nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
The 2020 WoA Assessment findings show that more than 60 per cent of returnees alone have critical ES NFI needs. Many of them live in informal settlements where more than a quarter of people are renters and where many have insecure employment. For example, some 65 per cent of those in the Kabul informal settlement are unskilled labourers. Their situation is exacerbated by increases in average prices for staple foods since the onset of the pandemic, pushing families to adopt negative coping mechanisms.
According to a report by MSF, the indirect consequence of these attacks is the creation of a climate of fear among patients, often resulting in delayed seeking of health services, especially for non emergency problems, and diminished health outcomes. In addition to immediate suffering, this has serious implications for the country's long term development and prosperity.
Refugees reported particularly high sanitation needs that could put already vulnerable groups at greater risk amid the second wave of COVID 19, further disrupting the already strained healthcare system.
Poor shelter as well as a lack of winter clothing and other household items leave people vulnerable to disease and unable to cope with Afghanistan's harsh winters.
Despite average livestock body conditions, income earned from livestock and livestock products remains below average due the below average herd sizes, especially among poor households who are still recovering from the 2017/18 drought.
Civilian casualties attributed to Pro Government forces decreased by 34 per cent in comparison to the same period in 2019.
Ground engagements remained the leading cause of child casualties, followed by non suicide IEDs  [ Improvised Explosive Devices ] , especially pressure plate IEDs, explosive remnants of war and airstrikes.
Civilian casualties have slightly increased between 12 and 30 September to what they were in the weeks prior to the start of the talks.
Child casualties amounted to 31 per cent of all civilian casualties in the first nine months of 2020, and women casualties to 13 per cent.
Through until the end of April, the Humanitarian Access Group  ( HAG )  recorded 11 aid workers had been killed, 12 injured and 20 kidnapped since the start of 2020, with most incidents occurring in the southern  ( 7 )  and north eastern  ( 8 )  regions. Incident rates are relatively on par with incidents recorded at the same time last year, with the exception of the number of aid workers injured.
IED  [ Improvised Explosive Devices ]  detonations also continue to be a serious concern; while aid workers are not directly targeted in the majority of these attacks, they remain in danger of collateral or accidental impact.
Children also continue to face risks from attacks and harassment while seeking education. According to data from the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism  ( MRM ) ,7 casualty incidents were reported between January and September 2020, resulting in 13 children being killed and 8 injured.
Recent Hard to Reach areas analysis has indicated that just over 200 of Afghanistan's 402 districts have phone coverage throughout the district, with partners reporting of 34 districts with no phone coverage at all.
According to the WoA assessment, the need for emergency and transitional shelter is reported to be the highest among refugees  ( 50 per cent ) , followed by non recent IDPs  ( 37 per cent ) , recent IDPs  ( 36 per cent ) , cross border returnees  ( 30 per cent )  and acutely vulnerable people  ( 21 per cent ) .
A total of 12000 vulnerable smallholder farming households, including many other female headed households such as Zarmina facing the impacts of COVID 19 on top of the existing food, nutrition and livelihoods insecurity are being supported by FAO with the generous support from the Government of Sweden in the provinces of Ghor, Daikundi and Uruzgan.
Targeted protection assistance and MPC distributions to address debt burden and therefore reduce the negative coping mechanisms.
Refugee returnees receive a multi purpose cash grant  ( on average USD 250 per person )  and other services at Encashment Centers  ( ECs )  located in Herat, Kandahar, Kabul, and Nangarhar provinces. UNHCR's cash grants to refugee returnees are intended to prevent, reduce, and respond to immediate protection risks and vulnerabilities upon return to Afghanistan.
Germany's representative noted that Afghan refugees are leaving Iran without the necessary medical facilities to treat them in western Afghanistan and that the same is likely to happy with Afghan refugees from Pakistan, exacerbating the health crisis.
The establishment of an UNHAS [ UN Humanitarian Air Service ]  operated international air bridge between Kabul and Doha in April has largely addressed this concern  [ delivery of life saving aid ]  and will allow for the rotation of international humanitarian staff in and out of Afghanistan.
The lack of a social safety net amplifies the risk of them sliding into poverty. ( Afgan families practicing negative livelihood coping strategies )
A report in May by the Global protection cluster, a network of non governmental organisations, specifically mentioned the “early indication of increased gender based violence' in Afghanistan, saying:  [ Gender based violence in Afghanistan ] , already rife, is being exacerbated by measures to control the spread of the virus.
Livestock is owned by 45% percent of households, but according to SFSA  [ Seasonal Food Security Assessment ]  2020 data, the overall size of herds owned has decreased by 14%  ( 16% sheep/goat decrease, 14% buffalo decrease and 4% cattle/yak decrease ) .
The following situations should be monitored: Abnormal rainfall patterns, which would increase the probability of natural hazards such as localised droughts and floods in some areas, can potentially impact livelihoods and cause migration. Situation monitoring is required to project and forecast the situation for early action.
