PESHAWAR UNHCR CHIEF ON UNHCR ACTIVITIES IN NWFP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PESHAWAR 000116 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/29/2019 TAGS: PREF EAID PGOV PK PREL SUBJECT: PESHAWAR UNHCR CHIEF ON UNHCR ACTIVITIES IN NWFP CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, U.S. Consulate Peshawar, U.S. Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) UNHCR Peshawar told Peshawar PO on May 28 that the IDP population stands at 2.5 million with many in "transit" and "spontaneous" camps still not registered. UNHCR Peshawar is increasingly focusing on assisting IDP populations in these unofficial camps and schools. Most outflows from South Waziristan appear to be headed for winter homes in adjacent Dera Ismail Khan district. While the need for camps for Waziristan IDPs does not appear to exist yet, UNHCR Peshawar is assisting local authorities with identification of appropriate locations. UNHCR Peshawar's senior officer departs in July, but a permanent successor has been difficult to recruit in the wake of the Solecki kidnapping in Quetta. End Summary. IDP Numbers Skewed by Registration Fraud -------------- ¶2. (U) UNHCR's Peshawar representative Mohammad Adar told Peshawar PO and USAID officers on May 28 that the newly arrived IDP population stood at 2.5 million (314,000 families). The Malakand District Coordination Officer had reported 110,000 unregistered individuals at a "transit" center in Palai. The area is currently off-limits to UNHCR, but UNHCR will attempt to visit the center early next week. The number of civilians unable to leave Swat or Dir remains unclear. Adar cautioned that there was an inflation in IDP numbers because of duplicate registrations, families' using outdated Malakand addresses, and wide interest in receiving the 25,000 rupee stipend promised by the government to IDP families. The NWFP's Ministry for Social Welfare, he said, is working with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA)to match registration information against NADRA's national identity database in an effort to eliminate some of the fraud. Expanding UNHCR Focus -------------- ¶3. (U) Beginning June 1, local authorities and relief agencies, Adar continued, will begin focusing more intensively on IDPs in schools and "spontaneous" camps. Shade at official and spontaneous camps, he said, is one of the highest priorities. Return home of some Bajaur and Mohmand IDPs has created space at Jalozai camp (Nowshera District). While clearing some Jalozai houses that had been vacated by Afghan refugees (spring-summer 2008),camp management discovered and disposed of unexploded ordnance (anti-personnel land mines). Adar noted the need to transition from cooked food to rations in the official camps for the newly arrived IDPs. UNHCR was exploring the building of individual fire-pits, but settling on an appropriate source of firewood was an issue. IDPs were not willing, he said, to use communal kitchens because of tensions over mixing with strangers. While food supply was not an issue, some IDPs were generally angry because of being forced to flee with so little warning that most possessions had to be left behind. South Waziristan -------------- PESHAWAR 00000116 002 OF 002 ¶4. (U) In reponse to PO's question about outflows from South Waziristan, Adar observed that there were conflicting estimates, but many appeared to be going to their winter homes in the adjacent Dera Ismail Khan district. PO asked whether UNHCR would begin registration of Waziristan IDPs and noted that NWFP officials had commented on their interest in increased UNHCR engagement in the south. While UNHCR is helping the DI Khan Coordination Officer identify camps, Adar recalled the general difficulty UNHCR had in operating in Dera Ismail Khan in late 2007-2008 when a military blockade of Mehsud areas created approximately 200,000 IDPs. UNHCR's local partner, the Social Welfare Department staff, had been unwilling to leave their offices because of security concerns. UNHCR is intending to use Mianwali (Punjab) as its logistical hub. UNHCR Staffing Difficulties -------------- ¶5. (C) Adar said that he will be leaving in July after two and a half years in Peshawar, and his position will be filled with an interim replacement for approximately five months. He commented that finding a successor has been difficult, particularly after John Solecki's kidnapping in Quetta. UNHCR is beefing up the status of the position and adding other incentives. TRACY