UPDATE ON DISPLACED POPULATIONS IN FATA AND NWFP

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SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DISPLACED POPULATIONS IN FATA AND NWFP


1. (SBU) Summary: Separate assessment visits to Lower Dir
by post,s Refugee Affairs Specialist in early August and
late September show the Government of Pakistan (GOP) has the
current situation moderately under control, and current
efforts seem more organized than in the past. Overcrowding
in camps, water, hygiene and sanitation, however, remain
serious issues. Although many IDPs returned to their
villages in Bajaur agency in early September, a significantly
larger number moved out again to safer districts following
renewed fighting later that month. Estimates from UNHCR and
local government officials as of early October are that about
168,000 people are currently displaced. Of this number
approximately 30,000 are living in camps; the rest are housed
with host families. The challenges at the moment include
improving camp management, distributing aid to IDPs housed
with families, and planning ahead for the winter. End
Summary.

BACKGROUND
--------------


2. (SBU) Severe flooding in NWFP in early August affected
more than 200,000 people by crippling infrastructure and
destroying or damaging agriculture and livestock. In the
same month, military action against militants in Bajaur and
Swat displaced more than 300,000 people.


3. (SBU) The GOP announced a ceasefire to coincide with
Ramadan in early September; many IDPs returned to their
villages and most of the IDPs camps were then closed.
However, military operations continued. This renewed
fighting forced the IDPs to return to safer districts in
Lower Dir, Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Rawalpindi
and Karachi.

CURRENT SITUATION
--------------


4. (SBU) An average of 100 families, or about 800-900
individuals flee from the affected areas daily. The
situation is in flux - many of the displaced, especially the
men, move back and forth, as the security situation allows,
to protect their property, livestock, and/or engage the
fighting. Approximately 80 percent of those outside Bajaur
are women and children.


5. (SBU) Despite GOP officials, claims that 300,000 IDPs
fled Bajaur and SWAT, the UN Resident Coordinator,s office
reports 168,463 people (23,887 families) have been displaced
due to the military operation in Bajaur and Swat. Of this
number, 30,069 individuals (3,936 families) are reportedly
living in 12 GOP designated camps in six districts, while the
rest are staying with host families or in rented homes. The
Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees (CAR) and United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are working together
to establish Welfare Centers at the district level to
register IDPs staying with host families. UNHCR and CAR have
a near-term plan to reduce the burden on the host families,
by distributing relief items from the registration centers
and validating the refugee information on a monthly basis.


6. (SBU) Of the 12 GOP designated camps, four are located in
Lower Dir at Degree College Timergara, Regional Institute for
Training, Khungi, Samar Bagh, and Sadbar Kalay with a total
population of 14,664 people (1,588 families). CAR
authorities work closely with Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF),
and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to
manage these camps.


7. (SBU) The estimated camp housing statistics as of the end
of the Eid holiday (Oct. 3) are: Charsadda camp at Paloso
houses 590 families (4,067 individuals); Mardan camp at
Shiekh Yaseen Town houses 502 families (3,341 individuals),
Nowshera camp at Banzir Complex houses 405 families (2,658
individuals),and Peshawar camp at Kacha Garhi houses 751
families (4,489 individuals). The GOP shifted 100 families
from Charsadda Poloso camp to Kacha Garhi camp in Peshawar to
reduce overcrowding. The GOP is also planning to gradually
close the Shiekh Yaseen (Mardan Town) camp due to
disagreements over land ownership; authorities would relocate
this camp,s IDPs to Kacha Garhi and Jalozai. Those
displaced from the Frontier Region (FR) Kohat area due to
inter-tribal fighting are staying with host families; as a
contingency, however, a camp has also been established at

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Kohat Sports Stadium.

CAMP MANAGEMENT
--------------


8. (SBU) The provincial government appears better able to
handle IDP issues now than it did in August. The provincial
government has assigned the overall responsibility for camp
management to the CAR. Many, including UNHCR and ICRC reps,
feel the CAR,s 28 years of experience managing Afghan
refugee camps will improve IDP camp management.


