Organisierte Massenvertreibung

Informationen der Vereinten Nationen

Camps straining under weight of massive Pakistani displacement – UN agency

5 June 2009 – The lifting of a curfew for several hours this morning in the conflict zone of the Swat region of Pakistan is expected to release an estimated 20,000 people into already overcrowded and under-funded camps in the neighbouring province, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is extending two camps in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) that it set up earlier this week in a bid to accommodate today’s wave of internally displaced persons (IDPs) escaping the fighting between government forces and militants in Swat.

Also in NWFP today, a bomb explosion in a mosque in the Upper Dir district reportedly killed over 30 people, drawing condemnation from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

“He reiterates his rejection of such indiscriminate and reprehensible acts of violence and extends his condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Pakistan,” his spokesperson said in a statement.

More than 260,000 of the 2.6 million IDPs already seeking refuge in NWFP are sheltered in 21 camps across the region, including over 5,000 who fled to the two new camps – Sugar Mill camp in Charssada district and the Larama camp in Peshwar – in a break in the curfew over the weekend.

“In Larama more than 1,600 people have been registered since the camp opened on Tuesday,” UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond told reporters in Geneva.

“They have received relief items from UNHCR including mats, jerry cans and kitchen sets,” added Mr. Redmond. “Our local partner, the Society for Social Development (SSD), is continuing to level new ground today so we can pitch more tents for possible additional arrivals.”

He said that camps in Mardan have reached full capacity, and the newly displaced are being directed to camps in Swabi, Charsadda and Peshawar, adding that UNHCR is continuing work to expand existing camps in anticipation of new arrivals, and improve conditions while it looks for new sites.

“UNHCR still needs some $67 million out of a total appeal of $105 million for its operation helping displaced persons in Pakistan until the end of the year,” said Mr. Redmond, stressing that this amount was calculated on the assumption there would be 1.5 million IDPs, a figure which is close to doubling.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) has paid tribute to contributors for enabling a swift response to the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan.

“The generous support from countries around the world has allowed us to rapidly move life-saving food assistance to 2.6 million people who have fled conflict in the Swat region of Pakistan,” said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran, adding that the needs of the people affected by the conflict were likely to remain high for the foreseeable future.

Prior to the recent crisis, which started on 2 May, WFP was already feeding more than 6 million people in Pakistan.

www.un.org, 5 June 2009

Lack of funds threatens aid to Pakistan’s 2.5 million displaced, warns UN

1 June 2009 – The United Nations said today that the number of people displaced by the conflict in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province has risen above 2.5 million, and a shortage of funds could cut relief services there.

UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York that the new figure, an increase of about 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) over last week’s estimate, was based on numbers collected by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and Pakistani authorities, which are registering people both inside and outside camps.

More than two million people have been driven from their homes by clashes between the Government and militants in the past month, in addition to the 400,000 already displaced in fighting last year.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a briefing to the General Assembly today, emphasized the need for greater support to scale up the response of the international community and the Pakistani Government to the situation.

“The human suffering is immense,” he said.

The UN and its partners launched an appeal for $543 million on 22 May, of which just over one-fifth has been funded to date. “If we do not get the rest of the funds, we will have to start cutting services,” the Secretary-General warned, adding that there is a risk of a destabilizing secondary crisis.

According to media reports, the Pakistani army has stepped up its offensive in the Swat Valley and other areas of the North West Frontier Province as part of its expanded campaign against the Taliban and Al-Qaida.

Ms. Montas said that over the past week, five spontaneous camps have been closed with people moving into established camps.

“The existence of numerous spontaneous camps continues to be matter of concern as they impede registration procedures for IDPs,” she said. “They also restrict their ability to receive relief supplies, services and information on long-term support.”

Rising temperatures are making it more difficult for families to remain in tents, Ms. Montas added. To address the problem, UNHCR and the World Food Programme (WFP) are attempting to provide facilities such as shaded areas, water points and toilets for IDPs living outside camps.

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA), for its part, has begun psycho-social support for women in camps of four districts – Lower Dir, Peshawar, Nowshera and Charsadda – through individual counselling and focus group discussions. The agency is also conducting general health, hygiene awareness and reproductive health sessions, Ms. Montas said.

Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is supporting 29 child-friendly spaces, engaging children in different learning, creative and recreational activities in 13 IDP camps, she said.

Ms. Montas added that water and sanitation conditions in IDP camps need urgent attention to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases.

www.un.org, 1 June 2009