VZCZCXRO1970
RR RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #1120/01 1450357
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 250357Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2877
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0328
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 1681
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 7281
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 6220
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3956
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9460
INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/JCS USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 001120 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF EAID PGOV PK IO ECON PINR
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN IDP SITUATION REPORT, MAY 23, 2009 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (SBU) The military assault on Mingora is underway.  The number of 
returns to Bajaur and Buner remains uncertain.  Indications are that 
people are leaving from and returning to Buner in relatively equal 
numbers.  Those returning are doing so to harvest their crops.  Save 
the Children representatives expressed to Embassy concern regarding 
IDP camp management and the donor response to the IDP crisis. 
Initial Embassy observations indicate differing levels of 
management, security and services among IDP camps.  The Embassy, 
with the help of Disaster Assistance Response (DART) team, will 
continue to gather information on IDP conditions overall.  No one, 
including the Pakistani military, has specific information on how 
many people are trapped in Swat. 
 
¶2. (U) On May 22, the U.N. formally launched the revised 2009 
Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) to support 1.5 million IDPs and 
other conflict-affected individuals for seven months.  On May 21, 
the GoP Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs announced 
that international donors had pledged approximately USD 224 million 
(18 billion Pakistan rupees) in IDP assistance, including the USD 
110 million.  End Summary. 
 
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Military Situation 
-------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Pakistani military forces have initiated an assault on the 
main town of Mingora in Swat and have reportedly captured large 
stores of ammunition and supplies in caves overlooking the town. 
Matta Tehsil (25 km northwest of Mingora) was secured by security 
forces, as was the bridge linking Matta with Peochar.  The ISPR 
military spokesman said that only ten percent of the population 
remains in Mingora. 
 
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IDP Returns 
----------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) According to the U.N., some IDPs have left camps in Lower 
Dir, Kacha Garhi, and Jalozai.  While Lt. General Nadeem has 
indicated that 230,000 have returned to Bajaur, UNHCR has not 
provided transport and is uncertain of returnee numbers.  U.N. field 
reports indicate that a small number of IDPs have returned to places 
of origin in Buner District, reportedly to harvest crops, but UNHCR 
has no official statistics on returns to Buner. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Reliable sources report that roads from Mardan to Buner are 
heavy with traffic.  They visited two relief distribution hubs 
providing WFP food in Mardan.  Pedestrians appeared to be entering 
and leaving Buner in equal numbers, and busses and high occupancy 
vehicles were traveling in both directions.  Those entering Buner 
are returning to harvest their crops. The Taliban has met resistance 
from the local population although compensated recruitment is taking 
place.  Civil vulnerabilities include food, water and electricity. 
Repair of the electric lines between Buner and Swat is in process. 
Sources report seeing some homes destroyed. 
 
----------------------- 
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION 
----------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Dr. Charles MacCormack, President of Save the Children 
U.S., and Michael McGrath, Save's Pakistan Country Director, met 
with USAID Director and Embassy Border Coordinator on May 22.  The 
visitors were critical of the Government of Pakistan's capacity to 
manage IDP camps and effectively coordinate relief responses.  They 
indicated that a generally bleak situation in camps is leading to 
increased anger among the IDP population about the chaotic relief 
efforts.  (Note: They did say that the camps around Bajaur were 
functioning well, were clean and orderly, and had computer systems 
in place used to identify people, etc.  They wondered why the camps 
around Bajaur were so much better than camps in Mardan, Swabi and 
other places where the new IDPs were.) 
 
