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OCHA Field activities, Afghanistan

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) resumed its operation in Afghanistan in 2009, providing humanitarian assistance in a complex environment where separate – and not always complementary – military, political and security objectives pose challenges to the implementation of humanitarian principles, the ability of responders to reach people in need and the safety and security of aid workers. Afghanistan has been in protracted conflict for forty years, which has seriously hampered poverty reduction and development, strained the fabric of society and depleted its coping mechanisms. OCHA’s work in Afghanistan focuses on assisting the most vulnerable by coordinating the delivery of effective humanitarian aid and principled humanitarian action. To this end, OCHA ensures that: humanitarian decision making is based on a common situational awareness; humanitarian action is guided by joint strategic response planning based on prioritized needs; coordination mechanisms are adapted to the context and support the effective and coherent delivery of humanitarian assistance; humanitarian financing is predictable, timely and allocated based on priority needs, people in emergencies are protected from harm and have access to assistance as a result of advocacy and coordination; preparedness helps respond to humanitarian emergencies without delay and with the rights assistance.