nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
Cluster communication with communities : Alternative modalities of delivery are being set up in the field, including for example, outreach through phone interviews and KI interviews  ( Focus Group Discussions are on hold ) . In addition, messaging is disseminated through megaphones and community leaders. Leaflet distribution has stopped as they were a vector for contamination and distribution posed risks
Country office's Senior Security Officer continues to actively support the country office as well as National Society Security Managers and focal points through information gathering/sharing, providing security guidelines, security coordination and cooperation within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement as well as with external partners and the humanitarian community.
Sixty two per cent of returnees surveyed outside their areas of origin said they planned to go back in the future, but IDPs were more indecisive. Only 18 per cent were sure they wanted to return
Heavy rains, usually falling from January   April, often cause flash floods and landslides in remote, northern areas of Afghanistan
Currency devaluations over the past year have resulted in a drop in the value of remittances but the surge in returns and COVID 19 interruptions to work opportunities in the neighbouring countries are further diminished the purchasing power of many communities who have been heavily reliant on remittance payments over recent years. This has had a severe impact on vulnerable families.
Afghanistan remains the least peaceful country in the region, and the least peaceful country overall on the 2020 GPI.
32,676 IEC  [ Information, Education, and Communication ]  materials including posters, leaflets and brochures – were distributed by Nutrition partners between 29 June and 5 July; 33,238 IEC materials have been distributed since the start of the crisis
As of early June, the Ministry of Education stopped ‘Small Group Learning', an important model for supporting children's continued education in the areas where there is no access to distance and self learning options. Options to reopen “Small Group Learning' – in line with health guidelines of physical distancing – are needed to ensure the critical education window is not missed.
Community awareness activities have also been provided in internal displacement sites in Hirat and COVID 19 trainings for 15 Mobile Health Teams in Ghor and Badghis provinces.
The Government and humanitarian partners have already developed and widely shared messaging on COVID19. Health and other partners have adapted and printed of 980,000 IEC materials distributed across 21 provinces. These materials are shared in several languages spoken in Afghanistan.
At the time of this assessment, the Ministry of Education has finalized a COVID 19 Response Plan that focuses on three areas for continuing children's learning during the school closure: Students' SelfLearning, Distance Learning, and Small Group Learning. There has since been further restrictions on Small Group Learning based on the evolving situation with virus transmission in country.
Social workers previously supporting deportee minors' return and reintegration had reportedly resigned out of the fear of the virus.
The consequences of restrictions imposed due to COVID 19 have resulted in the significant decrease of daily wage opportunities and small traders' income.
Around 60% of respondents returned to the country after the COVID 19 outbreak, with the other 40% returning within the last year. Of all returnees interviewed, 36% traveled independently; others were assisted by UN agencies  ( 28% )  or deported by their host countries  ( 27% ) .
In total, 4,118 people have been hospitalised due to complications with COVID 19 since February 2020, of which 25 per cent were 60 years or older.
The elderly population of Afghanistan increased 200 per cent in the decade between the end of the Taliban regime and 2012. This number has continued to increase by around 1 per cent each year between 2012 and 2020.
COVID and its containment measures are likely to be detrimental for the Afghan economy.
Many of the respondents surveyed belong to IDP and emergency affected households which have particular vulnerabilities which position them to have less access to basic infrastructure, resources, and information.
The exact severity of the COVID 19 pandemic in Afghanistan is difficult to determine due to the lack of testing facilities and reporting; however, the OCHA Multi Sector Country Plan suggests that Afghanistan is likely to be significantly affected due to its proximity to Iran and weak health infrastructure.
One more positive alternative came from Balkh, where savings schemes are coming to support, underlining these as initiatives to continue to support in the future as a means of contributing to household resilience:
It is also important to document lessons and success stories in education as we collectively take on the daunting challenge posed by the COVID 19 pandemic. There are already two important take aways: First, Afghanistan needs to focus on the expanded role of ICT in education and to accelerate efforts to develop quality interactive audiovisual content based on the national curriculum; schools need to be equipped with ICT infrastructure and internet access to improve the quality of education and learning. Second, we have to ensure system resilience and build back better especially in a context such as Afghanistan, which unfortunately, is plagued by enduring crises.
Many IDPs remain in a protracted state of displacement, unable to contribute to their own recovery and continuing to require costly annual winterisation support, amongst other unaddressed needs.
The Ministry of Public Health reckons, within a wide range, the spread of the virus can reach : • In the High Transmission scenario: Total cases around 190,0002 • In the Medium Transmission scenario: Total cases around 110,000 • In the Low Transmission scenario: Total cases around 46,000.
11% claimed that they faced problems during return: overcrowded bus stations, high transportation/ travel costs, limited transportation services to reach the border, or bribe required to pass police check point.
Livelihoods and basic needs: Afghan Red Crescent Society reached 35,000 people . Among them 17,500 were male and 17,500 were female.
