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1. Summary of needs from the HNO to be addressed by the cluster (550 words):

Afghanistan is an arid and semi-arid country. Most of the problems that affect food production are related to weather conditions: drought/desertification, heat waves, strong wind, floods, harsh winter, poor security situation, lack of services in rural areas and access to markets. Heavy fighting and raising fright caused by insecurity and pressure displaced thousands of people all over Afghanistan in 2016. It is expected that in 2017 more than half million people will need support as they leave their homes towns to escape form the violence (IDPs).

Among the world's most stubborn refugee crises which have been forgotten frequently, is the depressed fortune of millions of Afghan exiles. This is the world longest running refugee crisis, which has been begun in 1979 upon the Russians invasion. After about thirty years there are still more than 1.6 million registered and 1 million unregistered Afghan refugees living in Pakistan alone. In addition, more than 0.9 million Afghans still live in Iran as well. After Syria, the largest groups of asylum seekers struggling to reach Europe with smugglers support in 2016 are Afghans. 2016 remained very challenging for Afghan refugees in Pakistan because of political problems and border issues at Torkhum. Since January 2016, more than 614,225 undocumented returnees (244,125) and registered refugees (370,102) have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan. Of these, 93% (571,747) have returned since July. Additionally, on average almost 200,000 people are affected by localized floods across the country.

Food insecurity in Afghanistan is on the rise, with almost 6% (1.6 million) of Afghans severely food insecure and another 34% (9.7 million) moderately food insecure at the national level. In 2016 the crop harvest remained below the 2015 and 5-year average production rate with a total deficit of almost 1.2 million metric tons. Continued conflict, exposure to natural hazards and economic slowdown are affecting everyone particularly the vulnerable. Labor migration, conflictinduced displacement, and the sudden increase of returnees from Pakistan is taking place against a backdrop of the continued high level of conflict-induced displacement; these, in turn, are increasing the rates of and burden on the urban and rural poor population and are increasing pressure on recessed labor markets, resulting in reduced income, price hikes, asset depletion and depressed wages. Natural disasters and conflict-induced migrations further deteriorate income and production, increasing vulnerability both at household and community levels. In 2016 farmers were also affected by pest attack locust infestation and wheat rust particularly in Ghor and Bamyan provinces along with localized floods and dry spells, damaging large swaths of crops and severely impacting on food stocks and income.

The recent Seasonal Food Security Assessment (SFSA) found that market prices for basic commodities in areas affected by increased returns have increased whereas labor wage rates have gone down significantly. The initial rapid assessment of returnees indicated that families had less than a weeks worth of food stocks. As a result, new conflict IDPs, returnees, host communities and refugees remain in need of critical humanitarian assistance; based on preliminary findings, food, livelihood support, shelter, and protection are identified as major humanitarian needs.

The majority of the rural population depends on agriculture, livestock and daily wage labor and is extremely vulnerable to shocks and natural disasters. The poorest are the worst hit by conflict, natural disasters such as floods, localized dry spells, pest attacks and the economic slowdown, and are affected by the decreased availability of unskilled work which is pushing wage rates down. The inevitable resorting to negative coping strategies, such as the withdrawal of children from school, distress sales of livestock or even the sale of land, directly affects their immediate and future food security

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FSAC Response Plan (SRP) Afghanistan 2017 - ReliefWeb

On September 6th opened the new pediatric ward of Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar. A rehabilitated structure standing proudly in the hospital compound, among the trees that provide a welcoming shade from what has been a blistering hot summer. As the last drop of fresh paint dried up, young patients were wheeled in from the old ward into the new one.

The old pediatric ward was located in the main structure of the hospital compound. There were 93 beds spread across the second floor of the building. Most of these beds had to be shared between at least two patients. The new pediatric ward is now a building on its own, with 157 beds spread across three floors. The increased space now allows to have proper isolation areas for children with highly infective diseases such as measles, tuberculosis or meningitis. There is also a day care unit for those suffering from Thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder - very frequent in Southern Afghanistan - that requires frequent and regular blood transfusions. But the pride of the new ward is the 30 bed Neonatal unit which including 11 incubators, 6 warmer cots and new modern equipment that provide quality assistance for the babies, especially the premature, and at same time is a space for mothers, promoting breastfeeding and healthy maternal habits.