The following situations should be monitored: The flow of returns remained highest during March and April 2020 compared with previous trends because of the COVID 19 pandemic, especially from Iran.
The following situations should be monitored: The deterioration of the security situation in provinces, which could trigger the displacement of rural populations to cities. During the current and projected periods of analysis, spring offensives can increase the probability of conflict. On average, around 500,000 people migrate to secure areas every year because of conflict..
To address the acute food insecurity needs of the affected families, the following actions are required to save lives and livelihoods: To break the continued cycle of food insecurity and high rates of populations in IPC  [ Integrated Food Security Phase Classification ]  Phases 3 and 4, joint integrated programmes with nutrition, health and WASH clusters need to be designed and implemented. The complex context of Afghanistan, including ethnically diverse people, rugged terrain and unrelenting civil unrest, needs to be considered when developing strategies for food and livelihood security programming.
Constitution 2004 The rights of women in relation to accessing land and securing property rights are guaranteed by the Constitution, specifically: Article 22.1 prohibits discrimination by stipulating that “any kind of discrimination and privilege between the citizens of Afghanistan is prohibited'.
The preference  [ of IDPs from conflict affected areas ]  is to remain closer to urban and semi urban areas in order to be safe, to find income opportunities or to receive assistance.
This  [ IPC  ( Integrated Food Security Phase Classification )  ]  report also urges partners to include prolonged IDPs in response, as their situation is not very different from that of new IDPs.
While the IPC  [ Integrated Food Security Phase Classification ]  analysis could not produce detailed and separate estimations on the food insecurity of displaced populations, this report urges partners to continue supporting new IDPs as the most vulnerable group.
National authorities have delegated the determination of lockdown measures to provincial authorities, resulting in uneven approaches and necessitating additional ad hoc efforts to overcome challenges.
All protective equipment to be disposed properly or disinfected if reusable ones in 0.5% chlorine solution.
Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for aid workers. Despite a deal signed between the United States and Taliban in February 2020, a week long reduction in violence in February and a temporary Eid ceasefire, both the Afghan National Security Forces  ( ANSF )  and the Taliban have resumed active conflict postures. Uncertainty around the future of the US Taliban agreement, intra  Afghanistan peace talks and the intentions of other NSAGs  [ Non State Armed Goups ] , primarily ISK  [ Islamic State of Khorasan ] , point to a highly dynamic security situation. While the long term outlook is nearly impossible to predict, escalation in conflict, at least in the short term, is considered a likely scenario.
Avoid sharing facilities  ( water points, latrines, shower )  between households with suspected/ confirmed cases and neighbouring families.
Prioritise the use of soapy water at communal handwashing stations  ( detergent and water ) .
Set up queuing system to allow physical distancing  ( >1m ) . Adapt water points operation schedule to allow less people at a time  ( e.g. increase the number of delivery points, longer opening hours of water points )  – encourage the involvement of a dedicated operator to reduce handling of the water point.
Emphasize frequent handwashing, frequency and timing of handwashing should be reinforced – including when returning home  ( at least 20 seconds rubbing, many bubbles – but do not insist on the steps ) .
Referral pathways information in coordination with MoPH/WHO/Health actors for suspected cases but also for other type of patient – health seeking behaviours.
In late March, Afghanistan's minister of public healthpublicly shared estimatesthat up to 25 million Afghans could eventually be infected with the novel coronavirus. This is out of a population of about 36 million.
Increased geographical coverage  [ of wasting treatment programs ]  is also challenged by the hard to reach nature of many locations due to difficult terrain, weather and security.
Train all staff/ personnel including contractors on basic aspects of COVID 19. Construction staff to be equipped with gloves and mask and ensure tools disinfection.
Environmental cleaning and disinfection processes and schedules for health facilities – disinfection of soils, surfaces and PPE to be done with a 0.5% chlorine solution and staff equipped with adapted PPE should be done.
Promote cleaning and disinfection practices on daily basis at household level when caring for suspected or confirmed case, using detergent for cleaning and 0.1% chlorine base product for disinfection
Ensure access to water to the most vulnerable groups, option for short term subsidies through cash or voucher modalities especially vulnerable populations in the Urban informal settlements.
Provision of cleaning/disinfection equipment for school premises and sanitation facilities  ( gloves, boots, mops, basin or bucket, detergent, soaps ) .
Manage waste management systems including for hazardous and infectious waste in consultation with health partners  ( including PPE through adequate disposal of disinfection ) .
Ensure that sanitation facilities dimensioning should allow separation between COVID 19 patients and other patients and medical staff.
Ensure waste management systems are established including for hazardous and infectious waste.
Ensure functional sanitation and handwashing facilities availability at strategic points agreed through a consultation with the teachers and pupils to make the handwashing practice easy.
Ensure households are aware of water collection schedule. Set up systems to ensure access to water supply services especially for affected neighbourhood and household with suspected or confirmed patient.