IOM provided post arrival humanitarian assistance to 554  ( 3% )  undocumented Afghans at the IOM Transit Centers in Herat and Nimroz during the past week.
Farmers and agricultural activities continued to be affected by ongoing fighting. All movements on the main highway 1 connecting Hilmand to Kandahar provinces reportedly resumed, however improvised explosive devices  ( IEDs )  along the highway continue to pose a threat.
[ There is a ]  lack of access to TV, electricity and even radios – especially in rural areas – to participate in home learning
Shortages in the availability of key staple humanitarian foodstuff has forced the adjustment of humanitarian food baskets in terms of the diversity of items available for regular distributions. The lack of dietary diversity can negatively impact beneficiary health and resistance to health shocks.
The Spin Boldak crossing point has remained closed for commercial traffic since mid June due to protests, with an estimated 4,000 trucks stuck waiting to cross into Afghanistan.
According to a recent report produced by the Afghan Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, domestic violence  ( including physical, verbal and psychological )  has increased in central region due to COVID 19 related lockdown measures and movement restrictions.
During the reporting period, ES NFI  [ Emergency Shelter and Non Food Items ]  Cluster partners provided 4 multi purpose tents and 20 tarpaulins to MoPH  [ Ministry of Public Health ]  in Kabul. The tents are to be used for screening, outpatient treatment, accommodation/duty stations for doctors and other medical personnel as well as collecting samples for COVID 19 by MHTs  [ Mobile Health Teams ] .
Only 57% of respondents mentioned of separate waiting areas of female and this is very low among those who are responding to COVID 19. These waiting areas are now used for COVID 19 response and thus limiting the waiting area spaces for women  ( Only 29% )
During the reporting period, Health Cluster partners have opened four new isolation wards. 24 isolation wards have been opened by partners since the start of the crisis, however, nearly all ICUs are at full capacity.
Some 35 million people are expected to require some form of relief assistance to weather the impact of the pandemic.
As of 28 March, A total of 4,190 returnees, IDPs, and people from host communities were reached with emergency outpatient health services; and 694 children were vaccinated to protect them against polio and measles.
The Milak  ( Nimroz )  and Islam Qala Dogharoon  ( Hirat )  crossings with Iran are officially open to commercial traffic and movement of documented Afghanistan nationals
Borrowing creates further financial vulnerabilities, as the future is uncertain, and they are incurring debt that needs to be paid at some point, which again a challenge for household current and future financial sustainability.
As a result of COVID 19, the number of women seeking antenatal care has reduced by 21 per cent compared to 2019.
Around three million refugees returned to Afghanistan following the withdrawal of Soviet forces, but two successive civil wars pitting Afghan forces against mujahideen factions triggered further displacement.
Political uncertainty, grinding poverty, escalating personal debt and repeated exposure to natural disasters has eroded coping capacities, pushing vulnerable people into dire humanitarian need.
Afghanistan meanwhile has confirmed less than 100 Coronavirus cases, though the actual number is expected to be much higher.
During the reporting period, Afghanistan continued its engagement with the region, focusing on promoting consensus on intra Afghan peace and reconciliation, economic cooperation and connectivity, and the response to COVID  19.
The COVID 19 pandemic has increased the vulnerability of the civilian population, which has already suffered greatly from ongoing conflict and recurrent disasters.
The COVID 19 crisis could accelerate such setbacks to girls' education.
The total cost for the refugee chapter is $11.6 million. This includes: $1.1m for Health
Since COVID 19, humanitarian aid has decreased by 3.5%
In 2019, the number of civilian casualties remained at elevated levels. In the first nine months of the year, UNAMA documented 8,239 civilian casualties, with a significant spike in violence registered during the third quarter. Between July and September 2019, the highest number of casualties were seen since systematic recording began in 2009.
More than 400,000 returnees from Iran required additional health services at border points in 2019, including mental health and psychosocial support, as well as treatment for communicable diseases. Compared to 2018, the trends suggest that more returnees from Iran are arriving with deteriorated physical and mental health conditions, requiring urgent health services including trauma care.
While humanitarians remain committed to the delivery of assistance to all people with demonstrated humanitarian needs and have stayed and delivered during the COVID 19 pandemic, frequent threats and attacks on protected personnel, attempts to interfere in operations, including by illegal taxation and levies, and other access constraints, regularly delay assistance, prolonging the suffering of vulnerable people.
She expressed concern over an Afghan Air Force air strike in Kunduz on 21 March in which nearly all those killed were women and children, as well as the threat posed by Islamic State Khorasan Province, which claimed an attack on a Sikh Hindu temple in Kabul on 25 March that killed and injured dozens of civilians.
Only four points of entry have any referral system in place for presumptive COVID 19 cases
As part of its regular programming, WFP distributed 4,239 metric tons  ( mt )  of food between 17 December and 6 January.
