PRCS HUMANITARIAN OPERATION IN SWAT DISTRICT (NWFP)
Report Update No. 44 Reporting period – till 19th Sep , 2009
Conflict Situation in Bara Area of Khyber Agency leaves around 8,000 and 12,000 families displaced
Out of 9 PRCS-ICRC Camps, 4 have been completely evacuated and around 5,104 families have repartriated to Swat voluntarily since inception of Nawa-e-Seher. So far with the help of Movement Partners (ICRC and IFRC) 93,2222 x Food Packs have been distributed by PRCS in areas of SWAT, FATA, Malakand, Dir, Mansehra, Haripur, Hasnabdal, Attock/Wah Cantt/Rawalpindi.
The Early Recovery Assessment in 03 Union Councils of Swat has been completed by a team of PRCS.
1. Background
The militancy in Swat and the operation against the militants in the area resulted in insurmountable hardships for a huge population of the area. The conflict situation resulted in huge migration of masses to down districts of the province and other parts of the country. According to Govt. reports total of 383,190 families were displaced due to the Swat conflict situation. This makes a total of 2.7 million displaced individuals.
The PRCS being largest national humanitarian organization was requested by the NDMA to provide support in this humanitarian catastrophic. PRCS with support of ICRC had established some 9 x IDP Camps (including 3x previous camps) at different locations accommodating over 6,500 families (52,569 individuals) of Swat and Buner. The IDPs are being provided by the following facilities in the Camps:-
• Relief • Health and Care • Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) • Psychosocial Support Programme (PSP) • Restoring Family Links (RFL) – Tracing
The already enormous humanitarian needs are expected to increase as the potential for conflict in Waziristan causes further population movements and poses further problems. According to NADRA 11,080 families (80,507 individuals) have been verified; out of a total of 17,375 families (128,262 individuals) registered IDPs of Waziristan. These include 8,281 families in DI Khan District, 2,756 families in Tank District and 43 families of unconfirmed place of origin.
PRCS and her Movement Partners, along with the Government and other humanitarian agencies are working tirelessly to accommodate and facilitate these IDPs.
On 11 July 2009, the Pakistani government announced that over two million people who had fled the fighting in the Malakand Division of the North-West Frontier Province could return to their homes from July 13, 2009.
2. Recent Situation Presently since the inception of Niwa – e- Sehar , so far 235,568 families (1.65 million individuals) belonging to Swat, Buner and Malakand have returned to their homes as per PDMA and PaRRSA reports (up-till 17 th September). But still there are 20 camps running (according to Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees [CAR]) with an estimated population of 24,687 families making around 138,741 individuals.
OCHA reports ( on 17 th September) that between 8,000 and 12,000 families (56,000 to 84,000 individuals) have been internally displaced as a result of military operations which began on 1 September in the Bara area of Khyber Agency, in the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA).
A UNHCR assessed that about an estimated 87 percent of the displaced have moved in with relatives and 13 percent have rented separate accommodations in other areas of Khyber Agency as well as in the Peshawar area, 15 kilometers from Bara.
BARA DARA, Khyber Agency
Peshawar
Map of Khyber Agency showing Bara Area. [Source: Community Motivation and Development Organization website: - www.cmdo.org/files/Khyber.jpg ]
3. Returning of the Families from PRCS Established Camps:
From PRCS established camps so far 5,104 families (1,778 from Swabi – 1, 971 from Swabi – ii, 1,967 from Rangmala and 388 from Pitao) have returned to their homes voluntarily. The camps at Shah Mansoor Swabi and Govt. Girls College Timergara have completely closed with the return of residing families; however, remaining camps are still operative.
4. Details of Ongoing IDPs Operation
4.1 PRCS-ICRC IDPs Camps (Reporting period – till 19th Sep,09) Since inception of the IDPs operation, PRCS in collaboration with ICRC is running IDPS camps at different location to alleviate the sufferings of displaced population of Swat and its surrounding areas. The details of the activities carried out are as under:-
PRCS Camp-wise Detail of Return Situation Malakand Timergara Nowshera Khongi Shah Date Stats RangMala Polytechnic Shah Total Pitao Sawar A & B College (new Camp camp) Families 21 203 289 434 280 1,254 Individuals 147 1421 1,996 2,157 1,745 7,218
Health 19-Sep- 31,886 3,480 7,150 1,440 18,114 62,070 09 Beneficiaries Situation Situation Situation Situation Situation Remarks remains remains remains remains remains same same same same same
Total Number of 1,967 388 - - - 2,355 Returnee Families
Distribution to 203 Families in Pitao Camp , Malakand done.
