17. Afghanistan Region
18. Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal
19. Refugees from Rakhine State, Myanmar in Bangladesh
20. Southern Iraq
The most recent overview of the numbers of refugees and displaced people in Asia (as of the end of 1995) is as follows. There were an estimated 4.5 million refugees in Asia, of whom over 800,000 were Afghans in Pakistan and in Iran (1.5 million). There were reported to be 600,000 Iraqis in Iran. Other large groups were refugees from Myanmar in Bangladesh (51,000), Vietnamese in China (286,000), and Bhutanese in Nepal (90,000), No comprehensive data were available on the numbers of internally displaced populations in Asia, but they were certainly in the millions (UNHCR, 1995 ‘Populations of Concern to UNHCR’).
This section of the report aims to give updated information on some of these situations. The current situation for the Afghan refugees/displaced populations, the largest single group in Asia with approximately three million affected people, is described. Available information on the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal and refugees from Myanmar in Bangladesh are included because of previous reports of micronutrient deficiencies. As in the past, we also include information on Southern Iraqi refugees in Iran.
(see Map 17)
The security situation in Kabul remains tense, as rocket and artillery shelling continue to be exchanged between government forces and the Taliban. Most recently, it has been reported that the Taliban forces have taken control of the capital city. Prior to this development, it was reported that people continued to return to Kabul from Jalalabad and Pakistan. The Taliban has taken control of Jalalabad, a western urban centre where camps for internally displaced people are located.
Kabul It is too soon to assess the impact on the health and nutritional status of the population of the takeover of Kabul by Taliban forces. Prior to this development, humanitarian aid agencies continued to provide relief goods to the capital. There were reports of increasing numbers of returnees. For example, over 9,000 people were observed to return to Kabul from 21 July to 1 August [UNAA 12/08/96].
A recent nutritional survey carried out in the city showed a low prevalences of wasting in the population under five years old, despite what is considered to be a precarious food security situation. The survey showed 6.7% wasting with 1.4% severe wasting, and no cases of oedema were seen (see Annex I 17(a)). These results are similar to those seen in a survey conducted in October 1995 when wasting and/or oedema was measured at 6.2%. However, only 10% of eligible children were attending feeding centres. Since this survey, there have been anecdotal reports of a deterioration in the nutritional status of this population [ACF May 96, ICRC 25/09/96].
Although many different foods were available on the markets, prices have risen without a corresponding rise in wages thereby reducing the purchasing power of the people. This is mostly due to the continuing devaluation of the Afghani currency. The fact that there is no apparent decline in nutritional status despite price inflation and the hardships of winter is believed to reflect the positive impact of a number of interventions. These include targeted feeding of families with disabled or widowed heads of households, distribution of foods to orphanages, hospitals and kindergartens, food-for-work programmes, opening new feeding centres, and subsidies given to bakeries [ACF May 96].
Jalalabad Recent fighting and the installation of the Taliban in Jalalabad led to temporary disruptions in food deliveries to the approximately 160,000-200,000 internally displaced people in two camps. There were also reports of some people arriving in the camps fleeing insecurity. The security situation has calmed to the point that food distributions are now taking place [UNAA 10/09/96].
Refugees in Iran A nutritional survey planned for July has been postponed as authorisation was not given [MSF-F 16/09/96]. There are therefore no nutritional data on the 1.4 million Afghani refugees in Iran.
Refugees in Pakistan Refugees are reportedly returning from Pakistan to Kabul. For example 1,500 people returned from 12-18 July and 1,400 from 23-29 August [UNAA 04/08/96, 10/09/96].
Overall, the war affected population in Kabul can be considered to be at moderate nutritional risk (category IIb in Table 1), while the remaining refugee and internally displaced populations are not currently considered to be at heightened risk (category IIc in Table 1).
How could external agencies help? Although the nutritional situation in Kabul appears to remain stable, there is a need to increase coverage of feeding centres, and also to continue support for the existing programmes which have undoubtedly safe-guarded food security and contributed to the relatively low levels of wasting currently being seen. These include food-for-work programmes, subsidies for bakeries and targeted feeding of vulnerable groups. This will become increasingly important as winter approaches.
The first round of a mass immunization campaign was successfully carried out in June 1996, and the second round in July. Over 5 million children were immunized against polio, measles and DTP and vitamin A capsules were also distributed. Over two million women of child-bearing age were to be immunized against tetanus. These types of programmes will continue to need external agency support until such time as the health infrastructure in Afghanistan is restored and self-supporting.
(see Map 18)
There are just over 90,500 refugees from Bhutan in Nepal; this slight increase in number is due to the continuing registration of births.
The health and nutritional status of this population is reportedly stable and adequate, except for a few cases of beri-beri, scurvy and angular stomatitis continue to be reported [UNHCR 19/09/96].
Overall, these refugees are not currently considered to be at heightened nutritional risk (category IIc in Table 1).
(see Map 19)
There remain approximately 50,000 refugees from Rakhine State, Myanmar in Bangladesh. The decrease in total number is due to the continuing, albeit slow, repatriation. There are no reports of change to the generally adequate and stable nutritional status of this population, despite the continued presence of some cases of angular stomatitis [UNHCR 19/09/96]. These refugees are not currently considered to be at heightened nutritional risk (category IIc in Table 1).
The implementation of a United Nation’s resolution, which provides for the export of limited quantities of oil to provide essential food and medical needs, has been put on hold for security reasons [WFP 06/09/96]. This will most likely adversely impact the Marsh Arabs in the south, who have been suffering a constantly deteriorating situation for many years. The systematic destruction of the traditional habitats, loss of livelihood, arbitrary arrests, detention and torture of this population have been regularly reported, and have most likely left this population of 200,000 with little or no propensity to cope.
WFP has begun food distributions in the northern governates, but faces serious shortfalls in pledges for programmes in the centre and south, including the Marsh Arabs [WFP 13/09/96].
There are no reports of change to the generally adequate nutritional status of the approximately 28,000 Iraqi refugees in Iran.
Overall, the Marsh Arabs inside Iraq are likely to be at high nutritional risk (category IIa in Table 1) while those who have crossed into Iran are probably not at heightened nutritional risk (category II c in Table 1).