This is a cause for celebration. The long awaited rehabilitation of what was once a nursing school, gave way to a larger facility whose sole purpose is to provide children with the free medical care they so desperately need. With it came a considerable effort to increase of staff and more equipment.

Yet there was no time to celebrate. Within the first month, the new and larger ward was already full and new patients kept coming in from all provinces in the Southern Region. "Receiving new patients and having the ability to help them is the best part of the job" says Shagofa, a female pediatric nurse working in the neonatal unit. "We are very happy with the new ward, but we are already looking forward to having more equipment and facilities as we are already over capacity."

While in the end there has been no time to celebrate the opening of the new pediatric ward at Mirwais Hospital, the successful treatment of each and every child is a celebration in itself, just as much for the families as for the pediatric staff such as Shagofa.

See also :

Afghanistan news

The rest is here:
Afghanistan: New children's ward at Mirwais Hospital already over capacity - ICRC (press release)

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) An Afghan policeman turned his rifle on his colleagues in a northern province, killing eight, while a gunman in the country's east fatally shot a cleric and his wife, officials said on Friday.

The policemen were killed while they were sleeping in an outpost in the district of Almar in northern Faryab province, according to the provincial police spokesman, Abdul Karim Yuresh.

The attack happened on Thursday night and according to the spokesman, a policeman who was on duty opened fire and killed his colleagues, then collected all their firearms and fled the scene presumably to join the Taliban.

The Taliban made no official statement or claim about the attack but Afghanistan has seen several such incidents over the past years. There has been a growing number of cases in which Afghan troops or policemen or Taliban militants dressed in Afghan uniforms have turning their guns on their colleagues or U.S.-led coalition partners.

Also on Thursday night, in the country's eastern Paktika province, a gunman killed a cleric and his wife, said Mohammad Alias Wahdat, the provincial governor.

Wahdat said the gunman entered the cleric's home in the Yusof Khail district and shot the cleric and his wife. Two of their children who were in the house survived.

Police said it was not clear who was behind the attack and no one immediately claimed responsibility for the killings.

In other violence, Gul Agha Roohani, the chief of police in eastern Nangarhar province, which borders Pakistan, said Islamic State group militants stormed the security posts in the district of Kot early on Friday, killing at least one police officer.

Afghan security forces responded and killed 12 militants, he said.

Afghanistan has been facing major political and security challenges since the withdrawal of international combat troops at the end of 2014, leaving a smaller contingent of troops behind to focus on training and counterterrorism.

Also, President Ashraf Ghani has been dealing with a stepped-up insurgency by the Taliban seeking to topple the government as well as an affiliate of the Islamic State group, which emerged two years ago and has expanded its footprint, especially in the country's east and in Nangarhar province.

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Attacks in Afghanistan kill 9 policemen, cleric and his wife - Colorado Springs Gazette

Afghanistan news February 3, 2017

Phil Simmons was part of West Indies' set-up when they won the 2016 World T20 WICB Media Photo/Philip Spooner

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has roped in former West Indies coach Phil Simmons as consultant for the next three series, against Zimbabwe, Ireland and West Indies. According to the ACB, he will assist head coach Lalchand Rajput on technical issues.

Afghanistan's tour of Zimbabwe starts on February 16 in Harare and includes five ODIs, before they host Ireland in Greater Noida, India, in March. Afghanistan are scheduled to visit the Caribbean in June.

"He will be working with the team as a consulting coach," ACB chief executive officer Shafiq Stanikzai told ESPNcricinfo. "His expertise will greatly favour us, as he has coached all three teams we are playing against. His appointment is a valuable step in our players' road to development."

Simmons, 53, was removed last September by the WICB, just six months after coaching West Indies to the World T20 title, due to "differences in culture and strategic approach". He had a successful stint with Ireland before that; in his eight years in charge of the team, they won 11 trophies and qualified for every major ICC event. In the mid-2000s, he had worked with Zimbabwe. An allrounder, Simmons had played 26 Tests and 143 ODIs for West Indies between 1987 and 1999.

After he was relieved of the West Indies coaching job, Simmons was appointed head coach of St Kitts & Nevis Patriots for the 2017 edition of the Caribbean Premier League. He was recently in the UAE for the duration of the Desert T20 Challenge, which Afghanistan won after defeating Ireland by 10 wickets in the final. It is understood that Simmons was attending the tournament on behalf of the ICC Development Programme, offering his services as a coaching consultant to each of the eight Associate teams present.