In September 2019, Food Insecurity IPC analysis finds 33 per cent of the population is currently facing severe acute food insecurity.
In the first eleven months of 2019, around 24,000 hours of healthcare delivery were lost and 41,000 consultations were missed due to the forced closure and destruction of health facilities.
In May 2019, New IDP SOPs signed confirming the petition system is no longer the primary entry point for IDPs to receive humanitarian assistance.
In February 2019, Early Flooding Begins More than 250,000 people affected by severe early spring flooding across 31 provinces.
A recently conducted study also found that 42 per cent of households across the surveyed provinces had at least one household member who was married before the age of 18. The same research highlights the particular vulnerability of girls to violence. Girls, in particular, are used for domestic labour, and the extreme inequality between genders and strict adherence to gender roles contributes to the devaluing of young girls as individuals and a focus on their economic potential as part of the marriage transaction. For example, in domestic labour for their husband's household, rather than as economic agents or individuals with legal rights.
UNAMA's 2018 report ‘Injustice and Impunity' notes women's access to justice remained limited and women continue to face inequality before the law. The report notes that failures in investigatory process and prosecutions have contributed to high rates of impunity and have strengthened the normalisation of violence against women in society. UNAMA also documented consistent countrywide patterns of women being routinely subjected to pressure by authorities, family members and perpetrators to withdraw criminal cases and consent to resolving these issues through mediation which is not appropriate for cases of criminal violence.
When the socio economic ramifications of COVID 19 were becoming clear, FAO began monitoring the situation and prioritized scenario building exercises to help make assumptions on the potential impacts of the crises. This exercise pulled together key information from pre existing food insecurity drivers and vulnerabilities, seasonality of food production, types of livelihoods, the expected evolution of the pandemic and related government policies and containment measures. All these elements come together in different ways depending on the context.
Both IDPs and returnees' unplanned movements put additional pressure on health and social services in many Afghan provinces.
Afghan girls who did not study are 3 times as likely to marry before age 18 as girls who completed secondary education.
This cash approach  [ International Rescue Committee piloting Safe Cash programming ]  focuses on mainstreaming protection in cash programming activities and ensuring that all beneficiaries have safe access to cash and markets.
Phone services have been regularly interrupted in conflict areas by parties to the conflict, particularly in the north and south, hindering the collection of needs data through phone surveys. The reach of phone and internet services varies across the country, depending on the physical terrain and population demographics. The WoA assessment found that displaced female  headed households had a much lower access to registered mobile phones, which impacts not only on their ability to send and receive information, but also their ability to access fledgling mobile banking services.
In an ongoingHuman Rights Watch survey on the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on students and caregivers, Afghans described trying to study amidst both war and a pandemic.
The CCS  [ Common Cash System ]  work plan was developed in 2019 for a period of two years. It is anticipated that the work plan of the CCS agencies will shift during the COVID 19 response in 2020 to focus leadership and advocacy on issues identified by the CVWG  [ Cash and Voucher Working Group ]  as critical to facilitating the scale up of cash and vouchers. The CCS will also work with the Emergency Response Mechanism  ( ERM ECHO )  and the CVWG to build on existing processes, improve common tools and harmonise activities across agencies, including working with similar NGO cash coordination initiatives.
The total cost for the refugee chapter is $11.6 million. This includes: $4.5 million for food and livelihoods assistance
Limited awareness  [ of COVID 19 and symptoms ]  is particularly noted in the eastern provinces, potentially highlighting a need for targeted awareness raising in those areas.
To monitor the impact of COVID 19 on local and international supply chains and address logistics challenges in a systematic and coordinated manner, the HCT  [ Humanitarian Country Team ]  established a Logistics Working Group in May 2020.
Approximately 2,175 interviews across all districts in Afghanistan were conducted in the RCCE WG REACH  [ Risk Communication and Community Engagement Initiative Relief Effort to Afghan Communities and Households Working Group ]  rapid assessment  ( April 2020 )  to assess specific COVID 19 communication preferences and information needs. Initial results from the assessment show regional variations in awareness of COVID 19 symptoms, prevention best practices, and appropriate physical distancing behaviours.
In response to the COVID 19 pandemic, UNAMA  [ UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan ]  continued to implement a range of measures to safeguard the safety and well being of its staff in Afghanistan, while sustaining the delivery of critical programmes and activities throughout the country.
The medical response is beyond the ability of Afghanistan to cope largely due to huge deficiency of hospital beds, medical equipment such as testing kits and ventilators across the country.
Meanwhile, exports of mineral products and textiles declined by six percent and 15 percent respectively. Lower export of these products mainly reflected a 20 percent  ( US$ 1.8 million )  decline in export of talc stone and 27 percent  ( US$ 1.7 million )  decline in export of carpets reflecting weak economic conditions and decreased demand in Pakistan.
Wheat prices decreased in Hilmand and Badghis  ( 2% ) , due to sustained supply.
