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A new humanitarian needs assessment report by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) identifies widespread poverty, and a broad range of needs among displaced in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan – especially when it comes to jobs in order to make a living for the families.
Humanitarian organizations should help households earn money and learn skills to increase their incomes, thereby increasing their access to food and essential household items, shows new report, conducted by DRC. This approach will allow households to address their needs with respect to their own priorities. Projects that address the effects of acute poverty, coupled with emergency interventions to provide additional assistance to the most vulnerable, are necessary.
“Poverty is the main cause of problems and is felt in all facets of life. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host families are extremely vulnerable, virtually completely un-served by their government or humanitarian agencies, and in need of immediate assistance,” says Country Director for DRC Afghanistan, Kyriakos Giaglis.
Projects should build on the capacities of the displaced population and the economy in the host community. Market and livelihood focused programmes are recommended over direct distribution or implementation by third parties. Projects should have in mind the future situation of the 2013/2014 winter, and possible drought conditions that occur over summer, aiming to increase food and shelter security, the availability of clean water and good sanitation practices.
“The current needs and coping strategies of IDPs and host communities are likely to continue unchanged unless outside assistance is received,” Kyriakos Giaglis says.
Most households, reliant on wages from daily labor, will likely find less work in coming years as the organizations giving the contracts for roads, schools and buildings depart, leaving no industry in their place. The most vulnerable families are the families with most unemployed. Unemployment is high among men and virtually total among women. Irrespective of expected changes in security leading up to the announced 2014 date for ISAF troop withdrawal, families plan to stay in their current locations for an average of another five years. IDPs and host families exist in a context over which they exert very little control. Most displaced have no deeds to their homes leaving them vulnerable to forced eviction.
For the southern region of Afghanistan, as of February 2013 the UNHCR estimate a total cumulative displacement of around 140,000 individuals. As a displacement mandated organization DRC is compelled to further assess the needs and feasibility of humanitarian assistance in southern Afghanistan.
Read the report here: http://drc.dk/fileadmin/uploads/pdf/IA_PDF/Afghanistan/HNAES_report_1_8_-_External_Version_DRAFT_01__2_.pdf
