The total number of individuals displaced by conflict in 2016 has risen slightly from last week to 652,594 as joint teams finalise assessments of those displaced last year.

Northern/North Eastern: On 1 March, NSAG temporarily captured the Tala-wa-Barfak district administrative center in Baghlan, which was later recaptured by government forces on 3 March. No displacements were reported yet. Fighting also continued in Kunduz and Faryab, with reports of 2,800 unverified individuals displaced from Shirintagab district in Faryab to the district centre. Assessments will be challenging given the ongoing insecurity in the area.

Eastern: While no further cross-border shelling or artillery fire was recorded in Nangarhar last week, resumed shelling in Kunar reportedly impacted some residential areas. Early reports indicate up to 1,100 individuals have been displaced in Kunar from the shelling, with assessments to commence shortly. Intensified government clearance operations in Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar and Pakistan also continued, with further displacements expected.

Central: In Kapisa, conflict in Tagab district continued to cause displacement. Armed clashes were reported in Shikari Valley, an area covering three districts of Bamyan. No humanitarian impact has yet been reported, however the fighting could result in increased conflict in neighboring areas of Baghlan and Parwan provinces.

Western: Armed clashes occurred in Farah, Hirat and Badghis, with Farah recording increasingly intense confrontations between NSAG and government forces. During the reporting period, 491 IDPs were verified in Hirat from surrounding provinces; 171 IDPs were verified in Ghor from districts north of the provincial capital Chaghcharan; and 408 IDPs were verified in Farah city from surrounding districts.

Southern: As the weather improves, the intensity of the fighting across the southern region has increased week on week. Frequent frontline clashes and airstrikes were reported, particularly around Lashkar Gah in Hilmand and Tirin Kot in Uruzgan. Assessments of IDPs are ongoing in both cities. In Zabul and Kandahar provinces, assessments of individuals recently reported displaced have commenced. In Nimroz, heavy floods in Khashrod and Chakansur displaced around 770 individuals, some to hard to reach areas.

Refugees and Returnees

The Torkham and Spin Boldak borders remain closed.
Accordingly, the total number of undocumented returnees for 2017 has only risen slightly from last week, to 9,641. From 26 February – 4 March, IOM reported 34 undocumented Afghans were deported from Pakistan, an 86 per cent decrease from last week. No other returnees from Pakistan were recorded.
UNHCR’s repatriation program is scheduled to resume on 1 April 2017 following the winter pause.

See full report here.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in the article are not necessarily supported by CRSS.