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

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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

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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

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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