9. (SBU) Various NGOs and IOs administer these camps and
they operate under CAR and district government supervision.
District government handles legal and protection issues and
coordinates warehousing and distribution of supplies and
selection of camp sites; the CAR registers IDPs in the camps
and supervises distribution of supplies and other services.


10. (SBU) Because of the continuous flow back and forth from
the conflict zones, UNHCR and District government officials
have been discussing appointing camps in Dir, Swat, Charsadda
and Mardan as so-called "transit camps", and those at
Nowshera and Peshawar as "designated" camps. Transit camps
would receive IDPs and offer them a brief stay; IDPs would
then either relocate to a designated camp or return to their
villages.


11. (SBU) Camp conditions, including hygiene and sanitation,
remain substandard. There are not enough latrines; diarrhea
is a common problem, and response efforts are inadequate to
date. An average of only 5-6 liters of water per person is
available in camps. Children have been vaccinated against
measles in only a handful of camps. There are no reports of
cholera.


12. (SBU) UNHCR is working with provincial governments to
address these conditions. Many of the problems can be
attributed to overcrowding. The GOP, in collaboration with
other humanitarian agencies, is actively looking for
additional camp sites. While many landowners were initially
not averse to the temporary presence of IDPs, as the
situation drags on, they are insisting that their land be
returned. Authorities have re-opened the former Afghan
refugees, camp at Kacha Gari for IDPs; the GOP is
considering establishing two more camps in Jalozai and
Shamshatoo.


13. (SBU) According to the UN Resident Coordinator office,
an Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Contingency Plan
has also been drafted for the NWFP in collaboration with
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and provincial
and district authorities. The plan will identify the needs
and issues to measure planning and quality of response.


14. (SBU) So far, there have not been any serious security
issues in the camps. We are told levies and khassadars
(local level law enforcement entities) are present some of
the time in the camps. A more consistent and coherent
security presence is needed to assist camp managers in
maintaining order, and prevent non-IDPs from entering and
disrupting camps.


15. (SBU) The United Nations Department of Safety and
Security has declared security zones within NWFP.
Humanitarian agencies can go to zone 1 (Peshawar and adjacent
areas) and zone 2 (Charsadda, Mardan and Nowshera),while
they cannot go to zone 3 (Dir and Swat).

SITUATION IN SWAT VALLEY
--------------


16. (SBU) Military operations continue in Swat as well, and
relief organizations and Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP)
officials are deeply concerned about the population. Four
camps have been established in local government institutions
in the SWAT district, but they only house about 850 people
(100 families). ICRC told Embassy that the situation has not
gotten as much attention mostly because the displaced are
moving around within the district and are not turning up in
other jurisdictions. ICRC has had intermittent access, but
the security situation has significantly limited their
ability to work.


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FORWARD PLANNING
--------------


17. (SBU) Both UNHCR and ICRC tell us they are expecting the
IDP situation to continue through the winter. Fighting in
Bajaur and Swat has not abated, and there has been talk of
another campaign in Mohmand agency. UNHCR is advising the
GOP on options for winterizing shelters.


18. (SBU) Because it expects this will be a protracted
displacement, UNHCR is advising the GOP to begin organizing
livelihoods programs for IDPs. WFP apparently has a social
targeting approach it is interested in deploying, which would
identify those areas most in need of cash for work and other
similar programs. UNHCR supports this approach, cautioning
that providing uncoordinated programs in various areas could
exacerbate the problem by creating "aid magnets" in areas in
which there is not serious need.

COMMENT
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19. (U) The current situation, as compared to August, is
better. Proper land acquisition for establishment of camps
and winterization of tents are likely the biggest challenges
ahead for the humanitarian agencies and the GOP.
Distribution of Water, medicines, hygiene and sanitation, and
lack of coordination still remain serious problems. For the
moment, aid agencies appear to have enough resources; the
issues are access, organization, and management. Mission
will continue to monitor the situation.
PATTERSON