EMBASSY ISLAMABAD REFUGEE AFFAIRS SECTION WEEKLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 003676

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREF PREL PTER PK
SUBJECT: EMBASSY ISLAMABAD REFUGEE AFFAIRS SECTION WEEKLY
ACTIVITY REPORT NOVEMBER 10-14


1. (SBU) Summary: The following is a Refugee Affairs weekly
activity report for November 10 - 14. The recent spate of
violence in Peshawar has caused the United Nations to drawn
down international staff at their Peshawar offices; other
NGOs in Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) have limited
operations after receiving threatening letters. According to
a report by the UN,s Multiple Cluster Rapid Assessment
Mechanism (McRAM),85.7% of Baloch earthquake survivors have
not received relief supplies, and current food stocks will
suffice for less than a month; 35,000 people will need food
assistance in order to avoid starvation. The Commissioner
for Afghan Refugees (CAR) has provided winterization kits for
IDPs in Dir Lower, Mardan, Charssada and Peshawar districts.
The present case load in eight government-run IDP camps in
six districts is nearly 30,000, and rising. More than
183,000 people are still living with host families. The
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has
created a hotline to assist Afghan refugees who cannot reach
their offices due to weather; it will operate through March

2009. End summary.

NWFP INSECURITY CAUSES UN, OTHER NGOS TO CURTAIL OPERATIONS
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2. (SBU) A string of violent incidents in Peshawar,
including the November 12 killing of Stephen Vance of the
USAID-funded FATA Livelihood Development Program, November 13
kidnapping of Iranian commercial attach Heshmatullah
Atarzedeh and murder of his driver, and the recent carjacking
in broad daylight of a local NGO, Society for Sustainable
Development, at Kacha Gari IDP camp have shaken the
humanitarian assistance community. Mohammad Adar of the
UNHCR Peshawar sub-office said that UN offices in Peshawar
have drawn down international staff because of the volatile
security situation. Some NGOs in NWFP have reported
receiving threatening letters, and they too have curtailed
their activities.

BALOCH EARTHQUAKE SURVEY SHOWS URGENT NEEDS
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3. (U) The October 29 Baluchistan earthquakes displaced
68,000 people, destroyed 3,487 houses, and damaged 4,125 more
homes, according to the UN,s Multiple Cluster Rapid
Assessment Mechanism (McRAM) survey report. The report
estimated that 85.7% of affected people have not received
relief supplies. Current food stocks will suffice for less
than a month, and 35,000 people will need food assistance in
order to avoid starvation. USAID is partnering with two
local NGOs to provide transitional shelter.


4. (U) Health concerns attributable to cold weather are
common, such as acute respiratory infection (ARI),
Gastro/diarrhea and coughing. Women,s access to health care
is complicated by cultural restrictions on contact with
outsiders. McRAM has reconfirmed the urgent need for
shelter, warm clothes, food and medicines.


5. (SBU) The ICRC and Save the Children told the RAS that
the situation was under control and the government and other
humanitarian agencies are working on providing shelter, warm
clothes, food and medicines to the victims as identified by
the McRAM.

UNHCR AND CAR PROVIDE WINTERIZATION KITS FOR IDPS IN NWFP
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6. (SBU) The Additional Commissioner for Afghan Refugees
Waqar Maroof told the Refugee Affairs Specialist that the
winterization program for the internally displaced people
(IDPs) in the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) is in
progress. The Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees (CAR) has
provided winterization kits comprising of plastic sheets to
reinforce the non-winterized tents, three blankets, one quilt
and four mats to IDPs in Lower Dir, Mardan, Charssada and
Peshawar districts. Comment: According to contacts of the
RAS, the number of blankets as promised was not distributed
to IDPs in Kacha Gari camp. Reportedly, the relationships
between those living in the camp and those managing the camp
are poor. End comment.


7. (SBU) The IDPs from Mardan Sheikh Yasin town in district
Mardan and Pelosi IDP camp in district Charssada would be

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shifted soon to the camp at Jalozai (former Afghan Refugee
camp and currently being used to house IDPs from Bajaur). The
CAR commissioner said that 40-45 new families get registered
in IDP camps on daily basis.


8. (SBU) The present case load in eight government-run camps
in six districts is about 30,126 people, and the number is
rising. Over 183,271 people are still living with host
families. The UNHCR told the RAS that work by the provincial
Social Welfare Department on registration of IDPs staying
with host families is in progress in the eight districts.

UNHCR USES HOTLINE FOR AFGHAN REFUGEE QUERIES
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9. (U) UNHCR has set up a 24/7 hotline to respond to queries
and provide information to those who are unable to reach the
UNHCR offices in Pakistan. The hotline will operate during
the entire winter break (until March 2009).

ON THE HORIZON FOR THE REFUGEE AFFAIRS SECTION
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10. December 1-5: Resettlement and Asylum Admissions
Workshop, Washington DC.
PATTERSON