In support of promotion of housing, land and property rights, Protection partners supported 14,000 families to register for a land allocation scheme in Hirat and Kabul. In addition, some 126,020 women and girls were reached through multiple GBV services.
Afghanistan is facing a grim winter ahead as people struggle to keep themselves warm amid soaring poverty driven by the economic shock of COVID 19. Given this situation, there is an urgent need for additional funding for winterisation support from both the Government and donors to help struggling households survive the harsh weather ahead.
While official figures suggest more men than women have contracted the virus, this is likely to be a result of unequal access to testing.
With no signs of the conflict abating, it is estimated that some 310,500 people will require emergency trauma care in 2021.
This has resulted in more than 4.6 children and women requiring nutritional assistance  ( up from 3.3 million earlier in 2020 ) .
However, only 170,000 people out of a population of 40.4 million have been tested meaning this is likely to be a gross under estimation of real infections.
More than 5.8 million people need shelter repairs or upgrades, with more than 80 per cent of people reporting their shelter has an integrity issue – including lack of insulation and leaks during to rain, among others.
While humanitarians have identified 18.4 million people within this group as having acute humanitarian needs already, without social assistance, all households in these classifications remain at risk of falling into a more acute category.
Changes in the FSAC number of people in  ( up from 13.2 million in mid 2020 to 17.6 million in 2021 )  are based on results from the recent SFSA and IPC analysis revealing a worrying increase in the number of people now in IPC 3 and 4 levels of food insecurity, largely due to the economic impact of COVID 19.
GBV responders also report that women and girls often do not feel safe or comfortable seeking GBV services, whether due to stigma of being a GBV survivor, fear of retaliation, lack of confidentiality or other reasons.
While the policy of the Government of Afghanistan is to make healthcare universally accessible, a report by Médecins Sans Frontières  ( MSF )  finds that the reduction in international funding for public health has left a funding gap that is increasingly filled through “user fees.'
Children with disabilities – especially girls – are also disadvantaged, with parents less likely to pursue their education.
The nine provinces where recent AWD cases among children were most common were Badakhshan, Bamyan, Daykundi, Ghor, Hilmand, Nangarhar, Parwan, Samangan and Sar e Pul.
Unlike past years, urban areas in Kabul have seen a rising trend in malnutrition, particularly since the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Afghanistan has an INFORM Risk Index of 7.9 which is the fifth highest risk country out of the 191 profiled. Afghanistan is highly prone to natural hazards, whose frequency and intensity are exacerbated by the effects of climate change, increasing humanitarian needs.
The WASH Cluster's capacity to respond remains relatively unchanged since the onset of the pandemic, with 31 WASH partners operating across all provinces in Afghanistan. The Cluster engaged with WASH development partners to leverage their existing capacity and re align their programmes with the priority COVID 19 response.
Clashes between ANSF and NSAGs continued causing a reported seven civilians killed and 51 wounded.
During the reporting period, 20 Child Protection partners reached 374,938 people  ( 60 per cent of whom were children )  with a range of child protection services. 258,914 people were provided with awareness activities on child protection risks related to COVID 19 and other child protection prevention measures. These awareness raising sessions were conducted in way that limited group gathering.
According to initial reports, flash floods affected 500 families, 19 people were killed and another 20 sustained injuries in Hasa e Awal, Hasa e dowm, Kohistan, Tagab and Nijrab districts on 26 August.
Some of the surge in prices may be associated with delays in imports from Pakistan  ( which had closed its border for all movement before opening key crossing points in the second week of April for limited movement )  and interruptions to food supply lines.
The COVID 19 pandemic has magnified a grim food security situation in Afghanistan. An updated Integrated Food Security Phase Classification  ( IPC )  analysis conducted before the mid year HRP revision revealed that some 12.4 million people  ( 33 per cent of the population )  are in “crisis' and “emergency' levels of food insecurity between June and November 2020.
Close to 80% of respondents reported that COVID 19 measures have had a negative effect on their ability to earn income, with a further 48% confirming they have lost their jobs entirely.
Between 12 October and 8 November, 47,577 people – including PLW – across 12 provinces were reached with COVID  19 awareness raising sessions by Nutrition Cluster partners.
The food insecurity situation is most pronounced in the areas with fragile livelihoods and remote access issues such as the central highlands and the highlands of the northeast.
During the reporting period, 13,543 people received PSS through various modalities across 9 provinces. Since the start of the pandemic, some 301,126 people across 20 provinces received PSS to help them cope with the psycho social  related consequences of COVID 19.
62 sites such as universities, schools and government offices were disinfected against COVID 19, while three handwashing facilities were installed in Maymana city.
Intense fighting was reported in Imam Sahib and Khanabad districts in Kunduz and Shuhada and Yaftal e Sufla districts in Badakhshan.
RCCE work has focused on maintaining health services, combatting stigma, promoting physical distancing and mitigating complacency among people continues across the country. During the reporting period, Health Cluster partners continued rumour tracking across the country, as well as risk communication messaging on the safe return to essential health services.
