VZCZCXRO2648
OO RUEHRN
DE RUCNDT #0136/01 0442151
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 132151Z FEB 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5852
INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 2162
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 3537
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME IMMEDIATE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000136 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA MIA BEERS, USUN GENEVA FOR KYLOH, USUN 
ROME FOR SPANOS, USEU FOR BROWN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PREF PK
SUBJECT: OCHA BRIEFS ON MISSION TO PAKISTAN 
 
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 78 
     ¶B. USUN NEW YORK 35 
     ¶C. ISLAMABAD 183 
 
SUMMARY 
 
¶1.  (SBU) The UN's Office for the Coordination of 
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York briefed the 
Humanitarian Liaison Working Group (HLWG) on a recent mission 
to Pakistan to assess the humanitarian environment in 
conflict-affected areas and develop plans to improve the 
coordination of the UN's emergency response.  OCHA described 
the outlook for the humanitarian situation as gloomy given 
the continuing displacement resulting from fighting between 
Pakistani security forces and militants. Although the UN 
estimates that approximately 300,000 civilians are currently 
displaced by conflict in the North West Frontier Province 
(NWFP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), it 
is planning to assist up to 625,000 internally displace 
persons (IDPs) in 2009. Security concerns act as a major 
constraint on humanitarian operations. Although Pakistan has 
called upon aid agencies for support, the UN believes that 
the Pakistani government must make greater efforts to 
facilitate UN and NGO operations. OCHA will enhance 
humanitarian coordination by deploying three international 
officers to Pakistan in the coming weeks. The UN is also 
considering the establishment of an emergency response fund 
(ERF) to provide rapid and flexible response to emergency 
needs linked to displacement. End summary. 
 
¶2.  Rashid Khalikov, the director of OCHA's office in New 
York, briefed the HLWG on February 12 on the findings and 
recommendations from his trip to Pakistan from January 26 - 
February 2.  He remarked that the displacement caused by 
fighting between Pakistani security forces and militants in 
the NWFP and FATA poses a critical humanitarian challenge and 
described the current state of affairs as gloomy. Whereas 
Pakistan has long had to deal with emergency needs generated 
by conflict and refugee flows from neighboring Afghanistan, 
it now must cope with a humanitarian crisis from within. 
 
¶3.  As a sign that things will get worse before they get 
better, the recently updated UN Humanitarian Response Plan 
(HRP) sees a likely jump in the number of persons displaced 
by the conflict from the currently recognized figure of 
260,000.  In 2009, the UN plans to position itself to assist 
up to 625,000 IDPs as a result of continued fighting. Whereas 
the UN appealed for $55 million for emergency programs in 
September 2008, its revised HRP seeks $127 million from 
donors to assist conflict-affected populations.  Donors have 
provided $29 million, leaving a funding gap of $98 million. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  Khalikov remarked that concerns for the security 
of aid workers act as a major constraint on humanitarian 
operations.  Recently, two staff from the NGO Medicins Sans 
Frontieres were shot and killed as they drove an ambulance in 
Swat district. The head of office for the UN High 
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was abducted on February 2 
in Quetta. As an example of the security challenges faced by 
aid workers, the Pakistani government sent 30 police to 
accompany OCHA on its visit to an IDP camp in Peshawar. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Pakistani authorities admitted to Khalikov that 
they did not have the capacity to manage the humanitarian 
needs generated by the displacement of civilians in FATA and 
NWFP and have asked for greater involvement from the 
international community. Khalikov remarked that this attitude 
represents a significant shift from the past when the 
government of Pakistan was reluctant to ask UN agencies and 
NGOs for assistance. Despite its willingness to accept 
assistance from the UN, Khalikov remarked that Pakistan is a 
difficult partner as it is often unclear who within the 
government of Pakistan has authority to coordinate 
humanitarian activities with aid agencies. The fragmented 
nature of authority in Pakistan (civilian vs. military, 
federal vs. regional vs. local) serves as another constraint 
on humanitarian operations. 
 
¶6.  OCHA's mission to Pakistan concluded that the UN's 
humanitarian coordination structure lacks the capacity to 
deal with the growing displacement problem. As such, OCHA 
will deploy three international officers to Pakistan within 
the coming weeks to support the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) 
and UN Country Team.  OCHA is seeking $1.3 million to 
reinforce its presence in Pakistan. A significant portion of 
the required funding will go towards security measures to 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000136  002 OF 002 
 
 
protect staff. 
 
¶7.  OCHA recommended that the UN establish an Emergency 
Response Fund (ERF).  The ERF is a pooled funding mechanism 
to support rapid response in emergency settings. The funds 
are managed by the UN, but are available to NGOs, including 
national NGOs.  Khalikov believes that this is important 
given that national NGOs may be best placed to provide 
assistance in situations where the security conditions 
prevent the presence of international agencies. The ERF would 
likely be set at $10 million.  A decision on the creation of 
the ERF for Pakistan rests with the RC and the UN Country 
Team. 
Rice