PAKISTAN IDP SITUATION REPORT, MAY 23, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 001120 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF EAID PGOV PK IO ECON PINR SUBJECT: PAKISTAN IDP SITUATION REPORT, MAY 23, 2009 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The military assault on Mingora is underway. The number of returns to Bajaur and Buner remains uncertain. Indications are that people are leaving from and returning to Buner in relatively equal numbers. Those returning are doing so to harvest their crops. Save the Children representatives expressed to Embassy concern regarding IDP camp management and the donor response to the IDP crisis. Initial Embassy observations indicate differing levels of management, security and services among IDP camps. The Embassy, with the help of Disaster Assistance Response (DART) team, will continue to gather information on IDP conditions overall. No one, including the Pakistani military, has specific information on how many people are trapped in Swat. ¶2. (U) On May 22, the U.N. formally launched the revised 2009 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) to support 1.5 million IDPs and other conflict-affected individuals for seven months. On May 21, the GoP Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs announced that international donors had pledged approximately USD 224 million (18 billion Pakistan rupees) in IDP assistance, including the USD 110 million. End Summary. -------------- Military Situation -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Pakistani military forces have initiated an assault on the main town of Mingora in Swat and have reportedly captured large stores of ammunition and supplies in caves overlooking the town. Matta Tehsil (25 km northwest of Mingora) was secured by security forces, as was the bridge linking Matta with Peochar. The ISPR military spokesman said that only ten percent of the population remains in Mingora. -------------- IDP Returns -------------- ¶4. (SBU) According to the U.N., some IDPs have left camps in Lower Dir, Kacha Garhi, and Jalozai. While Lt. General Nadeem has indicated that 230,000 have returned to Bajaur, UNHCR has not provided transport and is uncertain of returnee numbers. U.N. field reports indicate that a small number of IDPs have returned to places of origin in Buner District, reportedly to harvest crops, but UNHCR has no official statistics on returns to Buner. ¶5. (SBU) Reliable sources report that roads from Mardan to Buner are heavy with traffic. They visited two relief distribution hubs providing WFP food in Mardan. Pedestrians appeared to be entering and leaving Buner in equal numbers, and busses and high occupancy vehicles were traveling in both directions. Those entering Buner are returning to harvest their crops. The Taliban has met resistance from the local population although compensated recruitment is taking place. Civil vulnerabilities include food, water and electricity. Repair of the electric lines between Buner and Swat is in process. Sources report seeing some homes destroyed. -------------- HUMANITARIAN SITUATION -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Dr. Charles MacCormack, President of Save the Children U.S., and Michael McGrath, Save's Pakistan Country Director, met with USAID Director and Embassy Border Coordinator on May 22. The visitors were critical of the Government of Pakistan's capacity to manage IDP camps and effectively coordinate relief responses. They indicated that a generally bleak situation in camps is leading to increased anger among the IDP population about the chaotic relief efforts. (Note: They did say that the camps around Bajaur were functioning well, were clean and orderly, and had computer systems in place used to identify people, etc. They wondered why the camps around Bajaur were so much better than camps in Mardan, Swabi and other places where the new IDPs were.) ¶7. (SBU) They said planning for IDP returns was non-existent. Since donor pledges have been slow and insufficient in support of the UN ISLAMABAD 00001120 002 OF 003 Appeal, UNHCR has not been able to support weak GOP capacity sufficiently. Both commented strongly on the lack of response from other donors. They said this lack of response is because others believe the IDP crisis is a U.S. problem as the U.S. is the country pressing the Pakistanis to conduct robust COIN operations. They urged Washington to demarche international donors for a more generous response. ¶8. (SBU) Comment: The Save the Children assessment is not shared by other NGOs reporting on the humanitarian response. Nevertheless, it is a serious charge by a well-respected and experienced team. The Embassy will follow up with UNHCR on May 25 and, with aid of the OFDA DART team now in place in Islamabad, will look into the Save allegations and seek to collect more systematic information on IDP conditions and weaknesses in response capabilities. Depending on the outcome, we will propose to Washington and interlocutors in Pakistan specific remedial actions. End Comment. ¶9. (SBU) Initial impressions from Refcoord and FSN visits to three camps are that the level and structure of camp management and security differ markedly from one camp to the next. Of the three camps visited, Shah Mansour in Swabi is run by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) largely through the Pakistan Red Crescent and is self-policed by an IDP committee. Services are timely, as was registration until the camp reached capacity on May ¶21. While the camp is animated, both the Pakistan Red Crescent and NWFP camp management report no security disruptions. IDPs report no issues regarding delivery of services, including school, partial electrification, and food delivery by camp section. ¶10. (SBU) Yar Hussain, also in Swabi, is run by UNHCR, with