Afghanistan
– Jawjzan Province
Provincial Disaster Management Committee (PDMC) Meeting
UNAMA Mazar-e-Sharif on 27 July 2015
Draft Summary
Participants: Jawzjan Deputy Governor, DoRRD, DAIL, Dept. of Water Management,
ANDMA, Deputy Head Provincial Council, Actionaid, ARCS, ICRC, IOM, OCHA,
NPO/RRAA, PIN, SCI, UNAMA, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO, WFP, and WHH
Chair: Jawzjan Deputy Governor
Venue: UNAMA Mazar-e-Sharif
Main topic: Amu Darya riverbank erosion and flooding in Qarqin and Khamyab district
Agenda:
 Information about Amu Darya overflow and riverbank erosion in Qarqin and
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Khamyab district.
Discussion of immediate emergency action.
Mobilization of resources for the fortification of the Amu Darya riverbank to mitigate future overflow and erosion.
 Recommendations to find appropriate solutions.
The meeting started with a speech of HE Jawzjan Deputy Governor. He thanked the humanitarian team for its continuous efforts and support. He explained that the water level of the Amu Darya has risen by 1.5 m. He explained the reasons as follows:
1. Climate change is causing additional snow melt in the Pamir mountain range, resulting in increased water levels.
2. Construction of a 3 meter retaining walls and blocking of water diversions on the
Turkmenistan side of the river.
ANDMA Jawzjan informed then about the current flooding situation, which is dramatic.
He showed videos and pictures. He explained that the water level started to increase almost two weeks back. Affected communities with the support of the government have worked since the last two weeks to mitigate the river overflow and flooding of villages.
ANDMA had provided 60,000 sandbags and people tried to protect their villages but no luck because the water level is very high compared to previous years. Based on an initial report, 551 families in Qarqin district and 416 families in Khamyab district are flood affected, totaling 967 families. Moreover, the people lost their main source of income which are agriculture and from collecting of medicinial bushes called liquorices.
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Assessment plan: It was agreed that a joint assessment team consisting of ANDMA,
IOM, SCI, WFP and Actionaid will do a rapid needs assessment, departing on 29 July for Qarqin district. A second team, consisting of ARCS and Actionaid will conduct the assessment in Khamyab district. The team starts on 2 August. Note: security in
Khamyab district is not good.
Tentative response plan: Response will be planned once rapid needs assessment results are available.
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Qarqin district: Organizations who participate in the assessment will provide assistance, e.g. IOM NFIs and WFP food.
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Khamyab district: ARCS will provide hygiene kits and purification tablets.
UNICEF will provide NFIs. But there is a food gap because WFP cannot provide food in areas where it hasn’t done an assessment. The area is insecure. WFP will check with its country office to see if it can provide assistance through ARCS.
Long-term flood mitigation measures: Jawzjan Deputy Governor requested UNAMA to discuss the need for permanent solutions at the upcoming donor coordination meeting.
UNAMA said that they will include it on the agenda of the next regional donor coordination meeting.
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