This report was issued by OCHA HQ with a coverage period from 15 to 23 July 2009. The next report will be issued on or around 31 July 2009.
I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES
- According to the Government, over 412,000 IDPs have returned to their homes in southern Swat, Buner and Dir Districts in NWFP.
- Two IDP camps, Sheikh Yasin and Sheikh Shahzad, have now been closed as the populations occupying the camps have returned to their areas of origin. These two camps were also the most vulnerable to flooding during the monsoon.
- IDPs in most areas of NWFP are vulnerable to flooding from monsoon rains. The six camps identified as most vulnerable are in Charsadda and Peshawar Districts.
- The NWFP Department of Education has set a 15 August deadline to vacate over 208,000 IDPs living in almost 4,040 schools.
II. Situation Overview
Returns – Since 13 July, IDPs have been returning to their communities from IDP camps in Swabi, Mardan and Charsadda Districts to Buner, southern Swat and partly to Dir Districts. As of 22 July, the Government's Emergency Response Unit (ERU) reports that over 412,000 IDPs - or almost 59,000 families - have returned the majority to southern Swat District. As reported previously, spontaneous returns to Buner District have been ongoing for a number of weeks. According to the Government, approximately 80 percent of those displaced from Buner have now returned.
The situation in areas of return varies. Civil administration and basic services are restored in large parts of Buner District. This is less so for southern Swat District where some towns are still under curfews from 1400 hrs to 0700 hrs. Military operations continue in parts of Swat, Buner and Upper and Lower Dir Districts. New displacement is taking place from Upper to Lower Dir Districts as a result of the ongoing hostilities. Currently, humanitarian partners are responding to and assessing the immediate humanitarian needs of returnees and those who remained behind. However, early recovery and rehabilitation needs are also required in areas of return.
The next phase of the returns process includes the return of over 208,000 IDPs currently occupying almost 4,040 schools. Ramadan commences in the last week of August and may act as push factor for IDPs to return home by the second week of August.
Monsoon – The meteorological forecast for monsoons this year predicts a 30 percent decrease from the normal rainfall. In NWFP, the majority of districts hosting IDPs, as well as receiving returning population, are vulnerable to flash floods, landslides and heavy rains. Vulnerable districts include Charsadda, Peshawar, D.I. Khan, Swat, Mardan, Nowshera, Lower Dir and Buner.
In collaboration with district authorities, the Clusters have made preparations to control the adverse impact of monsoon rains in camps and in host communities. More monsoon-related intervention details can be found under the relevant Clusters response (Camp Management and Camp Coordination, Shelter and Non-Food Items and WASH).
South Waziristan – Although independent verification has not been possible, local authorities estimate that there are approximately 60,000 IDPs in the area: approximately 40,000 located in the DI Khan District and the remainder in Tank District.
The Provincial Government's Department of Social Welfare is expected to begin the official registration process next week. Since the last report, humanitarian supplies have been prepositioned and staff hired to respond to the next wave of IDPs in Pakistan. Findings from a multi-sectoral planning mission to Bhakkar, Punjab Province between 22-24 July, will help inform implementation of humanitarian response activities for IDPs originating in D.I. Khan and Tank Districts. A final report is expected next week.
Security – The UN is reviewing overall security arrangements in all IDP camps after the deaths on 16 July, of a UNHCR staff member and a camp guard in Peshawar in an attempted kidnapping.
