This report is issued by the Humanitarian Coordinator ’ s Office / OCHA in Pakistan, on behalf of the Humanitarian Country Team. It covers the period from 11 to 17 April. The next report will be issued on or around 24 April.

  I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

• As of 14 April 554,000 IDPs have been registered in NWFP; verification of registered numbers is due to be completed by the end of this month.

II. Situation Overview

554,000 IDPs are now registered in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), including 90,000 individuals in the 11 formal camps and a further 463,000 outside camps (in 11 districts of the province). Verification of the data is likely to continue until the end of this month. Agencies continue to monitor the extent to which IDPs are returning to their places of origin; to date no confirmed reports of large scale returns of registered IDPs have been received.  

On 13 April, the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, 2009 was signed into law, providing for the application of Shariah Law in Malakand division. The security situation across NWFP and FATA remained highly volatile. UNDSS recorded a total of 59 security incidents in NWFP/FATA between 8 and 15 April, almost the same as during the previous week. There was an increase in the number of violent incidents, however. Abduction remains the main security threat. Increased activities by the armed opposition have been reported in areas around Swat, especially Buner, Lower Dir and Upper Dir. There has also been an increase in the number of recorded incidents in the southern districts of NWFP, including Kohat, Bannu and Hangu. Kidnapping and rocket attacks were reported in Khyber, Mohmand, Bajaur and Orakzai agencies in FATA.  

Primary education activities were suspended in Jalozai camp from 10 to 12 April following threats to an implementing partner. Boys primary schools reopened the following day; though girls schools remained closed. Other NGO partners have been threatened in Kacha Garhi and in camps in Lower Dir, prompting suspension of some health cluster activities. Restricted access of female hygiene promoters to camps in Lower Dir has also been reported.

III. Humanitarian Needs and Response 

Camp Coordination and Camp Management

Registered IDP figures as of 14 April are as follows (UNHCR/SWD): 

Verification of registered IDPs within the database is continuing, and is now unlikely to be completed before the end of this month. Registration will restart in four districts of NWFP (Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda and Swabi) after fixed registration sites are identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Women Development (DSW).

No reports of significant return of IDPs to either Swat or Bajaur have bee received from the two monitoring points that have been established in Landaki and Toorghundi. A list of 50 families intending to return from Kacha Garhi camp has been submitted to UNHCR and the Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees (CAR).  

UNHCR and partners plan to start registering IDPs in Punjab on 20 April. UNHCR has completed the training of the partners involved. Based on a pre-mapping exercise in Punjab and Sindh last month, it is estimated that there are at least 80,000 IDPs in these provinces.

Flooding was reported in Jalozai camp following recent rains. Drainage channels were constructed at selected locations in phases 1-6 in response. To mitigate future flooding, several main drains are now being constructed in phase 3, 5, 6 and 7. A UNHCR team also visited Kacha Garhi camp to assess the impact of the rains, and found that some tents had been damaged. Affected families and their belongings were shifted to other tents. Several ditches were also filled with water, causing a risk to children.  

The identification of IDP maintenance crews in Kacha Garhi and Jalozai is being undertaken jointly by CERD, CAR and UNHCR. Based on the lists, the FATA Secretariat will issue agreements for cash for work schemes. The FATA Secretariat is in the process of procuring maintenance tools for participating IDPs in Jalozai and Kacha Garhi camp.

Development of additional areas in Jalozai camp is ongoing; tents have been erected and drainage work is now taking place. Development of phase 8 was interrupted by last week' s heavy rains, however. 

In response to the issue of fake IDP registration cards, the cluster has alerted all distribution points to verify registration and NIC numbers before providing relief items. Fake cards will be confiscated and handed over to the Provincial Government.

Protection

A total of 5,248 female IDPs living in camps are now receiving monthly cash payments (PKR 1,000 per family) under the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP). An additional 1,090 households are receiving the payments outside the camps.   

