lack of access to medical services.
These factors, combined with COVID 19 related interruptions to informal employment and decreased remittances, are driving people into crippling debt. Data from the 2020 Whole of Afghanistan Assessment showed that the primary reason for taking on this debt last year was to pay for food  ( 53 per cent ) .
Humanitarian needs driven and exacerbated by conflict, natural disasters and the multi dimensional impact of the COVID 19 pandemic continue to affect millions of people in Afghanistan in 2021.
Food prices are already at elevated levels due to COVID 19 and are likely to increase further if the current weather patterns persist.
WHO Afghanistan remains concerned about mutations of the virus. There is significant increase in cases in Pakistan with the new variant which is potential more infectious and affect younger population.
Households were asked to indicate how reduced income affected the health, education and social wellbeing of their family members. This is mentionable that engaging in illegal works was also reported by 5.4% of the households as a measure undertaken by the households to cope with the loss of income.
In regard to household's coping strategies with the impacts of decrease or loss of income; the findings show that 7% of the households also reported that they are using saving or cash in hand to compensate for the loss of income in their families.
The findings of the assessment indicate the critical child protection issues that communities are facing in western part of Afghanistan which requires urgent actions. Families need to be provided with educational materials and school kits to ensure children have access to basic resources to continue their education.
Assessment of Health and Wash related conditions of the households shows that the majority of them are struggling to access basic needs and there is immediate need to support the most vulnerable in accessing the services as well as provision of hygiene items specifically for households that have infants. Targeted interventions need to be implemented covering those who are in need of assistance such as women headed households and those who have pregnant or lactating woman as family members.
In general, survey participants reported significant decrease in accessing essential and basic health services. As claimed, due to high demand health services are not accessible especially MHT, maternal centers etc. Households also indicated that they are not able to meet basic health related needs such as medicines, visits to doctors and special treatment for chronically ill family members.
In terms of food consumption, the findings suggest that food consumption decreased for both adults and children since the pandemic but children are still a priority in the family in terms of having at least three meals per day but still there are children who do not have access to at least two meals per day. In case of food shortage, households reported to rely on less expensive food and reduce the portion of the meal as well as number of meals per day for both children and adults.
Beneficiaries reported that they are no longer selling agriculture and livestock products at the local markets but keeping it for household use. In terms of coping strategies with loss of income, beneficiaries reported that they are selling household items and using saved money however, it is not sufficient and will be enough to survive only for one month.
As reported by the World Bank  ( 2020 ) , Afghanistan's economy has been hard hit by the outbreak of the COVID 19 virus, due to negative impacts on consumption, exports, and remittances.
Respondents also mentioned that they had difficulties to stay indoors during the quarantine followed by the observation that in some cases violence within the family members increased due to fact that many breadwinners lost their job and/ or had to stay home to keep the social distancing.
Respondents identified following needs to support their children for basic education: provision of educational materials  ( 76% )  as well as distribution of school kits  ( 56% ) . Followed by provision of after school classes in supporting children to obtain basic education  ( 34.5% )