VZCZCXRO7222
OO RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #3676/01 3270854
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 220854Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0314
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 9442
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 9139
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 4067
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 0664
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 6396
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 5249
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 003676 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREF PREL PTER PK
SUBJECT: EMBASSY ISLAMABAD REFUGEE AFFAIRS SECTION WEEKLY 
ACTIVITY REPORT NOVEMBER 10-14 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  The following is a Refugee Affairs weekly 
activity report for November 10 - 14. The recent spate of 
violence in Peshawar has caused the United Nations to drawn 
down international staff at their Peshawar offices; other 
NGOs in Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) have limited 
operations after receiving threatening letters.  According to 
a report by the UN,s Multiple Cluster Rapid Assessment 
Mechanism (McRAM), 85.7% of Baloch earthquake survivors have 
not received relief supplies, and current food stocks will 
suffice for less than a month; 35,000 people will need food 
assistance in order to avoid starvation.  The Commissioner 
for Afghan Refugees (CAR) has provided winterization kits for 
IDPs in Dir Lower, Mardan, Charssada and Peshawar districts. 
The present case load in eight government-run IDP camps in 
six districts is nearly 30,000, and rising.  More than 
183,000 people are still living with host families.  The 
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has 
created a hotline to assist Afghan refugees who cannot reach 
their offices due to weather; it will operate through March 
¶2009.  End summary. 
 
NWFP INSECURITY CAUSES UN, OTHER NGOS TO CURTAIL OPERATIONS 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) A string of violent incidents in Peshawar, 
including the November 12 killing of Stephen Vance of the 
USAID-funded FATA Livelihood Development Program, November 13 
kidnapping of Iranian commercial attach Heshmatullah 
Atarzedeh and murder of his driver, and the recent carjacking 
in broad daylight of a local NGO, Society for Sustainable 
Development, at Kacha Gari IDP camp have shaken the 
humanitarian assistance community.  Mohammad Adar of the 
UNHCR Peshawar sub-office said that UN offices in Peshawar 
have drawn down international staff because of the volatile 
security situation.  Some NGOs in NWFP have reported 
receiving threatening letters, and they too have curtailed 
their activities. 
 
BALOCH EARTHQUAKE SURVEY SHOWS URGENT NEEDS 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) The October 29 Baluchistan earthquakes displaced 
68,000 people, destroyed 3,487 houses, and damaged 4,125 more 
homes, according to the UN,s Multiple Cluster Rapid 
Assessment Mechanism (McRAM) survey report.  The report 
estimated that 85.7% of affected people have not received 
relief supplies.  Current food stocks will suffice for less 
than a month, and 35,000 people will need food assistance in 
order to avoid starvation.  USAID is partnering with two 
local NGOs to provide transitional shelter. 
 
¶4.  (U) Health concerns attributable to cold weather are 
common, such as acute respiratory infection (ARI), 
Gastro/diarrhea and coughing.  Women,s access to health care 
is complicated by cultural restrictions on contact with 
outsiders.  McRAM has reconfirmed the urgent need for 
shelter, warm clothes, food and medicines. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The ICRC and Save the Children told the RAS that 
the situation was under control and the government and other 
humanitarian agencies are working on providing shelter, warm 
clothes, food and medicines to the victims as identified by 
the McRAM. 
 
UNHCR AND CAR PROVIDE WINTERIZATION KITS FOR IDPS IN NWFP 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The Additional Commissioner for Afghan Refugees 
Waqar Maroof told the Refugee Affairs Specialist that the 
winterization program for the internally displaced people 
(IDPs) in the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) is in 
progress.  The Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees (CAR) has 
provided winterization kits comprising of plastic sheets to 
reinforce the non-winterized tents, three blankets, one quilt 
and four mats to IDPs in Lower Dir, Mardan, Charssada and 
Peshawar districts.  Comment:  According to contacts of the 
RAS, the number of blankets as promised was not distributed 
to IDPs in Kacha Gari camp. Reportedly, the relationships 
between those living in the camp and those managing the camp 
are poor.  End comment. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The IDPs from Mardan Sheikh Yasin town in district 
Mardan and Pelosi IDP camp in district Charssada would be 
 
ISLAMABAD 00003676  002 OF 002 
 
 
shifted soon to the camp at Jalozai (former Afghan Refugee 
camp and currently being used to house IDPs from Bajaur). The 
CAR commissioner said that 40-45 new families get registered 
in IDP camps on daily basis. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The present case load in eight government-run camps 
in six districts is about 30,126 people, and the number is 
rising.  Over 183,271 people are still living with host 
families.  The UNHCR told the RAS that work by the provincial 
Social Welfare Department on registration of IDPs staying 
with host families is in progress in the eight districts. 
 
UNHCR USES HOTLINE FOR AFGHAN REFUGEE QUERIES 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (U) UNHCR has set up a 24/7 hotline to respond to queries 
and provide information to those who are unable to reach the 
UNHCR offices in Pakistan. The hotline will operate during 
the entire winter break (until March 2009). 
 
ON THE HORIZON FOR THE REFUGEE AFFAIRS SECTION 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶10.  December 1-5:  Resettlement and Asylum Admissions 
Workshop, Washington DC. 
PATTERSON