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 18 to 24 April. The next report will be issued on or around 1 May.

Note: HC Office, OCHA will be releasing Dir and Bunner Specific Situation Report on Thursday 30^th April 2009

II. Situation Overview

Just under 556,000 IDPs are now registered in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), including 93,000 individuals in the 11 formal camps and a further 462,000 outside camps (in 11 districts of the province). Verification is still underway to validate current IDP total number which is likely to continue until the end of this month.

The Provincial Government is in the process of verifying the data provided by the FATA Secretariat on 210,000 IDPs reported to have returned to Bajaur. The results of door-to-door surveys will be cross-checked against registered data. Over the last week, 41 families (272 individuals) were reported to have returned from Kacha Garhi camp by the Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees (CAR). Return IDP figures (of 210,000) are expected to crystalise by 5 May. Meanwhile UN Agencies will continue to engage with FATA Secretariat and Provincial Government on the framework for returns. A consolidated returns strategy is due to be presented to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in the Disaster Management Team meeting on 9 May.  

The NWFP Social Welfare Department has reported movements of IDP families in Buner, prompted by increased activities by the armed opposition in the district over the last two weeks. 30 MT (1,900 cartons) of edible oil of WFP was looted from a storage facility in Buner.

Implementing partners working in Jalozai, Kacha Garhi and Lower Dir camps continue to face security threats prompting suspension of health cluster activities.  

  III. Humanitarian Needs and Response

Camp Coordination and Camp Management

Registered IDP figures as of 21 April are as follows (UNHCR/SWD):

Verification of registered IDPs living outside camps is ongoing in all districts and is expected to be completed by the end of April. A consolidated report on the registration exercise will be shared by the Ministry of Social Welfare shortly thereafter. 

41 families were reported to have returned from Kacha Garhi camp to Mohmand during the last week. The returnees were de-registered prior to their departure and their ration cards were retrieved. A copy of their original registration form given on the time of admission into camps was handed to them in order to entitle them for any future assistance in their areas of origin. All families were allowed to take their tents and NFIs. UNHCR confirmed the safe arrival of the families in Mohmand by phone and advised them to report to the local authorities for any assistance being provided by the FATA Secretariat.  

UNHCR ’ s partner organisation (PAK CDP) is carrying out maintenance work at Jalozai camp which includes operation of the emergency generators, maintenance of roads and drainage, closing opened pits, fencing, lighting and site development. Islamic Relief (IR) has now completed site development work in Phases 1, 2, 3 4 and 5, and will discontinue their services from 30 April. Site development is almost complete in Phase 6, 7 and pocket areas of Phase 5, and has now resumed in Phase 8 after suspension due to recent rains. 

CAR, CERD (Centre for Excellence in Rural Development), UNHCR and officials from FATA Secretariat conducted a joint assessment to identify maintenance needs in Kacha Garhi camp. As an outcome, CERD will undertake proposed improvements such as fencing, lighting, area levelling, construction of access road; filling-up open pits and construction of skills training areas for women in collaboration with CAR and UN Habitat. 

A UNHCR team visited Benazir and Palosa camps to assess the existing services. Over the last week 397 blankets by PRCS (Pakistan Red Crescent Society) and quilts from CAR stocks were distributed amongst the IDPs. 

UN Habitat has finalised one location in Jalozai for providing skills training. An office has also been established in Mardan to assist IDPs with host families with shelter and WASH provisions.

Protection

The cluster lead, UNHCR, is in the process of finalising TORs for the cluster. Draft forms to register protection incidents and returns are being reviewed and the possibility of extending protection activities to IDPs outside camps is being discussed. An inter-agency referral mechanism at the camp level has been established to expedite an effective response to individual cases. 

International Rescue Committee (IRC) is providing IDPs with awareness on camp services and legal aspects and advice on security. During the past two weeks about 75% of IDPs were provided with information about the Benazir Income Support Program and facilitated in obtaining national identity cards in Kacha Garhi and Jalozai camps.  

A total of 5,443 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 2,767 households are receiving the payments outside the camps.  

With the support of UNFPA five partner organisations are providing psychosocial counselling, vocational training and awareness on reproductive health to women in 10 camps (Kacha Garhi 1 and 2, Jalozai and Palosa,  Sadbar Kalay, Munda, Timergarah, Samarbagh and Khungi). A total of 591 women have attended psychosocial and vocational training sessions so far. 30 women are provided with these services daily. Over the last week 72 women from Samarbagh and 40 from Sadbar Kalay have been trained on vocational skills.

