Pakistan Situation Report #7- NWFP Displacement 3 July 2009 This report was issued by OCHA HQ with a coverage period from 24 June to 30 June. The next report will be issued on or around 10 July, 2009. Conflict Zones by Union Councils in Malakand Division as defined by the Home & Tribal Affairs Department of the NWFP Government I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES • Camps and shelters are being reinforced to prepare for the July monsoon rains. • There are now a total of 45 humanitarian hubs, in and out of camps. The provision of water/ sanitation and shelter materials is a priority for IDPs in host communities. In June, over 20,500 MT of food was distributed to IDPs in camps and host communities. • Local authorities estimate that about 30 percent of IDPs from Buner have returned to their place of origin in the last three weeks. • The Provincial Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Settlement Authority (PRRSA) was created on 29 June. II. Situation Overview Source: Government of NWFP, Home & Tribal Affairs Department, June 29, 2009 According to the Provincial Government, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has so far verified 270,000 families or approximately 1.9 million people. NADRA has also reported that 563 families have successfully using the ‘redressal’ system that has been established to deal with appeals on IDP status. The Provincial Government continues the distribution of cash grants to registered IDPs through debit cards, amounting to Rp 25,000 (about US$308). The debit cards can be used in automatic teller machines and banks and this method is currently being piloted in five camps (Jalozai, Akora Khattak, Gohati and Chotta Lahore in Swabi, and Government College Charsadda). As of 30 June, NADRA reported that over 56,000 families have received their cards and Rp 850 million was dispensed in close to some 54,000 ATM and point of sale transactions. NADRA also reports that the trend of withdrawing small amounts at a time is continuing. There are now a total of 45 humanitarian hubs, in and out of camps. The hubs are being used to distribute Non-Food Items (NFIs) and hygiene kits as well as food. Camps are currently being assessed for their vulnerability to the upcoming monsoon rains. There is still a need for additional land to assist in decongesting existing camps as well as providing space for newly arrived IDPs and those from spontaneous shelters. The provision of water/ sanitation and shelter materials is a priority for IDPs in host communities. Findings from a 25 June multi cluster assessment to Buner supported NADRA verified data showing that, of the 650,000 people in the district, 66,488 families or 465,416 individuals have been displaced. This is almost 71 percent of the area’s population, out of which an estimated 30 percent of IDPs have returned to their places of origin in the last three weeks. Based on interviews, it is estimated that an average of 300 families return to Buner every day. According to Government sources, eight out of 27 Union Councils in Buner remain insecure. A union council or village council is the first level of government administration in the country and each council has a population of about 25,000. The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Pakistan Situation Report #7, June 24 to 30, 2009 Electricity has been restored in 60 percent of Buner. Local authorities estimate that electricity will be fully restored within a week. Authorities also estimate that 30 percent of landlines as well as three mobile networks have been restored. Approximately 75 percent of water supplies have also been restored. In addition, an ICRC1 assessment in three areas in Buner (Daggar, Sultan Was, Pir Baba), between 17 to 27 June, found that part of Northern Buner's population had moved towards the Southern areas of the district. The ICRC assisted many of the displaced with food rations. A multi cluster preparedness assessment is currently taking place in Bhakkar, Punjab. The assessment is looking at options for delivering assistance for potential displaced populations from South Waziristan into the southern NWFP districts of DI Khan and Tank. III. Humanitarian Needs and Response Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Needs: The Shelter Cluster is developing a detailed, technical plan to prepare camps for the monsoon rains. Currently, drainage systems are being constructed, reinforced and maintained in most IDP camps in preparation for the monsoon rains which usually begin in July. Particular attention is being given to low-lying camps which could potentially flood, such as Palosa (I & II) camp in Charsadda District and Sheikh Yasin camp in Mardan District. Further measures are also needed to decongest camps to build required structures to protect against rain and flooding. Response: Given the