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Massive needs as Pakistan conflict widens

There is a major influx of displaced population from Swat, Buner, and Lower Dir in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. According to media sources, a total of 2.5 million people have been displaced so far. PHOTO: CWS-ACT International

As Pakistan’s military offensive continued into its fourth week, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has exceeded three million, according to provincial government authorities. Children are particularly affected after having witnessed violence, experienced displacement and faced interruptions to education and health services. Most of the displaced have minimal resources and require safe drinking water, clothing, food, shelter and health care.

Women and children are most vulnerable

The Pakistan/Afghanistan office of Church World Service (CWS) reports that women and young girls are facing severe hardships with a lack of access to cooked food and latrines. A CWS field team observed that about ninety percent of IDP tents do not have gas stoves for cooking meals. Meanwhile, the distribution points for cooked food in the camps are largely dominated by men and cultural barriers are preventing displaced women from accessing cooked food for themselves and their children.

The CWS field team reports that, on average, a single latrine is shared by 35 people living in the camps and with the host communities. They also report that women and young girls are facing severe hardships due to cultural practices and avoid using the latrines. In addition, more women, accompanied by their children, are arriving in Swabi. The women say that their husbands are staying behind to take care of their houses and livestock. Subsequently, a combination of issues including heat, limited information, and decreased accessibility to food distribution points are all negatively affecting a large number of women.

With the growing numbers of IDPs in the Mardan and Swabi areas, UNHCR plans to setup assistance for shelter and immediate relief supplies as the displaced have little prospect of renting proper accommodation in the areas. In both places, the host communities are becoming oversaturated with the continuing flow of those who are newly displaced, and there is an urgency to establish more camps. UNHCR has also confirmed that there are 6,000 pregnant women among the displaced persons from Swat, living in the camps at Swabi and Mardan.

Members of ACT International report increasing needs among vulnerable populations including a lack of shelter, food, medicine, non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene, and clothing. Additionally, there is a need for psychosocial support, particularly for young children who lost their parents during the displacement.

Last week, President Asif Ali Zardari announced a special emergency relief package for the IDPs under which a total of 6,100 families in the camps would receive assistance and more than 10 million rupees (US $124,533) has been placed at the disposal of the Pakistan Post Office Department for distribution to the IDPs. This amount is intended for IDP families forced to stay outside the camps. Mixed reactions are felt by the IDPs based on the government’s promise and uncertainty continues to loom as the military operation extended into Waziristan this week.

ACT member response

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and the Pakistan/Afghanistan office of Church World Service (CWS) continue to respond as members of the ACT Forum in Pakistan. Coordination and planning is ongoing following the issue of a preliminary ACT appeal for CWS and NCA on 20 May. An elaborated appeal to replace the preliminary versions of their proposed responses is currently under development with an anticipated target of close to US $6 million. As of 5 June, ACT members have mobilised more than US $3 million for programmes under the appeal, however significant needs still remain and could further increase as the military conflict appears to be expanding to other areas.

Church World Service

This past week, CWS distributed 600 food packages through their implementing partners, SSEWA-Pak, CHIP, and Sungi, at two distribution points in Mardan and Swabi. CWS’s health team operated a mobile health unit for the displaced population in Mansehra and Abbottabad, treating common diseases, providing medicines and identifying pregnant women.

The basic health services provided to displaced people by CWS mobile health clinics include treatment for common diseases, assistance to pregnant women and provision of free medicines for certain ailments. As of the end of May, the mobile health unit deployed by CWS had treated 350 people, mostly for diarrhea, skin diseases and respiratory tract infections. CWS now plans to expand its services to include immunizations since many children’s regular immunization schedules, including for polio, have been disrupted by the conflict.

The mobile unit currently operates with the capacity to see approximately 50 displaced persons per day. However, expanded services are necessary for the growing population of displaced persons. CWS plans to include comprehensive health care and expand its service area to Swabi.

“Learning from the voices of the IDPs,” a joint event organized by CWS and other partners was held in Islamabad on 27 May 2009. The event provided a platform for IDPs to share their concerns on the displacement and also identify their needs. Representatives from local, national and international agencies actively participated, with local print, television and live radio present.

CWS has also participated in UN cluster meetings in Islamabad and Peshawar. CWS had a special meeting with the UN World Food Programme to discuss the food distribution needs and avoid any duplication in assistance provided.

Norwegian Church Aid

During this past week, NCA and its partners, including PVDP, continued to distribute non-food items (NFI) in the Yar Hussain Camp bringing the total distribution to 451 families. Special attention was given to female-headed households with large numbers of children, physically challenged women, widows, orphans, persons with injuries sustained during their escape, or those who lost family members during the military operations.

Medical assistance was also provided to 70 displaced people through general health services and medication, including 57 women and 13 children. The health team has also shifted its attention to the pregnant women in the camps, and provided 12 pregnant women with proper checkup and referral services through its female medical doctor. In addition, PVDP conducted 15 hygiene sessions through its male and female social organisers in the Yar Hussain Camp.

Other activities (outside the ACT appeal)

In addition to the CWS and NCA programmes included under the ACT appeal, the third member of the ACT Pakistan Forum, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH), has secured funding for six months of programmes from the German foreign office. Initial DKH projects include supporting local partner Sungi for three months to assist close to 1,500 pregnant and lactating mothers living outside the camps in the Mardan district. There are also plans to assist with the health and hygiene needs of 2,880 families through community training sessions and the distribution of water containers and hygiene kits. Ten temporary schools are also being planned along with education kits for 3,600 students.

Swiss Interchurch Aid (HEKS), as part of a consortium with Caritas Switzerland, is supporting implementing partner ADF (Anatolian Development Fund) to distribute food, hygiene and non-food items to 28,000 people in the Mardan district over four months (budget of US $764,283). Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) is funding the Diocese of Peshawar which has set up a relief camp for IDPs providing shelter and basic provisions. The Diocesan Mission Hospital in Peshawar is also providing free medical services.

The ACT Coordinating Office communications team contributed to this content.

Action by Churches Together (ACT) International is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.