The CVWG  [ Cash and Voucher Working Group ]  has also forged a new and vital working relationship with the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund  [ AHF ]  by identifying partner staff to undergo capacity building so as to participate in AHF proposal technical assessments. While it is anticipated there will be improvement in the proportion of the response delivered by cash modalities in 2020, conclusions from the capacity assessments and the trainings undertaken thus far indicate that ongoing capacity building is required. While there is strong support for more ambitious targets, improving skills is essential to ensure that cash and voucher assistance is implemented safely.
Further trainings  [ on using cash assistance ]  and consultations were carried out in the first quarter of 2020. Although the COVID 19 outbreak has pushed many of these trainings to online platforms, participation has been high. Strong collaboration also has occurred between the  [ Cash and Voucher ]  Working Group and development partners to ensure complementary approaches to cash are used as part of the COVID 19 response.
The average price of wheat increased by 1.6% compared to the fourth week of October, and was 18% higher than 14 March. The increase occurred in: Kandahar  ( 10% ) , Khost, Nangarhar, Laghman and Kunar  ( 7% ) , Nuristan  ( 6% ) , Hirat  ( 5% ) , Nimroz  ( 4% ) , Daykundi and Zabul  ( 3% ) , mainly due to supply disruptions to the market and usual price increase during this season.
To date, the main priorities of the CVWG  [ Cash and Voucher Working Group ]  co chairs and CashCap have been to assess current cash capacity in the country, address capacity gaps at both national and sub national levels, and establish a mechanism to accurately monitor cash assistance.
Women's ability to access healthcare is seriously diminished due to limited availability of female health workers. This may mean women are less willing or able to get tested if they have symptoms.
In Afghanistan, these risks  [ of informal money transfer networks ]  are mitigated by distributing cash in secure locations, splitting cash into several smaller distributions  ( over many distribution points or several days ) , distributing to vulnerable people first, separating cash related duties within an organisation to dilute control, partners not sharing detailed beneficiary information with financial service providers, as well as including data protection clauses in contracts.
The  [ protection ]  response will continue to focus on implementing approaches that include affected people in the process of identifying the protection risks they face and understanding their vulnerabilities to those risks and their coping mechanisms. Increased outreach to enhance two way communication with communities and identify best practices for understanding and integrating community preferences has already been rolled out.
Currency Exchange Rate: The average value of the Afghani currency against the US dollar remained un changed  ( US$ 1=AFN 77.0 )  in the first week of November 2020.
Overall, the OCHA managed Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund  ( AHF )  and Central Emergency Response Fund  ( CERF )  disbursed a combined total of $79.9 million, to 35 partners  ( 6 national NGOs, 22 international NGOs and seven UN agencies )  through one AHF standard allocation, four AHF reserve allocations and one CERF under funded second round allocation. These allocations enabled 66 projects that provided life  saving humanitarian assistance to 2.9 million people. Pooled funds contributed 14 per cent  ( $63.9 million )  funding received for the 2019 HRP  ( $465.1 million ) . The AHF continued to play an essential role in supporting the 2019 response by launching life saving activities included in the HRP.
The disruption to livelihoods, public services and freedom of movement can also exacerbate the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse  ( SEA )  for groups who already are vulnerable because of poverty. Scarce resources and lower access to health and legal services may result in a concentration of power that could be detrimental to people in vulnerable situations.
Exports to India   the largest export market for Afghan goods – grew substantially by 18 percent due to increased exports through air corridors. Exports to India increased from US$ 346 million in 2018 to US$ 410 million in 2019 reflecting a 20 percent increase in export of vegetable products  ( mostly dried fig, saffron, onion, raisin, grape and apricot ) .
Improved Seed: The average price remained unchanged compared to the fourth week of October 2020.
Spikes in food prices due to border closures and disruptions to supply chains will also affect the purchasing power of households across the entire income distribution chain. These impacts are compounded for households dependent on remittances, as well as for the rapidly increasing numbers of returning returnees and IDPs.
Cross cutting response priorities for 2020 include continued action on prioritised recommendations from the 2019 Peer 2 Peer mission; an expansion of in country cash capacity and improved decision making on the use of cash; expanded thematic preparedness planning; a focus on Accountability to Affected Populations  ( AAP ) , including through expanded Risk Communication and Community Engagement  ( RCCE ) ; improved monitoring of response coverage; and better analysis of the gender, disability and mental health dimensions of the response.
The Government continued efforts to promote regional consensus on intra Afghan peace and reconciliation, economic cooperation and connectivity, and the response to coronavirus disease  ( COVID 19 ) .
While mobile money services are being used in Afghanistan, the environment remains challenging for expansion due to limitations in the banking sector, low usage of bank accounts, poor mobile phone coverage in hard to reach areas, and women's uneven access to banking enabled mobile phones. Registered SIM cards are required to make full use of many mobile banking services and sign up often requires the user to have a Tazkera or ID card. Few women have this ID, which creates an obstacle to independent use of mobile money. Displaced people also often have lost this ID during flight.