A tent in Kacha Garhi 2 camp caught fire last week, while food was being prepared in the tent. No one was reported to be injured, but all NFIs, food ration and documents were burnt. The family s tent was replaced and food and NFIs items provided. A UNHCR team met with community elders to discuss fire prevention in the camp.

CRDO with the support of UNFPA is providing psychosocial support to women in ten camps, in four districts (Lower Dir, Peshawar, Nowshera and Charsadda). A total of 480 women attended psychosocial and vocational training sessions during the past week. 30 women are provided with these services daily. UNFPA has completed an assessment in all ten camps. Findings from five camps in Lower Dir are now under review. A total of 670 women were interviewed to identify needs for vocational training and the level of reproductive health awareness activities in the camps. 

Child Protection

A total of 5,617 children (2,998 boys and 2,619 girls) are regularly participating in indoor and outdoor activities in the 26 Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) that have been established in camps. An effective monitoring and referral mechanism has been established in all camps to ensure that vulnerable families and their children have access to basic services.

Key activities by the Child Protection sub-cluster from 9 - 15 April included:

1.      82 children (43 girls and 39 boys) and 35 women were identified, during tent to tent visits, with symptoms of stress and anxiety, and were provided with psycho-social support by women psychologists through individual and group counselling in Jalozai camp.

2.      29 vulnerable families, with 35 children (22 girls and 13 boys), including orphans, separated, widows, woman-headed households and child-headed households have been linked with available services, including health, education, food and NFIs in all camps.

3.      2 new Child Protection Committees formed in Jalozai camp and oriented on child rights and how to protect vulnerable children from violence, abuse and exploitation in Jalozai camp.

4.      3 orientation sessions were held with 35 child protection committee members and parents on child rights and protection, and their role in preventing child abuse and exploitation in Jalozai camp.

 Food Security

Food distribution has been temporarily suspended as of 16 April due to a shortage of food items in the pipeline such as sugar, pulses, rice and tea. There have also been reports questioning the quality of wheat flour being distributed. WFP is adopting measures to address this issue before distributions resume.  

As of 15 April, food for the month had been distributed to 281,488 individuals of which 70,423 were in camps and 211,065 were outside camps. A total of 4,276 MT of food has been distributed. In April, WFP planned to distribute 9,320 MT of food to 541,000 individuals (90,150 families). For May, the Food Cluster is planning to reach 600,000 IDPs with a full food basket.

An additional distribution point / humanitarian hub has been opened in Mardan to serve off-camp IDPs.    

The situation in Swat remains unchanged. Due to security concerns, the plan to distribute food to 2,300 families in Swat is still on hold. A total of 4,500 families in Swat have been provided with food since February. A WFP proposal to open a humanitarian hub in Swat is being reviewed by the provincial government, in light of recent developments in the area.

The Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees has reported that 900 bags of wheat flour were distributed through Al-Nahayan scheme to Palosa camp (500 bags) and Benazir camp (400).  

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

The cluster is providing 1.97 million litres of water to 96,000 IDPs (including IDPs not yet registered) every day in the camps. Over 5,300 latrines and 2,400 bathing spaces have been constructed. Nearly all IDPs in camps are being reached through ongoing hygiene promotion activities. WASH interventions are ongoing in host communities targeting a population of 42,000 IDPs. Outside camp assistance includes distribution of NFIs (jerry can, bucket and hygiene kit), provision of hand pumps, solid waste collection and hygiene promotion activities. The cluster is now conducting an assessment in order to extend WASH services to host communities in four districts (Lower Dir, M alakand, Mardan, Nowshera).

In coordination with ICRC and MSF-B, BeFare, a local NGO, has started working in camps in Lower Dir. They have started desludging filled latrines in various camps and are also involved in hygiene promotion activities.  

Drilling work on a second tube well, and pipe networking for water supply from the first, has started in Jalozai camp. Pipe network for water supply in Sakhakot camp has been completed. A generator is also being installed in Sakhakot.

Female hygiene promoters are not currently able to access camps in Lower Dir for security reasons. This significantly reduces the effectiveness of hygiene promotion activities, which are reaching approximately 50% of the female population.   