Child Protection

A total of 5,866 children (3,148 boys and 2,718 girls) are regularly participating in indoor and outdoor activities in the 26 Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) that have been established in 11 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. A total of 45 child protection committees formed in the camps are regularly holding meetings to discuss child protection issues. They are also supporting child protection monitors in identifying vulnerable children in camps and ensuring access to basic services. So far 1,060 separated children, identified in all camps, are being monitored. 1,811 children (850 boys, 961 girls) and 972 women have been provided with psychosocial support. 3,228 vulnerable families with 6,918 children (3,446 boys, 3,472 girls) have been assisted in accessing relief services in camps.   

Key activities by the Child Protection sub-cluster from 16 - 22 April included:    

• 137 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.
• 27 vulnerable families, with 219 children (107 girls and 112 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.
• 2 orientation sessions were held with 19 child protection committee members and parents on child rights and protection, and their role in preventing child abuse and exploitation in Kacha Garhi and Jalozai camp.

  Food Security 

Food distributions were suspended from 16 to 24 April due to issues around the quality of wheat flour that was being provided, but resumed on 25 April. Flour samples are currently being tested in laboratories in Karachi and Lahore. A donation of 5,000 tons of wheat by the Government of Punjab will assist in meeting the distribution target for April. As of 15 April, food 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).  WFP has deployed a mission to Bajaur Agency to support the establishment of a humanitarian hub which is expected to function by early May 2009. The mission was facilitated by the FATA Secretariat. WFP also hopes to establish a hub in Swat, when the situation in the district allows it.  

The cluster continues to provide 1.97 million litres of water to 96,000 IDPs (including IDPs not yet registered) every day in the camps. Over 5,400 latrines and 2,450 bathing spaces have been constructed. All IDPs in camps are being reached through ongoing hygiene promotion activities. The cluster is planning to extend its services to IDPs living with host communities in Swat, Lower Dir and Malakand. ACTED will carry out a needs assessment survey for WASH interventions in Nowshera and Peshawar. WASH interventions are currently ongoing in host communities targeting a population of 42,000 IDPs. The assistance includes distribution of NFIs (jerry can, bucket and hygiene kit), provision of hand pumps, solid waste collection and hygiene promotion activities.

MSF-F has installed 50 semi-permanent toilets and started hygiene promotion activities in Palosa Camp. The diarrhoea situation in the camp is now under control. Tehsil authorities are managing solid waste collection in the camp, with support from UNICEF.  

The cluster has stepped up its efforts over the last week to address the diarrhoea situation in the Sadbar Kalay camp. The drainage surrounding WASH facilities has been improved and hygiene promotion activities are ongoing in coordination with the Health Cluster. The cluster is working with the Health Cluster on a preparedness plan to prevent increases in diarrhoea during the monsoon season. 

Last week the suspension of registration affected the provision of WASH services in phase 8 of Jalozai camp. Contractors hired by partner organisations had to suspend their activities before their contract period expired because no IDPs admitted were present in phase 8.  Activities were ongoing to construct additional facilities for new arriving families in the camp. 

Health

An outbreak of bloody diarrhoea has been reported in Jalozai 2 camp, with 7 cases in the past week. Laboratory tests confirmed one case as being Shigella Boydii. No deaths have taken place. Outbreak control and preventative activities in the camp have been intensified (oral rehydration salts and hygiene education) by Health and WASH cluster partners.

The diarrhoea situation in Kacha Garhi, Jalozai and Benazir camps has stabilised whereas in Sadbar Kalay, Munda and Sakhakot camps have shown a fluctuating trend.In view of the coming monsoon, diarrhoea response plans are being developed for camps and hosting districts. A WHO environmental health team conducted a training session for health promoters and social mobilizers for partners on diarrhoea prevention and control in the camps.

In Kacha Garhi, vaccination for Hepatitis-B is in progress. 1,000 children are being vaccinated by ten teams everyday. 8,100 individuals (54%) above 23 months have been vaccinated so far out of the target population of 15,345. 

3 IDPs in Sadbar Kalay Camp, Lower Dir were treated at DHQ Hospital Timergara, Lower Dir for dog bites. WHO has sent 24 items of surgical supplies for the purpose while National Institute of Health (NIH) has provided vaccines to the hospital. 

Three more cases of Leishmaniasis have been reported from Kacha Ghari 2, raising the total number of cases in the camp to six. In Jalozai 2, out of a total of 31 Leishmaniasis cases, 22 are being treated. Fogging for the vector control has been completed in Jalozai and Kacha Garhi camps.