There are also new risks from COVID 19 in terms of physical distributions  [ of cash ] , which partners are working to overcome by staggering distributions to ensure social distancing, staff wearing PPE  [ Personal Protection Equipment ] , and the use of electronic transfers wherever possible. Limits on the maximum amount of cash withdrawals from banks also present a regulatory challenge to the scale up of cash programming and partners plan to advocate with the Central Bank around exemptions to these rules to make large scale humanitarian cash distributions easier.
Key COVID 19 Cumulative Response Figures: 1,231 teachers trained on safe school protocols for COVID 19.
Given the new context  [ COVID 19 ] , the CVWG  [ Cash Voucher Working Group ]  will prioritise the following activities: Health and Nutrition partners are looking to embrace new cash programming by offering cash or voucher support for vital medications and auxiliary costs  ( e.g transport ) .
Given the new context  [ COVID 19 ] , the CVWG  [ Cash Voucher Working Group ]  will prioritise the following activities: Targeted, cash based protection assistance will be expanded to respond to identified protection risks and to mitigate against extreme negative coping strategies.
Given the new context  [ COVID 19 ] , the CVWG  [ Cash Voucher Working Group ]  will prioritise the following activities: The WASH Cluster is tentatively exploring a pilot voucher programme to help very vulnerable families in urban informal settlements purchase water and hygiene items
Given the new context  [ COVID 19 ] , the CVWG  [ Cash Voucher Working Group ]  will prioritise the following activities: ES NFI  [ Emergency Shelter and Non Food Items ]  Cluster will expand its existing cash strategy by focusing on collecting evidence on the use by and the impact of cash on affected populations, enhancing targeting methodologies, and refining approaches for determining best fit assistance modalities.
Given the new context  [ COVID 19 ] , the CVWG  [ Cash Voucher Working Group ]  will prioritise the following activities: FSAC  [ Food Security and Agriculture Cluster ]  plans to increase cash and voucher assistance, increasing from the 15 per cent target for delivering through cash in 2019 to a 25 per cent target in 2020.
In 2019, cash programming in Afghanistan accounted for just over 20 per cent of the total expenditure under the HRP  [ Humanitarian Response Plan ] . But given that markets are resilient, and more than three quarters of IDPs and host communities report a preference for cash, potential for wider use will be realised under the COVID 19 response.
This workshop  ( held in February 2020 )  was technical in nature and focused on monitoring obligations and data submission procedures for response monitoring and the reporting of funding to FTS  [ Financial Tracking Service ] . Data collection on the use of cash in 2019 was problematic due to a gap in leadership of the Cash and Voucher Working Group  ( CVWG ) . New chairs are in place and with the support of a CashCap, the Working Group is now focused on addressing these gaps.
Depending on movement restrictions due to COVID  19, plans are under development to hire or source sufficient female enumerators to allow for separate male and female household level interviews in enough locations to provide a representative sample in 2020. Women's views are already more thoroughly captured through the WoA  [ Whole of Afghanistan ]  Assessment focus group discussions, with at least one women only discussion conducted in every province as part of last year's data collection.
In 2020, the Health Cluster plans to continue its collaboration with Protection partners to ensure mental health and psychosocial support services are context appropriate and effective. Child protection and education partners are also prioritising psychosocial first aid and case management for children.
While scaling up its response to the COVID 19 pandemic, the Health Cluster aims to expand access to specialised services for groups with specific need in 2020, including mental health and psychosocial support  ( MHPSS ) , physical rehabilitation services and the provision of assistive devices.
HNO  [ Humanitarian Needs Overview ]  2020 also contained substantial new analysis of both disability and mental health issues in Afghanistan and efforts will be made to enhance data gathering on both topics to inform the response in 2020.
Already in the first two years of the 2018 2021 HRP  [ Humanitarian Response Plan ] , partners made significant strides in collecting, using and analysing gender and age specific data, ensuring that the gender with age marker is incorporated into the methodology and design of nationwide surveys such as the WoA  [ Whole of Afghanistan ]  Assessment. This has yielded sex and age disaggregated data  ( SADD )  for all population groups included in the 2020 HNO  [ Humanitarian Needs Overview ] , as well as critical information relating to the presence of additional key vulnerabilities within the household, such as chronically ill members or pregnant and lactating women.
The community centre in Badghis also has seen early positive inter sectoral results, with 1,500 IDP households reached thus far with services and critical COVID 19 information. The strong engagement with the community has made the centres a hub for verified, accurate COVID 19 information as well as a place to receive community questions and feedback, which will continually inform age  and gender specific COVID 19 RCCE  [ Risk Communication and Community Engagement ]  activities.
Key COVID 19 Cumulative Response Figures: 10,314 children received education through small group learning across 4 provinces.
