Afghanistan: ICRC activities January to June 2006
30-06-2006 Operational Update
Afghanistan is one of the ICRC's biggest operations. Activities include visiting those deprived of their freedom; health, medical and rehabilitation services; assistance projects and the promotion of international humanitarian law. An overview of activities from January to June 2006.
Detention visits
In line with its mandate, the ICRC regularly visits detainees held in connection with conflict by the Afghan authorities and US forces to assess whether they are being detained in accordance with international norms and standards.
The ICRC also facilitates contact between detainees and their families through the exchange of Red Cross messages.
Between January and June 2006, the ICRC:
carried out 109 visits to 55 places of detention holding a total of 7,135 detainees
followed up 1,550 individuals arrested in relation with the conflict, of whom 668 were visited for the first time
provided assistance for 119 detainees to return home
Restoring family links
Working closely with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), the ICRC continued to exchange Red Cross messages and helped families trace lost relatives.
Between January and June 2006, the ICRC and the ARCS
collected and distributed almost 10,800 Red Cross messages
traced 47 people registered as missing by family members
received 84 new tracing reque sts
trained 21 new tracing field officers in regional seminars
Health Care
The ICRC assists the authorities concerned to provide effective surgical and parallel support services such as blood banks and laboratories to hospitals in Jalalabad, Kandahar and Jowzjan. Capacities to respond to emergency incidents are maintained across the country.
Between January and June 2006, health facilities assisted by the ICRC
provided services to 17,000 in-patients and almost 60,000 out-patients
performed more than 9,000 operations
Rehabilitation for the disabled
Since 1988 the ICRC has been involved in orthopaedic and rehabilitation services to disabled people in Afghanistan, including those injured in mine accidents. Patients are also offered assistance for their social reintegration once their physical rehabilitation is complete. In eighteen years, around 73,000 patients have been registered and treated.
Currently, the ICRC runs six orthopaedic centres in Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif, Herat, Gulbahar, Faizabad and Jalalabad. In each location, home care services are provided for spinal cord injury patients offering paraplegics and their families medical, economic and social support.
Between January and June 2006, the six centres
registered around 2,400 new patients
produced over 7,000 prostheses and orthoses
granted loans to 374 patients to start their own businesses and provided job training to around 180 people
assisted more than 2,100 patients with spinal cord injuries
Mine Action
The ICRC aims to prevent new injuries and fatalities caused by mines and other explosive remnants of war by gathering information on their location and telling demining agencies. Together with the ARCS, the ICRC also promotes safe behaviour through mine risk education sessions with communities at risk.
Between January and June 2006, mine action teams
held about 7,000 mine risk education sessions in over 1,500 locations for around 93,000 adults and more than100,000 children
interviewed more than 370 new victims of mines and unexploded ordnance
Water and habitat
One of the ICRC's core tasks is to maintain access to drinking water for populations affected by conflict. The disruption and destruction to infrastructure and distribution systems can have disastrous health consequences. In Afghanistan, the ICRC's work includes re-establishing urban and rural water networks, sanitation projects and rehabilitation work in hospitals. Hygiene promotion and environmental health training are part of this programme.
Between January and June 2006, the water and habitat team
drilled 42 boreholes and fitted hand pumps in Kab ul;
completed a water quality laboratory and trained the staff. Handed over four water projects for 31,000 persons. Continued works on one water supply projects in Kabul for 5,000 beneficiaries; started two sanitation projects (latrines, drainage and waste disposal) for 17,000 persons;
worked on one water supply project in Herat for over 70,000 beneficiaries;
worked on one water supply projects in Jalalabad for 10,000 beneficiaries;
completed the construction of 400 m3 reservoir for 45,000 beneficiaries and continued works for one water supply project in Kandahar for 5,000 beneficiaries;
continued to work on two water supply projects in Mazar-e-Sharif for 29,000 beneficiaries;
supported the maintenance team in two hospitals; continued major renovation works in surgical wards in Jalababad;
visited 4,500 households providing education and practical advices on hygiene
vonducted around 580 hygiene promotion sessions in public places (mosques, schools and community forum);
improved the living conditions (water and sanitation) in 10 places of detention for 1850 detainees
Between January and June 2006, dissemination teams conducted
87 dissemination sessions, 12 briefings, one round table and two workshops for 2,500 members of police officers, the military and civil society
The ICRC assists the ARCS technically and financially to build its capacities to deliver various programmes and services to the community.
Between January and June 2006, the ICRC cooperation team
supported more than 1,780 trainees and their trainers in the vocational training programme
completed 29 food for work projects that benefited around 4,400 families
supported 6 dissemination sessions for 80 ARCS dissemination staff
supported 5,500 dissemination sessions for almost 80,000 people coming to ARCS health clinics