SWAT HUMANITARIAN AID CONTINUES

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002149


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PK PINR PREL PTER PREF IO
SUBJECT: SWAT HUMANITARIAN AID CONTINUES


1. (SBU) Summary. USAID/OFDA implementing partners, UN agencies and
other humanitarian organizations continue to provide assistance to
populations in Swat, Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP). Following
an August 30 suicide bombing in Mingora, the capital of Swat
District, international media mistakenly reported that the
Government of Pakistan (GOP) suspended humanitarian assistance
programs in the district. USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster
Assistance (USAID/OFDA) partners, including the Agency for Technical
Cooperation and Development (ACTED),Catholic Relief Services (CRS),
Mercy Corps, and Save the Children have opened offices in Swat
District and continue to implement programs aimed at supporting
sustainable returns and early recovery. Similarly, the UN World
Food Program (WFP) and the UN World Health Organization (WHO)
continue activities in Swat. Nearly 88 percent of the displaced
population has returned and 80 percent of schools and 90 percent of
shops have reopened in Swat. End summary.

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BACKGROUND
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2. (SBU) Beginning in early July, humanitarian organizations with
access to Swat District began reporting a fluid but improving
security situation, noting that individuals had spontaneously
returned to areas of origin in the district, largely to Mingora and
areas south of Mingora.


3. (SBU) During July, USAID/OFDA staff conducted assessments in
southern Swat District and reported less conflict-related damage
than previously expected and an ongoing and organized returns
process. Confirming the USAID/OFDA assessment results, two
USAID/OFDA implementing partners conducted assessments in Swat
District and reported that approximately 50 percent of a displaced
population of 1.7 million individuals - including women - had
already returned to areas of origin as of late July.

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CURRENT SITUATION
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4. (SBU) Humanitarian organizations continue to report an improved
but unpredictable security situation in southern Swat District. On
August 24, Pakistan's UN Humanitarian Coordinator Martin Mogwanja
participated in a multi-cluster assessment in Swat District.
According to the UN assessment team, 80 percent of the schools and
90 percent of the shops have reopened, and civilian life is
returning to normal. As of September 1, the GOP Special Support
Group reported that more than 902,000 individuals, representing
nearly 88 percent of the displaced population from Swat District,
had returned to the district, either with GOP assistance or personal
resources.


5. (SBU) Despite recent improvements and large-scale population
returns to the district, the security environment remains uncertain,
particularly in areas north of Mingora, where humanitarian access
remains limited. On August 30, a suicide bombing in Mingora
resulted in the death of 16 police cadets. Following the incident,
international media reported that the GOP suspended the provision of
humanitarian assistance in Swat District. But USAID/OFDA field
staff surveyed implementing partners, UN agencies, and GOP officials
and confirmed the press reports were wrong. All USAID/OFDA
implementing partners, as well as UN agencies and other humanitarian
organizations, operating in Swat District continue to provide
assistance.


6. (SBU) Four USAID/OFDA partners, including the Agency for
Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED),Catholic Relief
Services (CRS),Mercy Corps, and Save the Children have opened
offices in Swat District and continue to implement programs aimed at
supporting sustainable returns and early recovery. While Save the
Children temporarily suspended activities following the August 30
security incident, the organization resumed activities on September
3, noting that the situation remains challenging but operable.
Another USAID/OFDA partner, International Rescue Committee (IRC),
reported plans to open offices in Swat District during the week of
September 7. In addition, USAID/OFDA-funded IRC protection teams
are currently collecting information on the returns process in Swat
District.


7. (SBU) The UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) revised
security restrictions following the August 30 incident by
prohibiting UN staff from remaining in the district overnight. As a
result, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA) and WFP delayed plans to establish permanent offices in the
district. In addition, WFP temporarily suspended the plans to
identify locations for additional humanitarian hubs in Swat
District. Despite the temporary delays, however, UN assistance
programs remain ongoing and agencies continue to adapt to the
evolving situation.


8. (SBU) OCHA plans to reschedule the first UN General Coordination
Meeting in Swat District for the week of September 7. In addition,
WFP and WHO continue to provide food and medicines to
conflict-affected populations in Swat. During August, WFP provided
assistance to nearly 18,000 returnees in the district. In addition,
WFP currently operates seven humanitarian hubs in Swat District,
including three newly opened hubs.


9. (SBU) Comment: Post will continue to monitor humanitarian
assistance to Swat and to work with USAID/OFDA implementing partners
and the UN to keep critical assistance flowing as the internally
displaced population re-settles in the district.

PATTERSON