Afghanistan Humanitarian Update No. 18

At A Glance:

• Another day lost in Pakistan preparations
• Seventh relief flight for UNHCR operation lands in Pakistan

Another Day Lost in Pakistan Preparations

UNHCR Friday spent its fifth day unable to resume crucial preparations in Pakistan for a possible influx of Afghans. Because of the ongoing fragile security situation and demonstrations in Pakistan, international staff in Peshawar and Quetta were once again unable to go to the field, proceed with work on identifying and preparing camp sites or monitor border crossings.

Some local production of relief items in Pakistan was also reportedly hindered Friday due to the unrest around the country. UNHCR has placed orders locally for tents, blankets, jerry cans and other relief supplies that will be needed to care for new Afghan arrivals.

Relief Flights

A relief flight carrying 10,000 plastic sheets and registration materials arrived Friday in Peshawar, Pakistan. The supplies were offloaded and brought to a UNHCR warehouse by local contractors, as UNHCR staff movements remained restricted in the region.

The flight was the seventh relief flight for UNHCR's operation to countries neighbouring Afghanistan since the airlift began on September 29. Including Friday's delivery, five flights have arrived in Pakistan - three UNHCR flights, one flight provided by the United Kingdom's Department of Foreign and International Development (DFID) and one airlift involving six planeloads of aid from Japan. Two flights, both from DFID, have been completed to Iran.

In all, the flights to date have brought into the region 1,751 tents, 21,200 blankets, 19,695 individual plastic sheets and 548 rolls of plastic sheeting, as well as jerry cans, sleeping mats, telecommunications and computer equipment, canvas tarpaulins and rope.

Additional flights to Iran and Pakistan, carrying blankets and large tent structures known as Rubbhalls, are planned for the weekend.