Daily Evacuation Brief | January 19, 2023

Jan 19, 2023

DEATH TOLL FROM FREEZING COLD AT 70, MAY BE HIGHER – Based on figures reported from about half of the Provinces, the official death toll stood at 70 yesterday evening. Privately, aid agencies are saying actual figures likely run into the hundreds. Bodies of several children, presumed to have been living on the streets of several of Afghanistan’s cities, were photographed and shared on social media. Adding to the misery, more deaths appear to have occurred from monoxide poisoning as people sought to stay warm inside buildings with improper ventilation. Tens of thousands of heads of livestock are thought to have perished as a cold front not seen for over fifty years has descended on the country. Aid agencies are attempting to ameliorate the situation but face issues with staffing, funding, and supplies after many halted operations due to recent discriminatory gender bans.
I-10 SUICIDE BOMBER REPUTEDLY TRAINED IN AFGHANISTAN – The Islamabad suicide bomber who killed 2 Pakistanis and injured several others on 23 December 2022 is said to have received his training while in Afghanistan 2022. Sources close to the investigation say the 22-year-old resident of Khyber District had gone to an undisclosed location in Afghanistan in mid-2022 to receive training. He returned in late 2022 and stayed in Parachinar and Hangu before journeying to the capital to launch his attack. Another source said that the man had been educated at a seminary in Pakistan and was not previously known to counter-terror agents.
HOUSES SEARCHED IN KABUL – Several reports of targeted house searches were received over the previous twenty-four hours. The majority of the searches occurred in Police District 6. The District was home to many former military and government employees of the former regime lived.
7 HELD IN MURDER OF FEMALE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR AGENT – A female Ministry employee was murdered on 1 December 2022 in Police District 7. Yesterday, authorities arrested 7 suspects involved in the case. At least some of the suspects are thought to be relatives of the victim and all have reportedly made confessions to their involvement in the crime. Initial reports at the time suggested the killing had been carried out by ISIS-K or Resistance troops but those reports appear to have been speculation. The reason for the killing has not yet been released.

NEXT 24 HOURS

IRAN PLANS TO DEPORT BETWEEN 3,000-4,000 AFGHANS IN A SINGLE DAY – Local sources in Farah, Herat, and Nimruz Provinces say that Iranian authorities plan to deport the Afghans in a one-day operation across the Taybad, Mahirud, and Milak border crossings. Iranian residents who reside near the crossings have complained about the erection of several camps as the Afghans attempt to deal with the bitter cold. Additional border security forces are said to have arrived to assist with the deportations. Local sources say the communities on the Afghan side are not prepared to receive the deportees and are concerned that some could die without shelter.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

IRAN

The EU overwhelmingly approved a vote to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
Regime leaders announced they would no longer arrest Iranians who violate the dress code and would institute other penalties instead. The decree has been called a half-measure by some civil society leaders engaged in the protests.
The regime has claimed that 98% of those arrested during the protests have been released. Human rights monitoring groups were working to check the accuracy of the claim.

PAKISTAN

Snow and rain are expected to continue across much of the country today. While temperatures are expected to rise a bit, a north wind will cause dangerous conditions at night.
Pakistan claimed that 4 of its border security forces personnel were killed during an incursion by militants from Iran. The 4 men were conducting a security patrol along the border when they were ambushed.

SPOTLIGHT OPINION

Afghanistan: Male judges and prosecutors left behind in ‘forgotten crisis’

By Ruth Green - International Bar Association

Imogen Canavan, a Legal Consultant at the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law, has worked closely with the IBA and the International Association of Women Judges to evacuate vulnerable Afghans since August 2021. As part of these efforts, hundreds of female judges deemed to be at risk were evacuated alongside their families and have since been resettled in Canada, Australia, Germany, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Iceland.

AFGHAN NEWS

'The Coldest In Recent Years': At Least 70 killed By Cold Snap In Afghanistan

By RFE

Freezing temperatures that dipped as low as -33 Celsius in Afghanistan have killed at least 70 people and 70,000 animals, according to…

Bayat Foundation launches its winter aid program in Kabul

By Ariana News

Foundation officials said they aim to provide aid to desperate families suffering from enormous hardships and hunger amid…

UN Envoy Visits Afghanistan, Discusses Bans on Women

By Ayaz Gul - VOA

A top United Nations diplomat held talks with the foreign minister of the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan to convey international concern about…

REGIONAL NEWS

Zardari Says Pakistanis, Afghans Victims of Terrorism

By Imran Danish - TOLO News

In an interview with Aljazeera, Zardari said that terrorism had a serious effect on both Pakistanis and Afghans and that Islamabad and Kabul are working together to…