The evolving situation in Pakistan has led to a change in the format and timing of the weekly Pakistan Situation Report. As agreed to by the Humanitarian Country Team, the new Humanitarian Update will be published every second Friday. This first report covers the period between 30 September and 13 October. The next Update will be published on or around 30 October.
Highlights/Key Priorities
- The 5 October suicide bombing in the Islamabad Headquarters of WFP marks the first time that UN Offices have been directly targeted in Pakistan.
- There are new displacements from Bajaur Agency as a result of military operations around Mohmund and Salarzai.
- About 500 people are being displaced every day from South Waziristan due to military operations in the area.
- Eight more camps were closed in Upper and Lower Dir Districts as IDPs return home.
I. Situation Overview
Displacement in Bajaur: Recent military operations in the Bajaur Agency (around Mohmund and Salarzai) have caused new displacements into Lower Dir District. At this stage, the total number of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) is not yet known but the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) estimates it to be around 80 to 100 families (560 to 700 people). The initial plans were to accommodate the newly displaced at Jalozai Camp in Now-shera District, however those displaced from Bajaur Agency preferred to stay in the region. They are now being housed in the recently vacated Wali Kan-dow Camp in Lower Dir District.
The Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees (CAR) will soon start registering those displaced from Ba-jaur Agency. Meanwhile, UN agencies and implementing partners are in the process of restarting Wali Kandow Camp. UNHCR and ICRC are providing tents and food respectively and WHO has already sent two mini emergency health kits to the District Officer in Lower Dir District to treat up to 12,000 people for one month. UNHCR and PDMA will continue to monitor the situation. The option to accommodate more IDPs from Bajaur Agency at Jalozai Camp remains.
Displacement in Waziristan: Registration of new IDPs from Waziristan has re-started and some 60-70 families (420-490 people) are reaching D.I. Khan and Tank Districts daily. This is a slight increase from the 40-50 families (280-350 individuals) reported in the last situation report. For planning purposes, the estimate for a likely displacement from South Waziristan in the event of further military operations has been increased from 160,000 to 220,000 people. This includes the over 77,000 people already displaced, registered and verified in D.I. Khan and Tank Districts. NGOs working in these districts have been asked by District authorities to resume their humanitarian assistance; aid had been halted based on security advice from the authorities. The government is planning to provide a cash grant to displaced families in the near future. It is still uncertain when this cash grant will replace the food aid currently being provided.