Key services are co located in one community centre space so as to make them more accessible to affected people. As a hub for basic services, the community centre is also a locus for humanitarian coordination and activities that serve to ensure AAP  [ Accountability to Affected Populations ]  – two way communication, feedback mechanisms and community engagement in all phases of humanitarian programming.
Key COVID 19 Cumulative Response Figures: 10 family tents and 46 refugee housing units  ( RHU )  distributed across 4 provinces for screening, admission, outpatient treatment, storage, accommodation/duty stations for doctors and other medical personnel as well as registration spaces for Afghanistan nationals newly returning from Iran.
Key COVID 19 Cumulative Response Figures: More than 29,500 people at the Islam Qala border crossing and 15,125 people at the Torkham border crossing benefitted from WASH facility maintenance and the provision of water.
Key COVID 19 Cumulative Response Figures: 72,109 hygiene kits distributed, reaching 488,999 people.
Key COVID 19 Cumulative Response Figures: Medical equipment provided for 1,642 isolation wards across all 34 provinces.
Key COVID 19 Cumulative Response Figures: 160 healthcare workers trained in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support  ( MHPSS )  since the start of the crisis.
Key COVID 19 Cumulative Response Figures: 3,213 healthcare workers trained in surveillance and risk communication in contested areas.
Key COVID 19 Cumulative Response Figures: IPC  [ Infection Prevention and Control ]  training conducted for 4,124 healthcare workers.
Key COVID 19 Cumulative Response Figures: 568,453 people traced through Health Cluster surveillance systems since the start of the crisis.
Key COVID 19 Cumulative Response Figures: 8,954 polio surveillance volunteers have been trained on raising COVID 19 awareness, clinical diagnosis, case identification and contact tracing.
Key COVID 19 Cumulative Response Figures: 34,000 polio surveillance volunteers have been engaged in surveillance, case identification and community contact tracing activities
As a continuation to the work started in 2019 on integrated response planning, Area Based Response pilot projects in Kunduz, Badghis, Kandahar and Kabul provinces have been initiated through funding provided by the AHF  [ Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund ] . The pilot locations were chosen to reflect different contextual settings, including areas of protracted crisis, urban areas and conflict affected sites. The pilots apply an Area  Based Response concept that utilises a multi stakeholder, integrated service approach through community centres and integrated mobile teams. Two humanitarian organisations were chosen to carry out the pilots.
People with disabilities are at greater risk of contracting COVID 19, developing more severe health conditions and dying from COVID  19, facing discrimination in accessing healthcare and life saving procedures, and being disadvantaged by the socio economic consequences of COVID 19 and measures put in place to control it.
A recent disability survey conducted in Afghanistan by the Asia Foundation found that disability prevalence among adults was 25.6 per cent for mild disabilities, 40.4 per cent for moderate, and 13.9 per cent for severe. Amongst children, rates were lower, with only 10.6 per cent presenting with moderate or severe disabilities.
While both men and women have paid a heavy price in the ongoing conflict, the costs have been borne differently. Conditions for women in and outside the home have comprehensively deteriorated as suicide attacks, recruitment of male family members into the armed forces, and economic migration abroad have deprived them of breadwinners, social support networks and in some cases, security.
As of May 2020, the AHF  [ Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund ]  has disbursed $44.5 million to support the COVID 19 response  ( $26.5 m )  and other life saving humanitarian assistance  ( $18 m ) ; in addition, the CERF  [ Central Emergency Response Fund ]  disbursed $2.4 million to enable urgently required preparedness and response activities throughout Afghanistan.
Support through the CERF  [ Central Emergency Response Fund ]  also has been critical in supplementing assistance to under funded emergencies. Starting in 2019, AHF  [ Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund ]  funds helped kick start funding for an integrated drought response pilot in Badghis province, aimed at preventing those currently experiencing crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity from deteriorating further, and supporting early recovery and resilience building to protect affected communities from further shocks. Significant investments have been made by the humanitarian community in 2019 to enhance engagement with national NGOs, ensuring wider coverage by, and increased sustainability of, humanitarian action.
Services for survivors, including healthcare, police, justice and social services, are particularly impacted by the crisis. Life saving care and support to GBV survivors  ( i.e. clinical management of rape, and mental health and psycho social support )  may be disrupted when health service providers are overburdened and pre occupied with handling COVID 19 cases.
Protection, AAP  [ Accountability to Affected Populations ] , GBV, Gender and PSEA  [ Protection Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse ]  – are provided to the HCT  [ Humanitarian Country Team ]  each week. These protection pillars are central to a new HCT Compact developed in 2019, elevating these issues in the HCT discussions and deliberations. The revitalisation of the PSEA Task Force in 2019 and the planned transformation of the former Communication and Community Engagement Working Group into the AAP Working Group will also ensure improved accountability on protection issues.