As of 11 November, more than 1,000 IDPs have been displaced from Gizab and Dehrawud districts to Tirinkot district.
Military operations and airstrikes are also ongoing in Bolan, Basharan, parts of Babaji in Lashkargah and along the key access road   Route 601   that connects Lashkargah in Hilmand with the city of Kandahar.
Around 13,000 trees  ( fruit/non fruit ) ; 65 water irrigation intakes; 16 water mills; 15 micro  hydro power units and seasonal standing crops in fields measuring 700 Jeribs  ( 360 acres )  were destroyed.
While food prices are increasing, the financial ability of daily wage labourers to buy food is decreasing, as casual work dries up because of nationwide restrictions. A large portion of the Afghan workforce relies on the informal sector, with no safety nets when work is scarce.
For families and communities, loss of livelihoods was cited as the biggest impact of COVID 19.
There are gender differentials regarding primary sources of information on COVID 19. Women are more likely to either not know about the pandemic or find the provided information unclear.
The Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting  ( CTFMR )  documented a significant increase in child recruitment during the second quarter of 2020 as compared to the previous quarter.
Many child casualties arise from ground engagements; of these, most are from indirect fire which shows that collateral damage is egregious.
As the attention of the international community turns towards preparations for the 2020 ministerial conference, the economic effects of the COVID 19 pandemic have further constrained the fiscal environment, which could affect the scale of international financial assistance well into the future. That makes it all the more critical for the Government of Afghanistan to demonstrate its commitment to introducing concrete reforms.
The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service international air bridge, established to facilitate the rotation of humanitarian personnel between Kabul and Doha, continued flying three times a week, transporting 724 passengers from 24 April to 4 August 2020. The airbridge will operate until commercial flights offer a reliable option. The Service continues to serve all regular domestic destinations.
This report urges partners to continue supporting new IDPs as the most vulnerable group for the response.
81% of the households reported that their income has decreased compared to last year, of which around 54% reported reduced employment opportunities as the main reason for their income reduction, followed by conflict  ( 17% ) .
The partial or complete lockdowns in major towns have led to a further decrease in employment opportunities, leading to additional strain on the most vulnerable households and further limiting their purchasing power.
Scientists warn that polluted cities such as Kabul may have higher mortality rates from COVID 19, since there would be more people with underlying health issues. Scientists also believe viruses may bond with pollution particles, enabling them to remain in the air longer and helping them make their way into the body
Alarmingly, more than a third of the confirmed COVID19 cases are among doctors and healthcare staff.
Conflict remains the main driver of displacement, although natural hazards  ( both slow and sudden onset )  also contribute to population movements and humanitarian needs.
The health system is further overburdened by mass casualty incidents and recurrent outbreaks of communicable diseases, especially among internally displaced people.
Nutrition services, that are often co located in health centres, are also affected by COVID 19. Analysis from UNICEF's nutrition database shows that as of April 2020 there has been a 40 per cent decrease in admissions for inpatient treatment of severe acute malnutrition within health centres at the national level, with some regions seeing as high as a 59 per cent decrease.
Sexual and gender based violence, including risks of sexual exploitation and abuse  ( SEA ) , do increase during times of crisis.
While the overall situation is uncertain, the security outlook for the immediate future remains characterised by high levels of civilian casualties due to suicide and non suicide IED attacks in civilian populated areas, continued air strikes, indirect fire during ground engagements, and deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian sites.
Lessons learned from previous epidemics, such as SARS 2003, MERS 2012 and Ebola 2018 highlight the need to combine effective health activities with broader social protection measures as part of government policy responses. With the COVID 19 crisis, strengthening resilience of health systems and rapidly reorganising service delivery has become more important than ever. Effective responses depend on inclusive community dialogue and the participation of the private sector as well as other stakeholders in tackling the causes and consequences of the crisis and promoting recovery and social stability.
Resumption of offensive military postures of Government and Taliban forces in May 2020 and uncertainty around the agreement negotiated between the US and the Taliban in late February 2020, suggest potential for volatility in the security environment over the remainder of the year.
UNAMA's latest preliminary figures indicate a trend of escalating civilian casualties in April from operations conducted by both the Taliban and the Afghan National Security Forces  ( ANSF ) .
Due to limited labor opportunities available in main urban markets and loss of their typical livelihood activities in areas of origin, nearly all these recent returnees are relying heavily on assistance through social networks and domestic welfare charity organizations.
Domestic revenue collection has rapidly deteriorated in recent months with the COVID 19 crisis. By July 2020, revenues were down by one third, and economic activities, trade and remittances were highly disrupted.
Widespread insecurity, mine contamination and COVID 19 related movement restrictions presented challenges for humanitarian access.
