Pakistan: South Waziristan displacement, 23 Oct 2009

This situation report is based on information received from United Nations Agencies, humanitarian partners and government sources.

SITUATION OVERVIEW:

Civilians continue to flee South Waziristan following the intensification of the on-going military operations in the Agency. According to the Social Welfare Department of the Government of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), there are around 19,000 registered displaced families from South Waziristan (approx. 139,400 individuals) in the Districts of Dera Ismail Khan and Tank (UNHCR supports the activities of the NWFP Social Welfare Department). This number comprises the 7,900 families (approx. 58,000 individuals), who have arrived in the two districts since 13 October, as well as the 11,080 families (approx. 80,500 IDPs), who fled the area between May and August 2009.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) from South Waziristan are also moving into Bannu District in NWFP and Zhob District in Baluchistan. According to local authorities, 1,630 families (approx. 12,000 individuals) and 650 families (approx. 4,700 individuals) have been registered in the two districts respectively.

UN Agencies and their humanitarian partner organisations have assisted the first wave of South Waziristan IDPs with emergency interventions, such as food, household and hygiene supplies, water supplies, vaccination campaigns and support to registration. This assistance is now extended also to the new influx of displaced persons.

The planning figure of the humanitarian community for IDPs, who could eventually leave South Waziristan, is a total of 250,000 civilians. To respond to such a caseload, preparations have been underway for some time now, and relief items are pre-positioned in the area.

The current IDPs are either living with host families or in rented accommodation. At this point no camps have been established in either D.I. Khan or Tank Districts. The authorities might consider camps in the future, and UNHCR and its implementing partners stand ready to assist in the setting up and running of possible IDP camps.

NEEDS: The most urgent humanitarian needs include: food, support to existing health facilities, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) support, emergency shelter and education support.

RESPONSE:

REGISTRATION: There are currently five registration points in D.I. Khan District and one in Tank District. All points have separate registration desks for males and females. So far, the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) has distributed ATM cash cards to 5,605 out of the 11,080 families registered before the end of August 2009.

NON-FOOD ITEMS (NFIS): After a break of almost three weeks, UNHCR's implementing partners resumed the distribution of NFIs in D.I. Khan District on 21 October. Since then, 1,119 IDP families have received NFI kits, including kitchen sets, jerry cans, sleeping mats, plastic sheets and blankets. This brings the total of distributed NFI kits to 7,600. Additional NFI kits will also be distributed to the newly displaced families.

FOOD SECURITY: WFP stands ready to assist all newly displaced families from South Waziristan. So far, 1,000 tons of food has been distributed in D.I. Khan and Tank to families registered before 16 August. The local authorities have requested WFP to support also the second wave of South Waziristan IDPs. Currently WFP has relief stocks and implementation capacities to meet the October requirements.

Due to security considerations, all food distribution points were closed on 21 October, however, they have partly been re-opened and others will re-open in the next few days.

WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE: The WASH Cluster has reached more than 45,000 IDPs with fresh water by rehabilitating government water supply systems and installing hand pumps. About 35,000 IDPs have received hygiene kits and water storage containers. Sanitation interventions have provided around 800 people with latrines and bathing facilities. The WASH Cluster is currently prepared to scale-up the response for the new IDP influx, including interventions in camps, if established.

HEALTH: The Health Cluster has provided 26 mini emergency kits (MEKHs) to D.I. Khan, and 16 MEKHs to Tank Districts. Each of the kits serves 6,000 people for two months. Three cholera kits were also distributed in each of the districts, which serve around 500 people each. Furthermore, three inter agency emergency health kits (IEHK) have been distributed to Tank, serving around 30,000 IDPs. The Health Cluster is also providing two ambulances, one to D.I. Khan District and one to Tank District.

EDUCATION: Through the provision of school supplies, the Education Cluster stands ready to assist children back into school as soon as possible.

GAPS: Security concerns make humanitarian access to D.I. Khan and Tank Districts a major challenge, and UN Agencies are continuing to deliver their assistance through local partners.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

www.un.org.pk or contact:

OCHA Office in Islamabad:
Manuel Bessler, OCHA Head of Office Pakistan, bessler@un.org
Billi Bierling, Spokesperson, OCHA, Pakistan, bierling@un.org Cell: 0300 850 2397