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Pakistan

Pakistan Humanitarian Update No. 7

Attachments

This Humanitarian Update covers the period from 19 January to 3 February 2010. The next Update will be issued on or around 19 February 2010.

HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

- Since December 2009, the number of IDP families from Orakzai has risen nearly tenfold and is presently standing at more than 23,000.

- There are reports of thousands of civilians fleeing hostilities in Bajaur, but so far the IDP camps have not seen a significant influx.

- Munda Camp in Lower Dir was closed and over 400 IDP families were relocated to a space close to Wali Kandow Camp.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Orakzai Agency Displacement: From 28 to 30 January, an Inter-Cluster mission visited Kohat and Hangu, the two hosting districts for internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Orakzai Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Local media reported that fighting in the Agency was intense and people were still fleeing the conflict-affected areas. So far, 23,835 IDP families (approx. 135,000 individuals) have been registered in Kohat and Hangu, and 179 IDP families (approx. 1,200 individuals) are residing in the Mohammad Khawaja Camp located in Hangu - currently the only established camp for Orakzai IDPs. Registration was suspended on 18 January, but due to the continuous influx of IDPs from Orakzai, the humanitarian community is in consultation with the authorities to resume registration shortly.

Local authorities in Kohat have reported the presence of some 3,300 Shiite IDP families in the district. Of these, only around 1,300 have been registered, which is largely due to the fact that the registration points are located in Sunnipopulated areas where the minority Shiite IDPs are reluctant to go. UNHCR, together with local authorities, is following the issue up to ensure a comprehensive registration of all IDPs.

Bajaur and Mohmand Agency Displacement: According to media reports, military operations are still ongoing in Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies, resulting in new displacements of civilians. The media also reported that a curfew was in place in Khar, the Agency's capital. Furthermore the Bajaur-Peshawar road was closed causing traffic jams and difficulties for the movement of IDPs. According to the camp manager of the IDP camp in Jalozai, there has not yet been a significant influx of IDPs at Jalozai Camp in Nowshera, where most of the IDPs from Bajaur (13,450 families) and Mohmand (1,650 families) are currently residing. Altogether more than 250,000 civilians from Bajaur (old and new caseload) and 180,000 from Mohmand are registered as IDPs currently residing in Lower Dir and Nowshera.

South Waziristan Displacement: The influx of IDPs from South Waziristan has slowed down significantly and the number of registered and verified IDP families in D.I. Khan and Tank still stands at 38,524 (approx, 280,000 individuals). Food distribution in the two hosting districts has been stopped. The Government is issuing cash cards for each IDP family for PKRs 5,000 per month to cover their food needs. Currently over 31,800 cash cards have been issued, out of which over 27,500 have been activated. However, about 12,000 IDP families are still waiting to receive their cards. WFP is holding consultations with the local authorities to cover the food needs of IDPs, who have not yet received their cash cards.

Security: The security situation in the conflictaffected areas in NWFP and FATA remains a major challenge. On 3 February, at least six people (including three schoolgirls) were killed and another 70 injured in a roadside blast in Lower Dir. The targeted convoy was travelling to an inauguration of a school in Maidan.

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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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