challenges on the ground, the CCCM Cluster is monitoring, to the best of its ability, the movement of camp populations which is trending, at present, to a number of IDP families returning to the areas of Buner and Bajaur. During the reporting period, checks in Phases 10 to 12 of Jalozai camp in Nowshera District confirmed there were 4,390 people who left, and that 32 tents and 23 plots of land were empty. During the last week, 479 families (2,874 individuals based on a six person family) left Yar Hussain camp in Swabi District to return to Buner District. IDPs took with them their Non-Food Items (NFIs) while some IDPs also took bricks provided to construct individual kitchens. Implementing partners have reported that on the other hand, a new flow of IDPs is likely arriving to the camps as their resources become depleted and the strain on host communities grows. The Center of Excellence for Rural Development (CERD) organised a new pilot project in Sheikh Shahzad camp to set up a complaint/suggestion box to redress community grievances. Results are still pending as this project started a week ago.. Gaps /Challenges: There remains a need to improve reporting mechanisms from the field by building the capacity of the Cluster’s implementing partners. Emergency Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFIs) Needs: Since most IDPs live with host families outside camps in overcrowded accommodations, there is an urgent need to provide them shelter and other priority goods including jerry cans, kitchen sets and blankets. Many IDPs outside camps also live in host family courtyards, backyards, and terraces, with no roof. The Shelter Cluster is also preparing a detailed, technical plan to prepare camps for the coming monsoon season. See the CCCM Cluster for more information. Response: Since the last reporting period, UN-HABITAT distributed 700 tents and over 900 house-repair kits to IDPs living in host communities in Mardan and Swabi Districts. Since 22 June, the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) has distributed NFI packages to 92,220 people or 15,370 families in Charsadda, Nowshera and Mardan Districts. In camps, Emergency Shelter Cluster partners continued building culturally-necessary purdah or privacy walls for female IDPs, kitchens for families and erecting shading structures over tents to bring relief from the high The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. 2 Pakistan Situation Report #7, June 24 to 30, 2009 summer temperatures. IDP families are also starting to build drains around their tents to prepare for the monsoon rains expected in mid-July. Gaps /Challenges: There remains a need to improve reporting mechanisms from the field by building capacity of the Cluster’s implementing partners. Food Security Needs: The Office of the Commissioner, Afghan Refugees (Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees) in Peshawar stated that in June, 903 IDP families (5,002 individuals), mainly from Buner, started returning to their places of origin and will need food assistance. In order to meet the needs of the returning population, there is a need to replenish stocks of biscuits and pulses. Response: Since 3 June, in camps, and since 11 June, in host communities, WFP has distributed 20,500 MT of food to almost 1.5 million IDPs. During the reporting period, the Provincial Government’s Emergency Response Unit (ERU) provided 5,000 food packets including wheat flour, oil, and dry milk for IDPs in Malakand organised by the Malakand District Council Office. The ERU also provided IDPs with 400 food packets in Katlang in Mardan District. Following OCHA’s initial assessment in Bajaur in June, WFP, in conjunction with the Political Agent in Bajaur Agency. decided to start food distribution from the Bajaur food distribution hub on 1 July. This will assist the returning IDPs to the area. To help prevent IDPs from receiving multiple food baskets, WFP developed an online data verification system linking all 45 humanitarian hubs. In case of internet disruptions, staff at a dedicated call centre in Peshawar can also verify the data. These two tools will ensure that IDPs receive their monthly food packet from a single distribution hub. The ICRC continues to support the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in Shah Mansoor camp by providing IDPs with food and non-food items including stoves. It is also providing displaced people in Rangmela and Palai camps, in Malakand District,with food and firewood to prepare cooked meals. Gaps /Challenges: The Food Cluster is only 52 percent funded against the Revised Appeal. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Needs: WASH was part of the multi-cluster assessment in Buner on 25 June and findings show that WASH interventions in the places of origin (return), particularly Buner, will be a challenge.