PAKISTAN'S DISPLACED PERSONS CRISIS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 STATE 055536 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM PK PREF SUBJECT: PAKISTAN'S DISPLACED PERSONS CRISIS REF: STATE 50276 ¶1. (U) This is an action message. See paragraphs 10-13. ¶2. (SBU) Summary. Fighting between the Pakistani military and extremists in the North West Frontier Province has displaced approximately 2.8 million persons. There is an estimated gap of more than $250 million required to meet the UN appeal of $543 million to provide relief through December 2009. The overall cost for relief and reconstruction will be much higher, especially once Pakistan extends counterinsurgency operations into North and South Waziristan. It is critical that donors step up to fill the funding gap, or, if they have already pledged, to follow through quickly to deliver their assistance. End Summary. Background ¶3. (SBU) Reftel provided information on the unfolding humanitarian crisis and response in Pakistan and instructed posts to appeal to host governments for support. In the past few weeks, the number of displaced persons has grown from under 600,000 to 2.8 million as a consequence of fighting between the Pakistani military and extremists in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). Some 338,000 people are in 23 camps; the remainder have sought refuge with relatives and within villages in safe areas. The onset of summer heat and crowding in the camps is posing health risks as well as a continuing need for protection, nutrition, water, health services and education within and outside of the camps. Fighting is severely limiting access by humanitarian organizations in Swat and Buner in NWFP. ¶4. (U) A new displacement has been reported in South Waziristan in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), as residents flee in anticipation of fighting, although the actual and prospective magnitudes are uncertain at this juncture. While some people displaced last fall have begun to return to Bajaur in the FATA, the Government of Pakistan (GOP) and UN expect the overall number of displaced persons to remain well above 2 million for several months. ¶5. (U) On May 22, the UN launched an appeal to fund the revised Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan (PHRP),designed to support emergency needs, returns, and recovery through December 2009. The funding requirements in the PHRP do not include costs of reconstructing damaged infrastructure or reintegrating returnees, which the GOP has stated it will assess in consultation with the humanitarian community. The PHRP estimates total funding requirements of $543 million, of which $454 million are unmet. Taking into account recent pledges, the gap still remaining between requirements and pledges exceeds $250 million. ¶6. (U) Secretary Clinton announced on May 19 a U.S. assistance package of $110 million, to include food aid, and support for health and nutrition, emergency shelter, water, hygiene, and humanitarian coordination. At the request of the Pakistani government, the U.S. military is providing water trucks, Halal meals, and tents with environmental controls for hot weather. ¶7. (U) The Pakistani people are showing resolve in the face of this crisis. On May 18, an All Parties Conference convened STATE 00055536 002 OF 004 by the government resolved to support the security and welfare of displaced people and unite the nation to combat terrorism, extremism, and sectarianism. General Nadeem Ahmed, who led GOP relief operations following the 2005 earthquake, is a key advisor of the Special Support Group which coordinates humanitarian relief. ¶8. (U) The Pakistani government has committed $100 million to fund humanitarian relief. The NWFP provincial government has frozen some $342 million in development projects to re-direct resources to humanitarian relief. Punjab,s provincial government is donating 5,000 tons of wheat per month to help feed displaced people. These efforts come in addition to substantial contributions of human, financial, and material resources from the federal and NWFP governments to alleviate the crisis. ¶9. (SBU) Information from posts, the UN, and press reports as of May 29 indicates the following pledges from donors other than the U.S.: Australia $9.2 million Canada $8.0 China $4.4 Denmark $0.9 EU/ECHO $17.2 France $16.2 Germany $17.6 Italy $1.1 Japan $23.6 Korea $0.5 Norway $12.0 Netherlands $1.365 Poland $0.408 Singapore $0.030 Sweden $3.0 UK $ 34.3 Total $149.8 million ACTION REQUEST ¶10. (SBU) Posts are instructed to acknowledge with appreciation the above host governments' prompt response to the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan and urge quick disbursement of pledges. At their discretion, posts may urge governments to contribute additional resources now that the UN appeal has been launched and requirements quantified. ¶11. For EU Brussels, Rome, and Tokyo: See also targeted points in Talking