On 31 July 2020, the President of Afghanistan announced that a consultative loya jirga would be convened to decide on the fate of the 400 Taliban prisoners on the list and that the Government would release a total of 5,100 Taliban prisoners to accelerate the peace process.
Given heavily constrained available resources, direct support to the private sector should be limited and carefully prioritized towards sectors and firms where business closures would impose lasting economic damage  ( for example, the relatively few firms that are deeply integrated into local and regional supply chains or provide services on which other businesses depend ) .
The development budget execution rate was relatively low, at around 28.3 percent compared to 34 percent last year. The low development budget execution rate is mainly driven by weak execution of donor managed non discretionary projects. Donor financed non discretionary projects are currently undergoing significant restructuring to repurpose funds to respond to the pandemic.
Over the first nine months of 2019, nearly 73,000 trauma cases were recorded, a 28 per cent increase on the same period in 2018.
The lack of recovery from past emergencies, combined with the community's lack of resilience to new shocks continues to stretch health systems and services. An increase in the Severe Acute Malnutrition rate is escalating the burden on health services which deliver acute malnutrition treatment across the country.
Health Cluster continues to do assessments throughout the year. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Public Health, the Health Cluster has developed a guideline for emergency health services and corresponding assessment tools on trauma care and emergency health mobile health teams. The assessment tools were tested in 2019 and will become standard in 2020.
IDP households moreover reported lack of civil documentation as a main barrier.
Echoing the Secretary General's calls for a ceasefire, she also underlined the need for the swift appointment of an inclusive, united Government and for inclusive representation from all sides in the intra Afghan negotiation process. In that regard, she said the signing of two agreements in February paves the way for peace and must continue despite the major disruption caused by the COVID 19 pandemic.
As a result of recent hostilities around Kunduz City, KhanAbad and Emam Sahib districts, reports were received that 9,150 households  ( approx. 64,050 people )  were forced to flee their homes.
Meanwhile, the price of staple foods, such as flour, pulses, rice, cooking oil and sugar continue to increase, making it harder and harder for families to feed themselves.
Avoid stigmatisation of household and individuals with suspected and confirmed cases by raising awareness about COVID 19 without increasing fear, spreading facts, engaging social influencers, correct misconceptions, etc.
Promote proper and frequent hand washing with soap at large scale with functional culturally appropriate handwashing facilities at household level, cheaper handwashing innovations like tippy taps and improved water efficient should be encouraged.
Over the period between end December 2019 and 15th June 2020, the Afghani appreciated against the Euro by 1.5 percent and remained largely stable against the US dollar. Appreciation was driven by lower imports and increased demand for Afghani in provinces neighboring Pakistan, where the central bank is pursuing measures to promote the use of the Afghani instead of the Pakistani Rupee for domestic transactions. Reflecting stability of the Afghani against the US dollar, the central bank limited foreign exchange interventions. As of May 16, DAB had injected US$ 701 million into the market down from US$ 895 million in 2019.
Since the start of 2020, at least 1,213 civilians were killed and 1,744 injured across Afghanistan because of security incidents  ( AIHRC 14/07/2020 ) .
To ensure the stability of the financial sector in the face of COVID related shocks, Da Afghanistan Bank  ( DAB )  has intensified monitoring of weaker banks and has taken measures to reduce operational costs. The measures taken by DAB include suspension of administrative penalties and fees, postponement of the IFRS 9 implementation, and relaxation of mandated loan re classification. DAB has also developed a post COVID improvement plan designed to help with the recovery of the banking sector covering July 2020 to December 2021.
A key vulnerability criterion that was most likely to result in households experiencing complex sectoral needs was ownership of legal identification, showing the association between a lack of legal documentation and restricted access to basic services. Seventy  seven per cent of households in which no members reported owning a Tazkera had two or more sectoral needs, compared to 61 per cent of other households.
To support natural disaster preparedness, a series of emergency response plans are prepared at the regional level including tracking of local stocks of essential supplies. At the national level, the ICCT is committed to producing up to date and issue specific emergency contingency plans as needed, in addition to its pipeline tracking.
As of end March 2020, the capital adequacy of the banking system remained above specified thresholds  ( eight percent under Basel II and 10.5 percent under Basel III ) , with the ratio of capital to risk weighted assets standing at 26 percent.
The EU also funds the Emergency Response Mechanism  ( ERM ) , which ensures timely and flexible emergency assistance to people who have been recently displaced.
In the first four months of this  [ Afghan ]  year, which was also during the peak of Covid 19 in Afghanistan and the most stringent period of lockdown in most provinces, 127 cases of extreme violence were recorded. This include 121 cases of rape, 80 cases of death due to excessive physical abuse and injuries, 20 cases of suicide and 548 cases of severe physical violence. These numbers show a 56 per cent increase compared to last year's record of 72 instances of extreme violence against women.