The cluster is working to ensure greater coordination of anti-diarrhoeal interventions in Sadbar Kalay camp.

Health

A 15-day Hepatitis B vaccination campaign began in Kacha Garhi Camps on 15 April, the cluster reports. Ten teams have been formulated to vaccinate the target population of 15,345 individuals above 23 months age in the camp. As part of the polio campaign in Pakistan, polio drops were administered for children under 5 years of age in all camps and in host communities other than Swat. 

WHO is supporting the District Health Department to establish a medical ward in DHQ Hospital Timergarah (Lower Dir) for IDPs.Merlin is establishing a re-hydration centre at the Jalozai Camp and planning to support an IDP ward at DHQ Hospital Mardan. A third 24/7 fixed medical camp has been established in Jalozai by CAMP (Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme).

The WHO Disease Surveillance Team has reported an Acute Diarrhoea alert from Benazir camp during the week. Acute Diarrhoea accounted for 23% (68 out of 295) of the total consultations: a sharp increase in the number and proportion from the previous week. This was caused by recent heavy rains, which damaged clean water supplies and worsened sanitary conditions. In coordination with WASH Cluster, activities to improve the water, sanitation and environmental condition have been intensified in the camp.

The Diarrhoea situation is constantly being monitored in Palosa camp as some samples from the camp have tested positive for Shigella.  

Nine cases of Chickenpox and 3 cases of Mumps were reported from Benazir Camp during the week (4-10 April). Health hygiene education activities were intensified in the camp.

WHO has provided three Mini Emergency Health Kits (MEHK) to Merlin mobile medical teams in Mardan to provide health services to camps and IDPs living with host communities. 

Planned fogging for Leishmaniasis in Jalozai, postponed earlier due to rains, started on 16 April. There have so far been 19 cases of Leishmaniasis in Jalozai and 3 cases in Kacha Garhi. EDO Health Team with the support of WHO has carried out fogging for vector control in Jalozai. Water ponds formed in the camp due to the recent rain were also treated with chemical to limit the insects' growth in the camp.

WHO has prepared a distribution plan for bed-nets to be provided in camps with the support of UNHCR.  

UNFPA has deployed 2 mobile service units (MSUs) in Munda and Sadbar Kalay camps. A total of 580 cases have been managed including antenatal and postnatal consultations and other minor medical and surgical illnesses since 13 April. UNFPA has treated 24,167 patients since 14 November 2008. At night staff are staying in DHQ hospital Timergarah, and are on call to provide female healthcare at the referral hospital. Female staff are reported to be reluctant to join the MSU teams because of security concerns.

While the District Health Department is providing health services in Sakhakot camp in the mornings, there is a need for 24/7 comprehensive primary healthcare services in the camp. There is a need to establish a re-hydration centre in the referral hospital, Pabbi Satellite, in Nowshera district. Additional female health and hygiene promoters are needed to strengthen health activities in Munda, and Palosa camps, and in all camps in Lower Dir.

Nutrition

Nutrition assessments are now underway in seven IDP camps (Kacha Garhi, Jalozai, Khungi, Sadbar Kalay, Timergarah, Munda and Samarbagh) and in three districts (Peshawar, Nowshera and Mardan). They are due to be completed by 25 April.  

The Cluster' s Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) intervention continues to operate in six IDP Camps (Jalozai, Kacha Garhi 1 & 2, Benazir, Palosa, Kungi) through six Supplementary and Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centres. In host communities these services are being provided in six districts Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Charsadda, Lower Dir and Buner.

Relief International has handed over nutrition activities to CERD (Centre for Excellence in Rural Development) in Khungi camp from 16 April. Nutrition services due to start in the five camps in Lower Dir and Malakand will be established by CERD within a week. Merlin has started nutrition services in Jalozai 2 and started screening for nutrition interventions in Jalozai phases 3, 4 and 5 from 15 April.  