In this regard  [ attacks on healthcare ] , the HCT  [ Humanitarian Country Team ]  continues to prioritise messaging that demands respect for IHL  [ International Humanitarian Law ]  and International Human Rights Law  ( IHRL ) , as well as providing support to specific programmes that safeguard especially vulnerable people from harm.
With attacks on healthcare facilities and staff now a regular occurrence and civilian casualties already close to 1,300 in the first three months of the year, activities that enhance the prevention of protection violations – as opposed to merely responding to their consequences – are critical.
The COVID 19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of strong engagement with affected communities to best understand community knowledge, attitudes and perceptions around the virus and how they shape humanitarian and protection needs for an effective response. It is hoped that the reactivation of the AAP  [ Accountability to Affected Populations ]  Working Group, the COVID 19 specific RCCE  [ Risk Communication and Community Engagement ]  Working Group and planned Area Based Response pilots in four locations will also help improve responsiveness to protection needs and accountability to crisis affected communities.
Many pre existing protection issues faced by affected people have been exacerbated by new economic, social, physical and psychological challenges brought on by COVID 19, requiring a mix of rapid responses and longer term durable solutions. This necessitates a shift in programme approaches and resourcing modalities and will require enhanced coordination between different sectors and with development actors.
the ProCap  [ Protection Standby Capacity Project ]  advisor will support the revision and implementation of the HCT  [ Humanitarian Country Team ]  protection strategy and ensure the strategy remains responsive to current risks and responses in line with the HCT Compact. The adviser will also work with the Protection Cluster to enhance advocacy around protection issues and elevate protection mainstreaming across the response.
Efforts by humanitarian partners will be complemented by the HCT  [ Humanitarian Country Team ]  Protection Strategy that was endorsed in 2018, reviewed in 2019 and will again be revised in 2020. To further boost strategic planning and policy setting on protection issues, a ProCap  [ Protection Standby Capacity Project ]  deployment began in May 2020.
Aid agencies will continue to attempt to respond to these needs more comprehensively in 2020 by building resilience through the creation of income opportunities; investment in more durable infrastructure  ( Shelter and WASH ) ; the strengthening of service systems  ( Health and Nutrition ) ; the design of more disability and gender inclusive programming; and by supporting people to bridge to development assistance.
The rapid spread of COVID 19 throughout the country has provided yet another example of how poor infrastructure, overcrowded shelters and weak health systems have eroded preventative capacities and exponentially compounded and extended vulnerability.
The revised definition prioritises three main groups of people in need – shock affected people in need of emergency assistance  ( including new IDPs, cross border returnees, natural disaster affected people ) , vulnerable people with ongoing requirements for support  ( including protracted IDPs, refugees in Afghanistan, people with specific needs such as people with disability, the elderly, female headed households )  and people who require resilience and recovery assistance to prevent them slipping into worse humanitarian need.
Despite being displaced for more than a year in many cases, 84,000 IDPs in the west are facing their second winter in tents, mainly as a result of several overlapping issues related to conflict and insecure land tenure.
The WOA Assessment results show that the worst off households are those displaced between 6 24 months. These households a )  have the highest debt load b )  are most often reliant on negative coping strategies, and c )  are more likely to face multiple unmet sectoral needs.
The scarcity of arable land in Afghanistan renders it extremely valuable and essential for economic and political reasons. Ownership of such land is crucial for the empowerment of women, but social and cultural traditions often mean that women are precluded from accessing such land. Discriminatory laws and practices frequently prevent women and girls from owning, leasing, renting and/or inheriting property.
A total of 1,057 explosives related casualties have been recorded in the first 9 months of the year, 77 per cent of whom were children. Of these casualties, 897 were men and boys, whose deaths and injuries place a significant burden on women, who often have to become the head of household, while carrying out their prior duties and tending to their injured family member at the same time. Mine and ERW casualties among women and girls increased five fold over the last five years. While explosive hazards remain a humanitarian concern right across Afghanistan, the south  ( Kandahar, Hilmand, Zabul, Uruzgan ) , south east  ( Ghazni, Paktya ) , and east of the country  ( Nangarhar, Kunar )  are most affected. Other significantly impacted provinces include Faryab  ( north ) , Hirat and Farah  ( both west ) . These eleven provinces saw 70 per cent of mine and ERW casualties between 2011 and 2018, with the same trend continuing in 2019.
Many families are unable to afford basic services which has resulted in reports of the selling of children to pay off debts, child marriage and child labour.
Recent protection monitoring data in the west has shown the dire effects of protracted displacement on vulnerable families, with many people suffering severe protection concerns and negative coping mechanisms as a result of their displacement.
Women are largely excluded from the workforce outside the main urban centres as a result of socio cultural norms. A recent survey showed that nationwide, 24 per cent of people believe women should not work outside the home – an improvement compared to past years. In rural areas, this figure jumps to 28 per cent. Most women are also not able to attain the same educational level as men, if they are allowed to attend school at all, limiting their job opportunities later in life.