Typically women can report violence or abuse to their Provincial Directorate of Women's Affairs, the EVAW monitoring office or the AIHRC. But during the pandemic, public offices were closed in most provinces for months  ( some public offices were open half days or three days a week, but most offices remained closed from May to August ) . As a result, women were left with no avenues to report domestic abuse.
It is important to keep in mind that, from the author's own understanding of Afghan society, Afghan women usually do not talk about mental distress. Talking about mental health in general, and mental issues like high anxiety, panic attacks and depression carries a stigma since all tend to be categorised under the label of being “mentally ill.'
These families are likely to face particularly challenging barriers to education, especially if they are returning to rural and remote parts of the country affected by ongoing armed conflict and lack of access to basic services.
However, humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan is still hugely underfunded. The United Nations has estimated that around 1.1 billion is needed for this year; so far, only a quarter of this has been met.
Assessment teams identified 258 households  ( approximately 1,806 people )  displaced by conflict in Baghlan, Kunduz and Takhar provinces to receive assistance in the coming days.
203 families  ( about 1,421 people )  affected by the August flood in Kuz Kunar and Rodat districts in Nangarhar province received cash for shelter construction.
The ongoing pandemic has also caused people to lose their jobs and income with primary breadwinners becoming sick and unable to work. This has created a notable increase in the number of food insecure people across the major urban areas, along with the reoccurring food insecure provinces of the central and northeast highlands.
Compared to 2019, there is an increase in the proportion of households with poor food consumption  ( up by 5 per cent )  as well as in the proportion of households consuming less than 5 different food groups  ( up by 15 per cent ) .
Herding households are also experiencing a decline in their livestock herd size with implications for income generation.
Grave child rights violations are a significant concern, with children in Afghanistan consistently killed and injured, recruited and used in hostilities, detained, abducted, made victims sexual violence, exposed to deliberate attacks on schools and hospitals, and denied humanitarian assistance by parties to the conflict.
The lockdown measures put in place in response to the COVID 19 pandemic significantly decreased daily labour opportunities, reducing household purchasing power and food access.
Across all areas only a very small proportion of households reported having cereal stocks from their own production that would last till the next harvest. These vulnerable conditions are further aggravated by the COVID 19 pandemic, which has seen a surge in food prices.
The publication concludes with a series of recommendations including calling for greater investment of data on the gendered impacts of the pandemic.
Around 60% of households  ( 70% for urban households )  reported that their income levels had decreased compared to the previous year, with the main cause being reduction in income activities.
Of these 11 cities, two were classified in IPC Phase 4  ( Emergency ) , namely Hirat and Kandahar urban centres, and seven were classified in IPC Phase 3  ( Crisis ) , namely Mazar  ( in Balkh Province ) , Pul e Khumri  ( Baghlan ) , Kabul, Jalalabad  ( Nangarhar ) , Shibirghan  ( Jawzjan ) , Lashkargah  ( Hilmand )  and Maimana  ( Faryab ) . Two towns were classified in IPC Phase 2  ( Stressed ) , Kunduz, and Taluqan  ( Takhar ) .
The situation has meant widespread job losses for Afghan migrant workers and resulted in approximately 250,000 Afghans returning from Iran, mostly through Islam Qala and Nimruz border crossings, from 20 February to 31 March.
At 2.6 million, EiE needs remain largely the same as the 2020 mid year revision and will continue to primarily focus on shock affected children who cannot access regular schools.
Since the COVID 19 outbreak and widespread myths about the disease, people's care seeking behaviour has reduced, in turn leaving many diseases untreated and allowing them to become more severe.
Continued spread of COVID 19 and resulting international and domestic movement restrictions during the period has further complicated access, and will likely continue to impact humanitarian operations into the coming quarter.
According to ERM data, child labor was the most widespread concern affecting children in Afghanistan during the period, with assessment teams observing or reporting child labor in 17 provinces  ( Badakhshan, Balkh, Farah, Faryab, Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Jawzjan, Kandahar, Kunduz, Logar, Parwan, Samangan, Sari Pul, Takhar, Wardak and Zabul )  and all regions.
Girls were also reported to be less likely than boys to access educational services; in Wardak, community discussions suggested that girls are allowed to attend school until the second or third grade of primary school, after which they no longer attend and will be married.
In rural areas where health facilities were available and functioning, they were often prohibitively distant to ensure meaningful access for persons with specific needs or the elderly.
During the first six months of 2019, 44 per cent of the children who died within 24 hours of arrival in MSF's paediatric intensive care unit had arrived too late and at a very advanced stage of illness.
Poultry and livestock farmers across all provinces reported significant challenges in managing their poultry and livestock based livelihoods citing reasons that relate to structural deficits now exacerbated by COVID 19, including lack of access to day old chicks/pullets, feed, inputs and resources, markets and veterinary services.
WHO has also provided testing equipment and supplies to ensure smooth operation of these facilities, as well as trained 149 laboratory staff.
Those families who have decided to return to their areas of origin are exposed to high risks due to IEDs and mines planted along the roads.