Umar Farooq is ESPNcricinfo's Pakistan correspondent

ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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Afghanistan appoint Simmons as consultant - ESPNcricinfo.com

After the Taliban was ousted from Kabul, Masooma Akbari became her familys breadwinner by selling homemade wares. (Courtesy of Alia Rajai)

This story was originally published by The Huffington Post.

Masooma Akbari, a former refugee, started her small business 11 years ago when she returned to Kabul from Iran.

She and her familya husband and five childrenwanted to settle back down in their homeland and were hoping to benefit from the removal of the Taliban. Her husband was unable to find a good job, so she began hawking her homemade wares. She is now her familys breadwinner, and works with her daughter and daughter-in-law to sell homemade products to shops around Kabul.

My first customers were our neighbors, Akbari, 45, told me as she operated her booth at Kabuls annual agricultural exhibition.

Around 100 people milled around the booths, talking to the vendors. It was very busy, just like last year, but I saw a change: there many more women participating. I quickly noticed a large group standing in front of one womans booth. I was impressed by her confidence, and how she expertly sold her products to customers, promoting her jams, yogurt and pickled vegetables as healthy and homemade.

In ultra-conservative Afghanistan, women are rarely seen in business, and many face obstacles and social pressures. For Akbari, the battle is worth it. I get depressed when Im not working, she said.

During the brutal regime of the Taliban, women were banned from working or studying. Even venturing outside of the house required they wear the head-to-toe burqa. Today, fifteen years after the Taliban was ousted by U.S.-backed Afghan forces, change is finally taking hold. Women like Akbari are becoming breadwinners. At the agricultural exhibition, many women worked shoulder to shoulder with the men.

According to the government-run Afghanistan Investment Support Agency, there are currently 1,413 women registered as business owners in Afghanistan. This compares to some 12,000 Afghan men, said Ghulam Nabi Khalili, AISAs director of investment support.

These numbers do not take into account the hundreds of female breadwinners who are not registered war and a weak economy mean many small and informal businesses work under the radar. There are many reasons why Afghan women choose to go into business in such a male-dominated culture: some have been widowed, while others have husbands who are handicapped, addicted to opium or simply cannot find work. In a country still considered one of the worst places on earth to be a woman, female breadwinners are important role models. They can also benefit the entire family, decreasing the societal pressure heaped on men to provide.

But the challenges of a strict patriarchal society are never far away. Even Akbari, whose husband takes pride in the work she does, does not have his permission to travel on her own. He wouldnt let me go to India for an agricultural exhibition, she said with frustration.

Security poses a deep problem for women, who often face harassment and more danger than men on the streets. By working they face a lot of threats, said human rights activist Shahba Shahrukhi. Within the world of business, some women are sabotaged, prevented and humiliated. One day I heard a man tell another, what are women doing here? recalled Khadija Hussaini, the owner of a dried fruit and nut company called Nejat.

Since founding Nejat three years ago, Hussaini now employs up to 70 women each season, and sells abroad. Her inventory contains a vast array of colorful foods, including pistachios, pine nuts, apricots, Japanese silverberry, walnuts and dried mulberries. Often I employ women who are widowed or illiterate, she told me in her home over steaming mugs of black tea.

But succeeding in male-dominated Afghanistan is no mean feat. I face constant problems, she said, pouring dried green raisins into large plastic bags for sale.

The government provides some support to women in business, such as gender-specific training both in and out of the country. The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries also provides contractual advice, support finding donors and benefits from zero export tariffs, said international affairs manager Hashim Rasuli.

Some women have even started to teach others the tricks of their trade. After buying her delicious yogurts, Akbaris female neighbors asked her for lessons. She estimates that she has taught around 40 women, and some of these have gone on to establish their own businesses. Security permitting, Akbari now wants to expand her business and sell beyond Kabul in the provinces, where the government has less control over the militants.

Half of modern society are women, Hussaini said with great pride, adding that the threats she receives pale in comparison to her sense of accomplishment and the good income she provides for her family. Her hard work has won her business awards in India and at home. If we can stand on our own two feet and have independence, this is the most valuable and important achievement.

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See more here:
Female Business Owners Undermine Afghanistan's Patriarchal Society - Truthdig