Alternatively, returnees sometimes become de facto IDPs as conflict and lost community networks prevent them from returning to their places of origin, exposing them to the risks associated with further displacement.
Overall, displaced households nominated shelter as among their top three priority needs. Around two thirds of displaced households  ( 65 per cent )  reported that they do not live in a permanent shelter  ( 10 per cent live in tents, 19 per cent in makeshift shelters and 36 per cent in mud/brick shelters ) . Almost half of displaced households  ( 45 per cent )  report their shelter was damaged in the past six months due to conflict or natural disaster. Worryingly, 80 per cent of those displaced households with damaged shelters reported that they were unable to make repairs, with the majority reporting inability to afford this work  ( materials or labour )  as the main reason. The burden of shelter repair was particularly high for non displaced, natural disaster affected households, with 41 per cent reporting shelter repair costs as the primary reason for taking on debt.
Uruzgan and Nangarhar  ( both 89 schools )  and Hilmand  ( 77 ) , are the top three provinces with the highest percentage of closed/damaged schools. This constant interruption to education, as well as the inadequate availability of schools and teachers have grave consequences for children's capacity to thrive and contribute to the economic and society future of their country. Girls – who are already less likely to go to school – have been particularly impacted by violence. The combination of actual exposure to and potential fear of violence has left parents with little choice but to take pre emptive measures to protect their children from harm.
Children are being kept out of school for a range of reasons including security issues and cultural beliefs. Attacks on schools have undermined the right of children to a safe and secure environment, compromising their physical and psychological well being. 2019 has also seen a high number of schools attacked and closed as a result of election related violence, general insecurity, cross fire, intimidation and threats disrupting and diminishing children's access to essential education. As of October 2019, 722 schools had been forcibly closed and remained closed due to insecurity, affecting the education of around 328,094 children  ( 113,597 girls and 214,497 boys ) .
In low income countries like Afghanistan, under nutrition is associated with more than 50 per cent of all child deaths. Among the 2.5 million children under the age of five who are suffering from acute malnutrition in Afghanistan, 690,000 children  ( 27 per cent )  are suffering from severe acute malnutrition  ( SAM ) . SAM is a life  threatening condition which, if left untreated, can lead to an elevated increased risk of death. Children suffering from SAM are nine times more likely to die than their healthy peers and those suffering from prolonged under nutrition who do survive often become locked in a cycle of recurring illness and faltering growth, with irreversible damage to their development and cognitive abilities.
The nutritional status of children under five years continues to deteriorate in most parts of Afghanistan. The findings of the most recent nutrition surveys across the country show that 25 out of 34 provinces  ( Kapisa, Wardak, Nangarhar, Laghman, Bamyan, Paktika, Paktya, Kunar, Nuristan, Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz, Samangan, Balkh, Sar e Pul, Ghor, Daykundi, Uruzgan, Zabul, Jawzjan, Faryab, Helmand, Badghis, Herat, Farah )  are currently above the emergency level threshold for acute malnutrition. The deterioration in nutrition status has seen an increase in the number of children under five and pregnant and lactating women  ( PLW )  in need of life saving emergency nutrition assistance.
Over the four years, the UN also verified the recruitment and use of 274 children by all parties to the conflict, sexual violence against 13 boys and 4 girls, and 467 attacks on schools and education personnel. However, the actual number of children recruited and used by parties to the conflict is estimated to be much higher. The figures for sexual violence against children also do not reflect the extent of the incidents countrywide, as sexual violence is known to be under  reported as a result of prevailing social norms, fear of retaliation and impunity.Children who have witnessed extreme violence, including the killing or maiming of family members, frequently report disturbed memories and sleep, muteness, difficulty concentrating and aggressive behaviour as a result.
Save the Children's 2019 ‘Stop the war on children' report confirms Afghanistan is now the world's deadliest conflict for children and the Secretary General's most recent annual report on Children and Armed Conflict listed Afghanistan as having the highest number of child casualties of any listed country. The report, delivered to the Security Council in September 2019, highlighted the heavy price paid by children from the conflict between 2015 and 2018. The report notes that there were 14,200 grave violations against children between 2015 and 2018.
Poverty is climbing, and indebtedness remains high, especially among internally displaced people  ( IDPs ) . Over 80 per cent of people are living on less than the internationally applied poverty line  ( US$1.90 per day )  to meet their needs, undermining the dignity of their living conditions and reducing the community's resilience to shock. Results from the recent WOA Assessment show the financial situation of displaced people worsens over the first two years of displacement. It is only after an average of two years, that IDP households begin to reduce their overall debt, but they still fall short of ever recovering to a pre displacement debt level.
Afghanistan has a population growth rate of three per cent per annum which is among the highest in the world. The most striking feature of the population profile of Afghanistan is its very young average age. Almost half of the population  ( 47.8 per cent )  are under the age of 15 years which is the highest in the world and significantly higher than that of neighbouring countries.Older people  ( aged 65 and above )  make up just 2.7 per cent of the population.