WFP has stated its intent to dispatch food for 500 families, with additional stocks ready to be dispatched based on assessed needs.
The government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in line with its constitutional mandate should devise rapid and agile policies to efficiently mobilize available resources to create the environment for eradicating GBV in response and recovery phases of COVID 19.
Seven per cent of refugees reported having no heating source at all for winter – this compares to just under two per cent for every other population group assessed.
While 86 per cent of surveyed populations reported that 1 or more adult was able to find work 1 or more days across all population groups  ( including disabled  and elderly  headed displaced households ) , this was only true for 77 per cent of female headed households, indicating the disproportionate impact on women.
Overall, the provision of information upon arrival in the border entry points, has improved  ( from 70% to 83% )  since May/June.
FGDs data indicates 95% of respondents engaging in three or more negative coping strategies to address the economic hardships and living costs.
Lack of recovery from past conflict and natural disaster shocks has disrupted access to water and sanitation services as well as hygiene practices.
Lockdown measures in Afghanistan are yet another blow in the face of millions of Afghan women, depriving them of the basic human rights and liberties they have fought for successfully in the past decades.
2020 was a psychological rollercoaster for many civilians, with periods of improved security and hope around the peace talks, followed by periods of intense violence and underlying fear over COVID 19.
For many in Afghanistan, people's living standards are not dignified, and the situation impacts on their ability to recover and cope with future shocks.
Of the 6.6 million people in need of shelter and NFI assistance in 2021, 2.9 million people are in need emergency shelter assistance  ( including rent support ) , 2.2 million people are in need of transitional shelter, 5.8 million people are in need of shelter repair and NFI assistance, and 6.4 million people are in need of winterisation support.
Since the start of border monitoring on 05 April, a total of 52,166 returnees and deportees  ( 38,785 M and 13,381 F )  were interviewed as they entered Afghanistan from Iran at Islam Qala  ( 19,947 )  and Zaranj/Milak  ( 18,905 ) , and from Pakistan at Spin Boldak/Chaman  ( 9,753 )  and Torkham  ( 3,561 ) , including 38,679 single individuals and 13,487 heads of households who returned with their families.
Public health experts strongly urge the public to follow health advice on physical distancing, mask wearing, good hygiene, hand washing and other proven strategies that mitigate the risk of COVID 19 transmission amid this second wave.
Ongoing fighting has also forced the closure of a number of health facilities, interrupting access to critical health services which in turn has directly impacted more than 130,000 people. Assessment teams are currently verifying the immediate needs of affected families and organising assistance.
With the funding challenges, UNICEF in consultation with government and partners, proposed a revised simplified SAM treatment dosage protocol in line with global findings. The current average dosage is 136 sachets per child which will be minimised to 90 sachets per child per treatment cycle. UNICEF began implementing the revised dosage through a phased approach starting in 5 provinces. With the revised protocol, the SAM treatment cost per child is reduced by 40%  ( from 55$ to 35$ per child. )
Undernutrition is highly prevalent among children under five years of age in Afghanistan and is an underlying cause of the country's high under five mortality rate  ( 55 per 1000 live births ) .
Usually, because of the severity of the conflict and its sudden nature, most of the livelihood assets of these vulnerable IDPs are either looted, killed or sold at very low prices.
Compared to 2019, there is an increase in the proportion of households with a poor food consumption score  ( +5% ) , as well as in the proportion of households consuming less than five different food groups  ( +15% ) ; mainly bread, oil and sugar.
Overall, largely due to the impacts of years of conflict on livelihoods, many poor households do not have sufficient income to meet all essential non food needs, with Stressed  ( IPC Phase 2 )  outcomes widespread.
However, weak economic prospects in Pakistan may affect the ability of Afghans to migrate in search of work opportunities. As a result, levels of remittances from Pakistan will likely remain below average. Meanwhile, remittances from Gulf countries are reportedly below average, though slight recovery has been reported in recent months.
41.3% of surveyed children said that they are stressed to a large extent because they felt isolated from their friends during the outbreak
Overall, humanitarian partners reached 857,000 people with psychosocial first aid support to treat trauma.
Food Security Outlook and flour prices decreased further at the national level in July 2020, but prices remain significantly higher than last year and three year average levels
In a country already beset by natural disasters and conflict, the pandemic creates an additional layer of risk for vulnerable people.
According to data from the IPC Secretariat, Afghanistan has the second highest number of people in emergency food insecurity in the world  ( 5.5 million ) .
The food security situation in Afghanistan continued to deteriorate with the percentage of food insecure people doubling.
By the end of June, close to 31,000 people across all 34 provinces were confirmed to have COVID 19.
Overcrowding synergises with low capacity WASH services to present additional transmission risks for residents.
Thousands of health care facilities and schools will continue to be in need of functional handwashing stations, safe water supply and improved sanitation facilities in 2021 – all critical to the fight against COVID 19.