registration/protection by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and police presence as well as security monitoring by an IDP committee. While there appears to be a conflict between the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees and NWFP over camp management, the camp runs smoothly overall although lines for cooked food distribution are long. Health problems are largely diarrhea and urinary track infections, although press reported one cholera case last week. The camp has both a primary and middle school, both of which use government text books. Both Shah Mansour and Yar Hussain are scheduled to shift from cooked food to dry food distribution in the coming week. ¶11. (SBU) Sheikh Shehzad in Mardan is also run by UNHCR and is policed by both army and police. There are graver health problems and more service delivery and security issues in this camp than in the other two. A Norwegian Embassy representative who visited Jalala camp, also in Mardan District, said that camp appeared well managed by NWFP authorities. The representative's local driver also tested the registration system and was identified without his national ID by the database managed by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). ¶12. (U) The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has carried out site planning, prepared the grounds and erected tents for two camps in Nowshera District. UNHCR is also assisting provincial authorities in the management of three new camps in Mardan District and one camp in Swabi District. UNHCR and ICRC are exploring various options to provide shaded areas to protect IDPs in camps against the sun and rising temperatures. ¶13. (SBU) OCHA will be doing an assessment on damage and conditions for returnees to Buner. Embassy is seeking DART team participation. -------------- HUMANITARIAN COORDINATION -------------- ¶14. (U) On May 22, the U.N. formally launched the revised 2009 Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP),to support approximately 1.5 million IDPs and other conflict-affected individuals for seven months. The acting U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator outlined needs in twelve sectors - health, food security, nutrition, camp management, shelter, early recovery, coordination, education, logistics, protection, agriculture and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). The GoP Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar noted that the GoP fully supported the U.N. HRP for the relief stage and affirmed the lead role of the NWFP government. ¶15. (U) On May 21, Rabbani Khar announced that international donors ISLAMABAD 00001120 003 OF 003 had pledged approximately USD 224 million in IDP assistance, including approximately USD 110 million from the USG. -------------- FOOD ASSISTANCE -------------- ¶16. (U) As of May 22, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) reported providing 30-day food rations for approximately 100,000 people per day due to increased capacity at humanitarian hubs, an increase from the 65,000 people per day served as of May 19. -------------- EMERGENCY RELIEF SUPPLIES -------------- ¶17. (U) As of May 19, the U.N. noted that the current stock of relief commodities is sufficient to assist approximately 120,000 individuals, while additional relief commodities in the pipeline can support an additional 222,000 individuals, leaving a substantial shortfall given recent displacement. UNHCR is obtaining locally produced items, including tents, water containers, and sleeping mats. On May 12, UNCHR also externally procured 120 MT of plastic sheeting, plastic rolls, Rubb halls, and mosquito nets. -------------- HEALTH AND NUTRITION -------------- ¶18. (U) The U.N. nutrition cluster is currently providing nutrition services through supplementary and outpatient therapeutic feeding centers in six IDP camps in Peshawar, Charsadda, and Nowshera districts. In host communities, the cluster is providing nutrition services in Mardan, Charsadda, Peshawar, Nowshera districts. ¶19. (U) The U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the general health situation in all IDP camps and host communities in NWFP remains stable. WHO noted rising trends in diarrhea cases reported from the Jalozai IDP camps, likely due to poor hygiene conditions. Disease surveillance teams are closely monitoring a suspected measles outbreak in Labor Colony, Mardan District. -------------- PROTECTION -------------- ¶20. (U) UNHCR noted the need to register women IDPs among the newly displaced and that the majority of individuals who have currently registered are men. UNHCR also noted that female IDPs living with host families must be specifically targeted with information on registration and access to basic services. The U.N. gender sub-cluster has been established and is reviewing integration of specific gender interventions in ongoing U.N. cluster activities. ¶21. (U) The U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) has established 49 child protection committees in IDP camps, which are regularly holding meetings to discuss and address child protection issues. UNICEF is also supporting child protection monitors to indentify vulnerable children in camps and ensure access to basic services. -------------- WASH -------------- ¶22. (U) The U.N. WASH cluster is providing 4.5 million liters of water to 280,000 IDPs in camps every day as of May 19. Humanitarian organizations have constructed more than 6,800 latrines and 3,400 bathing spaces. Nearly all IDPs in camps are being reached through ongoing hygiene promotion activities and distribution of hygiene kits and soap. The WASH cluster is also devising a strategy to provide services to support IDPs in host communities, and for those IDPs residing in schools and other government buildings. PATTERSON