Disasters, Conflicts and Migration

Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities

Meteorological Conditions

Afghanistan has four seasons. In the mountains and a few of the valleys bordering Pakistan, a fringe effect of the Indian monsoon, coming usually from the southeast, brings moist maritime tropical air in summer. Summers are hot and winters can be bitterly cold. Summer temperatures as high as 49° C (120° F) have been recorded in the northern valleys. Midwinter temperatures as low as -9° C (15° F) are common around the 2000-m level in the Hindu Kush. The climate in the highlands varies with elevation. The coolest temperatures usually occur on the heights of the mountains. Temperatures often range greatly within a single day. Variations in temperature during the day may range from freezing conditions at dawn to the upper 30° C (upper 90° F) at noon. Most of the precipitation falls between the months of October and April. The deserts receive less than 100 mm rain a year, whereas the mountains receive more than 1000 mm of precipitation, mostly as snow. Winds sweeping in from the west may bring large sandstorms or dust storms while the strong solar heating of the ground raises large local whirlwinds. 

Western & South Western Region

Winter is usually severe with of up to two meter high snow in mountainous areas resulting in inaccessible roads. Summer period are extremely hot reaching temperatures in excess of 50° Celsius causing water shortages. The weather and rain during springtime is moderate. During autumn, all roads are still accessible.

Eastern Region

Winter is usually severe with high snow in mountainous areas of Nuristan Province, resulting in inaccessible roads. Summer period is an extremely hot reaching temperature in excess of 50 Degree Celsius causing water shortages. The weather and rain during springtime is moderate. During autumn, all roads are still accessible.

Northern Region

The climate is typical of an arid or semiarid savannah, with cold winters and dry summers. The climate of the Turkistan plains, which extend northward from the Northern Foothills, represents a transition between mountain and savannah climates. Aridity increases and temperatures rise with descending altitudes, becoming the highest along the lower Amu Darya and in the western parts of the plains. Every year the snowfall in Faryab, Sar I Pul and Samangan becomes hardly accessible whilst some remote districts of Faryab and Sar I Pul provinces become inaccessible.

Central/Central Highland

Central Highland is a cold and winter hit area with a long winter period. It has four seasons, which is dry in fall and very cold winter with heavy rains at the beginning of spring. The temperature gets hot during the summer time.

• UNDP (United Nations Development Program)
• OCHA (UN Office Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)
• UN-HABITAT (United Nations Centre for Human Settlements)
• UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)
• UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
• UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund for Afghanistan)
• UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees)
• OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights)
• UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund)
• UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization)
• UN WOMEN (United Nations Development Fund for Women)
• UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
• UNOPS (UN Office for Project Services)
• UNMAS (United Nations Mine Action Service)
• WHO (World Health Organization)
• WFP (World Food Programme)
• ILO (International Labour Organization)
• IOM (International Organization for Migration)
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)
• MACCA (Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan)
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)
• UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan)

Duties and Tax Exemption

UN agencies and registered NGOs are exempted from import duty and excise duty in accordance with the convention of the privileges and immunities of UN (1946). However, there are exemption procedures, which must adhered to by the agency or organization.

While the main approval for tax exemption is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, various other line Ministers may be involved in the approval and standards checking process depending on the type of goods being imported. For example, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology for Import of Telecommunication equipment such as HF/ VHF/UHF and Satellite equipment.  All border crossing points, including International Airports and land crossing borders follow the same customs procedures. Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul endorse the documents before submitting to the Customs and Revenue Department for further processing and approval. A complete set of approved documents from the Customs and Revenue Department's main office in Kabul will then be provided to respective entry point upon which access will be granted.

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the links below: 

World Customs Organization

4.2.1 Afghanistan Government Contact List

Emergency Response

[Note: This section contains information which is related and applicable to 'crisis' times. These instruments can be applied when an emergency is officially declared by the Government.  When this occurs, there is usually a streamlined process to import goods duty and tax free.]

In the following table, state which of the following agreements and conventions apply to the country and if there are any other existing ones

Reference: http://saarc-sec.org/areas_of_cooperation

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response)

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure: 

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

Customs Clearance

General Information 

Customs Clearance Document Requirements

Transit Regime

Even though Afghanistan is a landlocked country, its strategic location that connects the Middle East with Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent makes it a major gateway. However, due to a slowly developing road network and continued insecurity, little to no cargo is transiting through the country. When required, the procedure in place is as follows:

The transport companies that are contracted to undertake the cross border (transit) operations are required to:

• Submit a bond of 110% of the commodity invoice value at the Customs Office at the border entry point.
• Have the required permit to undertake cross border operations (usually issued by the country where the company is registered.
• Toll fees may apply.

The bond is released back to the transporters upon confirmation by the Customs office at the border exit point confirming the complete consignment has left the country.

UN agencies using their own vehicles may write a letter of guarantee instead of submitting a bond. All other formalities apply.

Prohibited Goods

• Alcoholic Drinks
• Live pigs and all pork products.
• Cotton seeds
• Narcotics / drugs
• Chemical fertilizers; ammonium nitrate as per Presidential Decree No. (28) Dated 21/01/2010, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
• Plastic Bags (Carry bags) as per Ministerial Cabinet Act No (1) Dated 28/03/2011.
• Importation of destructive gases of the Ozone layer included in the heading no. 2903.76 &2903.77 of Tariffs.

Info:
http://customs.mof.gov.af/en
http://www.wcoomd.org/