In these contexts, high tenure insecurity limits investment in shelter and infrastructure, exposing residents to long periods of deprivation and accumulating vulnerabilities.
A quarter of the respondents also reported that healthcare facilities had insufficient capacity  ( 25 per cent ) , and that the distance from their shelter was a barrier  ( 24 per cent ) .
Higher prices combined with lower incomes have driven unsustainable levels of household debt and are pushing people to adopt irreversible negative livelihoods coping strategies.
The absence of female teachers dissuades parents from sending their girls to school as cultural norms promote a same sex teaching learning process.
Distance to schools and auxiliary education costs were the most frequently cited barriers for shock affected children to access education.
As a result, safe, warm and secure shelter remains out of reach for many vulnerable families.
The WoA Assessment shows that the percentage of households living with this “Emergency' Livelihood Coping Strategy Index  ( LCSI )  Score has increased from 16 per cent in 2019 to 42 per cent in 2020 amid COVID 19 and worsening security.
Following the closure of schools and the shift to alternative education approaches due to the pandemic, levels of engagement with remote learning approaches varied across populations and geographical areas.
Ministry of Public Health announced further commitments of around $300 million by the World Bank  ( $100 million ) , Asian Development Bank  ( $40 million )  and European Union  ( $129 million )  with the condition that the funds should be spent through UN and NGOs.
They often migrate without the necessary legal documents of identity and school certificates of their children, which hinders their access to support services.
Building on the second Gender Alert on COVID 19, on Ensuring Access to Services for Survivors of Violence Against Women and Girls, UN Women issues this ﬁfth alert to continue to highlight the gender speciﬁc impacts of COVID 19 in Afghanistan.
Ensure sufficient water quantity  ( 10 liters per day per pupil: 5 liters per day for drinking and hand washing & 5 liters per day or toilet cleaning in case of public toilet – as per the ANGWE )  to allow drinking and frequent handwashing as well as cleaning and disinfection of the facilities.
Support provision of PPE for non medical staff  ( gown, mask*, goggles, boots, gloves ) .
The ability of IDPs to repay remains limited. IOM data reveals that in Badghis, it would take an IDP family 16 years, on average, to repay their debt If they were able to earn the same income they earned prior to displacement.
The 2019 SFSA findings show that 16 per cent of the urban population have poor and 47 per cent have borderline food consumption scores  ( as compared to 20 per cent and 38 per cent in rural areas, respectively ) .
Based on the 2019 IPC analysis, between August and October 2019, a total of 12.5 million people  ( 34 per cent of the total population )  are in a state of severe acute food insecurity. These include around 9.5 million people in crisis  ( IPC 3 )  and 3 million people in emergency  ( IPC 4 )  phases.
Nangarhar  ( 89 schools ) , Uruzgan  ( 89 schools )  and Hilmand  ( 77 schools )  are the top three provinces with the highest percentage of closed/damaged schools.
Herat needs coordinated engagement to meet urgent needs – for infrastructure, for low tech solutions around e learning, faculty professional development, and local economic development with government, donor, private sector, higher education institutions and community engagement.
Prompt identification of vulnerability and provision of assistance will help to avoid negative protection consequences, particularly for women and girls, who tend to be particularly at risk as their families' socio economic circumstances deteriorate.
The plan includes various innovative measures to ensure continuity of education for students of general education, Islamic education and adult literacy. The plan encompasses two phases: first, an immediate emergency phase, and second, a recovery phase in order to allow stakeholders to coordinate and align both short and medium term efforts.
COVID 19 requires the continued delivery of assistance, while safeguarding affected people and humanitarian staff from the virus. This is being done as responders contend with limited global supplies of critical medical equipment and work to remain responsive to people's worsening economic situation that lockdown measures have caused.
Cash in envelopes and Hawala networks remain the primary cash transfer mechanisms in Afghanistan. Hawala systems, common throughout the Islamic countries, are well established in Afghanistan and have a strong footprint across the country. Use of such networks, as with cash in hand modalities more generally, brings some risks including cash diversion, fraud, security vulnerabilities for those carrying cash to distribution sites, and the risk of detailed beneficiary data falling into the wrong hands.
In the first nine months of 2019, children made up nearly 30 per cent of all casualties111  ( 2,461 children ) .
Consider multipurpose cash transfers to provide money to families in the interim as they look to pursue income earning opportunities which are currently limited due to the crisis
Temporary suspension of humanitarian assistance for ten days due to threats against aid organizations by some NSAGs.
Support NFI needs for adolescent girls that can help them to return or continue with education, including uniforms, shoes, school bags, soap, towels and clothes including undergarments
Community learning centres offering non formal education are the preferred medium for education continuation by adolescent girls who are out of school/pregnant/married/ young mothers
Learning facilities at schools or community learning centres were reported as inadequate, and some girls reported classes as being “overcrowded'.