Rustaq IDP Emergency Project:

Starting date:             20 September 2000
Completion:               30 April 2001
Implemented by:        Terre des hommes (TDH) and NPO

Staff:

Rustaq district is a very remote mountainous region in northern Afghanistan – very difficult to reach and to access. Mid of September 2000 around 1.000 internally displaced families (IDP) arrived in Rustaq following the fierce fighting in Taloqan, northern Afghanistan. Terre des hommes provided immediately initial funding for these internally displaced people in order to meet their food requirements and to get the necessary time to launch a major emergency project. End of October the number of displaced families grew up to 1.500 families – just weeks ahead of the harsh winter months. An emergency team of Terre des hommes (Tdh) expatriates and local staff arrived beginning of November in Rustaq in order to plan and implement the project.

As a first step TDH rehabilitated the existing clinic in Rustaq, provided medicines and medical equipment. Vaccination teams vaccinated 27.002 children against measles in a mass immunization campaign throughout the whole district; the teams also immunized 37.595 children, aged 0-5 years, against polio during National Days on Immunization. Besides a major health intervention the team of Terre des hommes had also to feed the approximately 12.000 displaced people throughout the winter as well as to provide fuel and cooking utensils and tools for survival. Terre des hommes supplied 146.880 kg of rice, 73.440 kg of edible oil, 73.440 kg chickpeas, 51.300 L cooking fuel, 1.125 kerosene stoves and 250 sets of tools.

250 women were included in the program to produce clothes for needy children. The women received rice, edible oil and chickpeas. In addition, 2.700 families received food rations of rice, edible oil, chickpeas and cooking fuel. Since the local population was already seriously affected by the drought and suffering from unemployment, poverty and food shortages, Terre des hommes replaced free food distribution with ‘food-for-work’ programs – offered to all impoverished people in Rustaq. This change was long awaited by community leaders and refugee representatives since tensions were growing and people running out of food resources.

Co-funded by European Commission – Humanitarian Office (ECHO), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and Swiss Solidarity Chain (CDB).