OCHA BRIEFS ON MISSION TO PAKISTAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000136 SENSITIVE SIPDIS USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA MIA BEERS, USUN GENEVA FOR KYLOH, USUN ROME FOR SPANOS, USEU FOR BROWN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PK SUBJECT: OCHA BRIEFS ON MISSION TO PAKISTAN REF: A. ISLAMABAD 78 ¶B. USUN NEW YORK 35 ¶C. ISLAMABAD 183 SUMMARY ¶1. (SBU) The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York briefed the Humanitarian Liaison Working Group (HLWG) on a recent mission to Pakistan to assess the humanitarian environment in conflict-affected areas and develop plans to improve the coordination of the UN's emergency response. OCHA described the outlook for the humanitarian situation as gloomy given the continuing displacement resulting from fighting between Pakistani security forces and militants. Although the UN estimates that approximately 300,000 civilians are currently displaced by conflict in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA),it is planning to assist up to 625,000 internally displace persons (IDPs) in 2009. Security concerns act as a major constraint on humanitarian operations. Although Pakistan has called upon aid agencies for support, the UN believes that the Pakistani government must make greater efforts to facilitate UN and NGO operations. OCHA will enhance humanitarian coordination by deploying three international officers to Pakistan in the coming weeks. The UN is also considering the establishment of an emergency response fund (ERF) to provide rapid and flexible response to emergency needs linked to displacement. End summary. ¶2. Rashid Khalikov, the director of OCHA's office in New York, briefed the HLWG on February 12 on the findings and recommendations from his trip to Pakistan from January 26 - February 2. He remarked that the displacement caused by fighting between Pakistani security forces and militants in the NWFP and FATA poses a critical humanitarian challenge and described the current state of affairs as gloomy. Whereas Pakistan has long had to deal with emergency needs generated by conflict and refugee flows from neighboring Afghanistan, it now must cope with a humanitarian crisis from within. ¶3. As a sign that things will get worse before they get better, the recently updated UN Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) sees a likely jump in the number of persons displaced by the conflict from the currently recognized figure of 260,000. In 2009, the UN plans to position itself to assist up to 625,000 IDPs as a result of continued fighting. Whereas the UN appealed for $55 million for emergency programs in September 2008, its revised HRP seeks $127 million from donors to assist conflict-affected populations. Donors have provided $29 million, leaving a funding gap of $98 million. ¶4. (SBU) Khalikov remarked that concerns for the security of aid workers act as a major constraint on humanitarian operations. Recently, two staff from the NGO Medicins Sans Frontieres were shot and killed as they drove an ambulance in Swat district. The head of office for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was abducted on February 2 in Quetta. As an example of the security challenges faced by aid workers, the Pakistani government sent 30 police to accompany OCHA on its visit to an IDP camp in Peshawar. ¶5. (SBU) Pakistani authorities admitted to Khalikov that they did not have the capacity to manage the humanitarian needs generated by the displacement of civilians in FATA and NWFP and have asked for greater involvement from the international community. Khalikov remarked that this attitude represents a significant shift from the past when the government of Pakistan was reluctant to ask UN agencies and NGOs for assistance. Despite its willingness to accept assistance from the UN, Khalikov remarked that Pakistan is a difficult partner as it is often unclear who within the government of Pakistan has authority to coordinate humanitarian activities with aid agencies. The fragmented nature of authority in Pakistan (civilian vs. military, federal vs. regional vs. local) serves as another constraint on humanitarian operations. ¶6. OCHA's mission to Pakistan concluded that the UN's humanitarian coordination structure lacks the capacity to deal with the growing displacement problem. As such, OCHA will deploy three international officers to Pakistan within the coming weeks to support the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) and UN Country Team. OCHA is seeking $1.3 million to reinforce its presence in Pakistan. A significant portion of the required funding will go towards security measures to USUN NEW Y 00000136 002 OF 002 protect staff. ¶7. OCHA recommended that the UN establish an Emergency Response Fund (ERF). The ERF is a pooled funding mechanism to support rapid response in emergency settings. The funds are managed by the UN, but are available to NGOs, including national NGOs. Khalikov believes that this is important given that national NGOs may be best placed to provide assistance in situations where the security conditions prevent the presence of international agencies. The ERF would likely be set at $10 million. A decision on the creation of the ERF for Pakistan rests with the RC and the UN Country Team. Rice