Latest numbers on malnutrition rates and response from these camps and areas are as follows: 

During the reporting period 59 moderately malnourished children and 61 pregnant and lactating women have recovered following enrolment in supplementary feeding programmes (SFP). 9 severely acute malnourished children have been shifted to SFP from outpatient therapeutic programmes (OTP).  

Education

The cluster reported encouraging signs of an increase in camp school enrolment for the start of the new academic session in the five camps in Lower Dir (Samarbagh, Khungi, Sadbar Kalay, Munda and Timergara). A 7% increase in enrolment was registered from 7,537 to 8,064 (5,243 boys and 2,821 girls) since last week. The number of boys enrolled increased by 494 (9% increase) while for girls by 33 (1%).

UNICEF will support the District Education Department in providing primary education services in the remaining five phases of Jalozai camp. The first three phases are currently being covered by International Rescue Committee (IRC). 
 

Middle and secondary schooling is ongoing in 11 IDP camps (2 run by UNESCO, 1 by IRC and 8 by ED-Links) with a current enrolment of 1,056 (1,051 boys, 5 girls).
 

During the reporting period there has been an addition of three more evening shift schools for host community children (bringing the total to 63), thereby resulting an increase in enrolment from 3,891 to 4,316 (3,018 boys, 1,298 girls) in four districts (Swabi, Peshawar, Mardan and Charsadda). The number of girls has increased by 185 (14 %) and boys by 240 (8 %). Repair work has been completed in 249 schools in Lower Dir benefiting 51,334 children (27,827 boys, 23,507 girls).

The cluster has provided Directorate of FATA Education a list of textbooks needed according to classes for camp and off camp schools. The Directorate has announced that distribution of the required textbooks will start by 5 May 2009.

The focal person from Directorate of FATA Education will visit Jalozai camp to discuss the increase in remuneration sought by teachers in the camp.

IRC closed camp schools in Jalozai on 10 April due to security threats. Boys' schools reopened on 13 April, though girls' schools remained closed.  

Funding shortages continue to represent a major challenge for the Education Cluster, restricting expansion of activities to reach a greater proportion of the displaced children. Low enrolment rates of girls continues to be a major cause of concern for the cluster.

Logistics

2,163 MT of food has been dispatched to the humanitarian hubs since 9 April and 6,422 MT since 19 March. Sites are being identified to establish additional humanitarian hubs in Swabi and Charsadda (sites identified earlier lacked storage space). Eight humanitarian hubs are currently operating in Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera Swabi, Kohat, Malakand and Jalozai.   

All relevant documents and information regarding the Logistics Cluster operation in Pakistan can be found on the Logistics Cluster website http://www.logcluster.org/pak09a

IV. Coordination

The Senior Humanitarian Advisor to the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator on Pakistan has arrived on a 10-day mission to Pakistan. He is meeting with several government figures as well as UN agencies and other members of the humanitarian community to discuss various issues related to the ongoing relief operation.  

V. Fundin

Note: The last situation report neglected to specify that the $3.3 million contribution to UNHCR announced by USAID/OFDA was made by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM). Apologies for any confusion caused.  

Latest information on funds contributed and pledged towards the revised Humanitarian Response Plan is available on the Financial Tracking System (FTS) website at: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/fts.nsf/doc105?OpenForm&rc=3&cc=pak .

All humanitarian partners including donors and recipient agencies are encouraged to inform FTS of cash and in-kind contributions by sending an email to: fts@reliefweb.int .

VI. Contact
Please contact:

Humanitarian Coordinator's Office / OCHA, Islamabad: Fawad Hussain, National Humanitarian Affairs Officer

fawad.hussain@un.org.pk - 0301-8542495

Humanitarian Coordinator's Office / OCHA, Peshawar focal point: Hussain Ullah, National Humanitarian Affairs Officer, hussain.ullah@un.org.pk  - 0301-8542449   

To be added or deleted from the mailing list for this situation report, please email: amna.anis@un.org.pk

Annex 1: IDPs inside and outside camps in NWFP − UNHCR/SWD 14 April 2009 Report