Points below, paragraph 14. ¶12. (SBU) For Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait, Manama, Muscat, Riyadh: Except for an in-kind contribution from Abu Dhabi several months ago, we are not aware of any pledges from your host country in response to the revised PHRP. Please present point below to host government. Secretary Clinton and SSRAP Holbrooke met with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ambassadors May 29 to urge their support for the humanitarian effort, and Ambassador Holbrooke plans to visit Gulf States the week of June 1. UNHCR,s head of donor relations, Panos Moumtzis, also plans a visit to the Gulf to generate contributions. Please advise on whether a visit to your host country would be productive, whom he should see, and how you can assist. ¶13. (U) For Bandar Seri Begawan and Bern: The Department is repeating reftel to you. Please draw on in this message and STATE 00055536 003 OF 004 reftel to approach host governments. ¶14. (SBU) TALKING POINTS -- The situation in Pakistan is critical. We urge to you respond positively and generously to UN appeals for additional assistance as Pakistan struggles to defeat militants and confront this humanitarian crisis. -- U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke plans to visit Pakistan soon, to assess the situation and underscore U.S. support for Pakistan and the plight of the displaced. -- Pakistan is struggling against extremists that present a global threat to security. Pakistani public opinion supports the operations against the Taliban but that support could erode if more is not done to address the needs of the displaced populations. It is all of our interests to help Pakistan, the UN and other humanitarian organizations address their needs. -- Continued fighting in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province has displaced large numbers of people. More than 2.3 million have been displaced this month, bringing the total to 2.8 million. The population of displaced people from NWFP is expected to remain above 2 million for several months. The size and speed of the displacement, coupled with the onset of summer heat and attendant risks to health, pose special challenges. -- A new displacement has begun in Waziristan in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA),as residents flee in anticipation of fighting. Those fleeing could add up to an additional one million people to the existing displaced population. -- The Pakistani authorities and people are responding decisively to the unfolding situation, and the international community needs to support them. -- On May 18, an All Parties Conference convened by the GOP resolved to support the security and welfare of displaced people and unite the nation to combat terrorism, extremism, and sectarianism. -- General Nadeem Ahmed, who led GOP relief operations following the 2005 earthquake, is advising the Special Support Group to coordinate relief efforts. -- The Pakistani government has committed $100 million. The NWFP provincial government has frozen some $342 million in development projects to re-direct resources to humanitarian relief. Punjab,s government is donating 5,000 tons of wheat per month. -- These efforts come in addition to substantial contributions of human, financial and material resources from the Federal and NWFP governments to alleviate the crisis. -- On May 22, the UN launched a revised appeal (Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan - PHRP) to provide immediate relief and limited support for initial returns through December 2009. Total financing requirements are $543 million, of which $453 million were unmet needs. Taking into account donor pledges in the past week, we estimate a current funding gap of more than $250 million. UN/OCHA reports that STATE 00055536 004 OF 004 the appeal is severely underfunded. Furthermore, the displaced population already exceeds the number assumed in the PHRP, and could grow further with a new exodus from Waziristan. -- Secretary Clinton announced on May 19 a U.S. assistance package of $110 million, to include food aid, and support for health and nutrition, emergency shelter, water, hygiene, and humanitarian coordination. At the request of the Pakistani government, the U.S. military is providing water trucks, Halal meals, and tents with environmental controls for hot weather. As additional needs are determined, the U.S. will continue to respond. We are considering significant additional assistance. Further significant support from the international community will be critical. -- For Rome: Now that that the UN has issued the revised PHRP, we ask you to consider an additional contribution commensurate with those of other large EU members. -- For EU Brussels and Tokyo: Thank you for your assistance to date. We understand that you were waiting for the launch of the PHRP to consider additional contributions. We urge prompt disbursement and consideration of additional support. CLINTON