GERMANY: ADDITIONAL 6 MILLION EUROS FOR PAKISTAN

UNCLAS BERLIN 000604 SENSITIVE STATE FOR PRM/ECA(HASTINGS, WENDT),SCA/PB(TOWNSWICK), EEB/IFD/ODF(MONOHAN),IO/EDA(HARRIMAN) AND EUR/CE(SCHROEDER) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL PHUM PREF GM PK AF SUBJECT: GERMANY: ADDITIONAL 6 MILLION EUROS FOR PAKISTAN IDPS REF: STATE 50276 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Germany shares U.S. concerns over the worsening situation of IDPs in Pakistan, and is increasing its humanitarian assistance to Pakistan as a result. New money for Pakistan's internally displaced persons (IDPs) from two different ministries -- the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs -- will total around 6 million euros. Altogether, German assistance to Pakistan in 2009 will be about 70 million euros. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel points to Maren Lipps, Pakistan Desk Officer, Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ),to encourage prompt and effective humanitarian assistance for Pakistan's internally displaced persons (IDPs). Noting concern over the deteriorating situation in Pakistan, Lipps said BMZ had just announced an additional 5 million euros of humanitarian assistance for Pakistan's IDPs on May 15. This amount, which will be channeled via the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),is over and above the 115 million euros pledged at the April 17 Donors' Conference in Tokyo. Lipps added that BMZ had previously committed 5 million euros for Pakistan IDPs via the World Food Program (WFP),as well as 10 million euros via UNHCR's RAHA Initiative. In sum, BMZ is contributing 90 million euros to Pakistan in 2009-2010, 20 million euros of which will go towards IDPs. ¶3. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel points to Michael Ahrens, Senior Desk Officer for Asia, Humanitarian Aid Task Force, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The MFA was already contributing 1.6 million euros to assist Pakistani IDPs this year, 600,000 euros of which had been recently announced in reaction to the worsening IDP situation, according to Ahrens. Ahrens acknowledged that Foreign Minister Steinmeier would imminently announce an additional contribution for IDPs, but was unable to divulge any figures. He said total aid to Pakistan, including humanitarian assistance, from both BMZ and MFA would be about 70 million in 2009. ¶4. (U) On May 20, 2009, a press release confirmed that the MFA would increase aid to Pakistan's IDPs "by up to one million euros." According to the release, the money will be at the disposal of UNHCR to build refugee camps, allocate emergency accommodations, and distribute aid supplies. Koenig