WHO has prepared a distribution plan for 9,000 bed-nets to be provided in camps by UNHCR. The last distribution of bed nets was in October 2008.

Due to limited coverage in Sakhakot camp, WHO has identified three partners to support the District Health Department in providing health services.  

UNFPA has deployed 2 mobile service units (MSUs) in Munda and Sadbar Kalay camps. A total of 1,200 cases have been managed including antenatal and postnatal consultations and other minor medical and surgical illnesses during the last week. UNFPA has treated 25,560 patients since 14 November 2008. More female medical staff are needed for MSU teams. UNFPA is asking partners to share information regularly with the health cluster on female IDPs needing reproductive health care.   

A cold storage facility is needed for medicines and supplies for diarrhoea treatment in Peshawar. 

Nutrition

The ongoing nutrition survey carried out by UNICEF will be completed by 25 April. 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). The findings will be shared in May.

The Cluster ’ s Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) interventions have started in five additional camps (Samarbagh, Sadbar Kalay, Timergarah, Munda and Sakhakot) in Lower Dir and Malakand. The cluster is now providing CMAM in all the 11 camps. In host communities these services are being provided in six districts Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Charsadda, Lower Dir and Buner. 

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

Six severely acute malnourished children are admitted in the stabilisation centres with medical complications. During the reporting period 118 moderately malnourished children and 115 pregnant and lactating women have recovered following enrolment in supplementary feeding programmes (SFP). 20 severely acute malnourished children have been shifted to SFP from outpatient therapeutic programmes (OTP).

Due to security reasons, nutrition services have stopped for two weeks in Buner.

Education

The cluster reported a mixed response in the enrolment of displaced children in camps over the last week. Boys enrolment increased by 3% (138) while girls' enrolment decreased by 1% (18). The current enrolment stands at 8,184 (5,381 boys and 2,803 girls).

The District Department of Education has started an assessment to identify primary school age children in Jalozai camp (phases 4-7). Primary schools in these phases are due to be open by 1 May. UNICEF will support the District Education Department in providing primary education services in the remaining phases of the camp. Phases 1-3 are currently being covered by International Rescue Committee (IRC).

IRC schools have resumed functioning following closure for security reasons. An enrolment drive in Jalozai camp is planned from 27 April. Recruitment of teachers is in process so that schools can start in phase 3 by next week.

A slight increase in overall enrolment has been reported in 63 evening shift schools for displaced children outside camps from 4,316 to 4,324 (3,095 boys, 1,229 girls) in four districts (Swabi, Peshawar, Mardan and Charsadda). YRC has opened a new community feeder school for 91 IDP children in Nowshera district. The number of girls enrolled has decreased by 5% while the number of boys has increased by 3%. Repair work was completed in additional five schools in Lower Dir last week. A total of 254 schools have now been repaired in the district, benefiting 52,454 children (28,387 boys, 24,067 girls).

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 1,057 (1,051 boys, 6 girls).

The District Education Department has shared a list of 16 schools with Swat Elementary Education Project (SEEP) for damage assessment, removal of debris and rehabilitation. UNICEF is supporting SEEP which is a project within the District Education Department headed by Executive District Officer (EDO) of Swat.

The funding situation has not changed since last week; there is a dire need of funds to sustain and expand existing operations.

Logistics

2,300 MT of food was dispatched to the humanitarian hubs between 9 and 21 April. Only 200 MT of stock was dispatched in the last week due to suspension of food distribution from 16 to 24 April. A humanitarian hub in Charsadda has been relocated to a large warehouse while a second hub has been established in Swabi. Both will start functioning later this week. 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 10-day mission of the Senior Humanitarian Advisor to the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, to evaluate the challenges currently being faced by the Government and the humanitarian community concluded on 24 April.

A Humanitarian Gender Advisory Group has been formed to provide technical support on gender issues to the clusters.

An OCHA mission to review the implementation of the cluster approach in Pakistan is currently in the country. The findings have been shared with clusters in Islamabad and Peshawar. 

Work on ‘ Basic Operating Rules for Humanitarian Organisations', providing guidance to humanitarian organisations on the provision of assistance in accordance with established humanitarian principles, is ongoing. A final document will be endorsed by the Humanitarian Country Team before being shared with the Government, donors and humanitarian organisations.   

V. Funding

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

For further information 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 21 April 2009 Report