4.2 PRCS Recent Activity – OFF Camp
a. BY PRCS- ICRC Off Camp Activities Pakistan Red Crescent Society continues to work closely with ICRC to provide assistance to the families living with host families to provide as much help they can. In view distribution of food package to different areas of District Malakund, Dargai and Dir is continuing. The distribution done so far is as under:-
So far 90,518 x Food Packs have been distributed. The detail is as under:-
Sr. Distribution done Area Health Progress in last 24 hrs # so far (families) Malakund No health 1 (Tehsil Malakund & 37,080 service for off None Dargai) camp 31,520 No health Dir (July=19,319, 2 service for off None (Upper & Lower Dir) Aug=9,540, camp Sep=2,661) Tot Banai 29 Manazaray Tangy 185 Shpanko 32 Chino Baba 80 BHU and MHU Dehrai baba 45 3 Swat 17,490 Swat Miangano Chum 120 17,550 Gato Jumat 30 Aligrama Block One 107 Qazaq Colony Aligrama 318 Mohallah Malkanan Aligrama 178 FATA Branch No health 4 3,792 supported by ICRC service No health 5 Baluchistan 636 service Total 90,518 17,550
b. PRCS-IFRC IDPs OFF Camps Activities
Under the joint IDPs relief operation with IFRC, the assistance (NFI and Health & Care) is being provided to some 8,000 IDPs families living with host families of Districts Haripur, Mansehra, Abbottabad and surrounding areas of Hazara Division. The progress made so far is as follows: - NFI NFI Sr. Food Area Distribution Distribution Health WATSAN # distribution 1st Phase 2nd Phase Attock/Wah 1. 600 542 913 nill 705 Cantt
2. Hassan Abdal nill 501 492 600 Rehabilitation of 6 water supply schemes. 3. Haripur 2,007 1,703 8,372 23 x Latrines 724 21 x W.Room 07 x Washing Pads 4. Abottabad 657 757 nill Rehabilitation of 6,000 ft water pipe line. 5. Mansehra 2,130 1,828 4,920 23 x Latrines 774 11 x W.Room 07 x Washing Pads 6. Battagram 720 720 nill Total 6,606 6,150 14,205 2704
c. PRCS NHQ Direct Intervention
a. 500 x school bags, as promised by the Chairman PRCS, NHQ on his visit to Swat had distributed by school principal amongst school children. b. The Chairman PRCS has also distributed 535 x Food Packs along with Rs.50,000/- (for children) amongst 535x Sikh IDP families at Punja Sahib, Hassanabdal. c. The Chairman PRCS NHQ has also distributed 2000 x food packs (donated by Kuwait Red Crescent Society) amongst the IDPs and host families of Kanju Township Swat.
d. PRCS-Barkley Bank Distribution Barkley Bank donated 100 x Food Packs worth PKR. 100,000.00 to Pakistan Red Crescent Society. These Food Packs were distributed to IDPs families residing in Haripur on 14 th September 2009 by PRCS NHQ and Haripur District Branch.
PRCS CURRENT ACTIVITY
Assessment Teams from NHQ were deployed to Swat for carrying out assessments in different fields. This assessment activity in Swat District was done so as to facilitate further PRCS/ICRC and PNSs intervention for recovery and rehabilitation there. The areas for assessment are as under: • Food • Health • WATSAN • PSP • Livelihood
This assessment has been completed and assessment report is being finalized.
FUTURE INTERVENTIONS
1. To support this Humanitarian Crisis both the ICRC and IFRC have planned some support to be provided to the returnees for their rehabilitation. Planned future interventions are:-
BY ICRC:
15000 vulnerable returnee households in conflict-affected areas of Swat, Dir, Bajaur, Northern Buner and Waziristan ONE MONTH FOOD PACKAGE AND HYGIENE KITS AGRO-SUPPORT TRANSPORT CGI SHEETS LIVELIHOOD ( Cattle, Seeds, Fertilizers, Goats) BUSINESS START UP GRANTS CASH/FOOD FOR WORK PROJECTS PROVISION OF HEALTH FACILITIES ( MHU, BHU) PROVISION OF AMBULANCES RECONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOLS AND WATER RECOURSES ESTABLISHMENT OF PRCS BRANCH AT DI KHAN (to cater future disturbances in Waziristan and surrounding areas) STRENGTHENING OF SWAT BRANCH (to cater future emergencies)
BY IFRC:
i. To support 5,000 Families (35,000 IDPs) living with host families of Districts Haripur, Mansehra, Abbottabad and surrounding areas of Hazara Division.
• The support will be provided in provision of • WINTER SHELTER, • AGRO SUPPORT • NFI
ii. In addition to the provision of NFIs, IFRC with support from PRCS is also distributing Food Packs amongst 3,000-3,500 IDP families living in Attock, Hasnabdal Haripur, Abbottabad, Mansehra and Battagram.
DM Section
Secretary General