¶7. (SBU) They said planning for IDP returns was non-existent.  Since 
donor pledges have been slow and insufficient in support of the UN 
 
ISLAMABAD 00001120  002 OF 003 
 
 
Appeal, UNHCR has not been able to support weak GOP capacity 
sufficiently.  Both commented strongly on the lack of response from 
other donors.  They said this lack of response is because others 
believe the IDP crisis is a U.S. problem as the U.S. is the country 
pressing the Pakistanis to conduct robust COIN operations.  They 
urged Washington to demarche international donors for a more 
generous response. 
¶8. (SBU) Comment:  The Save the Children assessment is not shared by 
other NGOs reporting on the humanitarian response.  Nevertheless, it 
is a serious charge by a well-respected and experienced team.  The 
Embassy will follow up with UNHCR on May 25 and, with aid of the 
OFDA DART team now in place in Islamabad, will look into the Save 
allegations and seek to collect more systematic information on IDP 
conditions and weaknesses in response capabilities.  Depending on 
the outcome, we will propose to Washington and interlocutors in 
Pakistan specific remedial actions.  End Comment. 
¶9. (SBU) Initial impressions from Refcoord and FSN visits to three 
camps are that the level and structure of camp management and 
security differ markedly from one camp to the next.  Of the three 
camps visited, Shah Mansour in Swabi is run by the International 
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) largely through the Pakistan Red 
Crescent and is self-policed by an IDP committee.  Services are 
timely, as was registration until the camp reached capacity on May 
¶21. While the camp is animated, both the Pakistan Red Crescent and 
NWFP camp management report no security disruptions.  IDPs report no 
issues regarding delivery of services, including school, partial 
electrification, and food delivery by camp section. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Yar Hussain, also in Swabi, is run by UNHCR, with 
registration/protection by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) 
and police presence as well as security monitoring by an IDP 
committee.  While there appears to be a conflict between the 
Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees and NWFP over camp management, 
the camp runs smoothly overall although lines for cooked food 
distribution are long.  Health problems are largely diarrhea and 
urinary track infections, although press reported one cholera case 
last week. The camp has both a primary and middle school, both of 
which use government text books.  Both Shah Mansour and Yar Hussain 
are scheduled to shift from cooked food to dry food distribution in 
the coming week. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Sheikh Shehzad in Mardan is also run by UNHCR and is 
policed by both army and police.  There are graver health problems 
and more service delivery and security issues in this camp than in 
the other two.  A Norwegian Embassy representative who visited 
Jalala camp, also in Mardan District, said that camp appeared well 
managed by NWFP authorities.  The representative's local driver also 
tested the registration system and was identified without his 
national ID by the database managed by the National Database and 
Registration Authority (NADRA). 
 
¶12. (U) The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees 
(UNHCR) has carried out site planning, prepared the grounds and 
erected tents for two camps in Nowshera District.  UNHCR is also 
assisting provincial authorities in the management of three new 
camps in Mardan District and one camp in Swabi District.  UNHCR and 
ICRC are exploring various options to provide shaded areas to 
protect IDPs in camps against the sun and rising temperatures. 
 
¶13. (SBU) OCHA will be doing an assessment on damage and conditions 
for returnees to Buner.  Embassy is seeking DART team participation. 
 
 
------------------------- 
HUMANITARIAN COORDINATION 
------------------------- 
 
¶14. (U) On May 22, the U.N. formally launched the revised 2009 
Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), to support approximately 
1.5 million IDPs and other conflict-affected individuals for seven 
months. The acting U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator outlined needs in 
twelve sectors - health, food security, nutrition, camp management, 
shelter, early recovery, coordination, education, logistics, 
protection, agriculture and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). 
The GoP Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs Hina 
Rabbani Khar noted that the GoP fully supported the U.N. HRP for the 
relief stage and affirmed the lead role of the NWFP government. 
 
¶15. (U) On May 21, Rabbani Khar announced that international donors 
 
ISLAMABAD 00001120  003 OF 003 
 
 
had pledged approximately USD 224 million in IDP assistance, 
including approximately USD 110 million from the USG. 
 
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FOOD ASSISTANCE 
--------------- 
 
¶16. (U) As of May 22, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) reported 
providing 30-day food rations for approximately 100,000 people per 
day due to increased capacity at humanitarian hubs, an increase from 
the 65,000 people per day served as of May 19. 
 
------------------------- 
EMERGENCY RELIEF SUPPLIES 
------------------------- 
 
¶17. (U) As of May 19, the U.N. noted that the current stock of 
relief commodities is sufficient to assist approximately 120,000 
individuals, while additional relief commodities in the pipeline can 
support an additional 222,000 individuals, leaving a substantial 
shortfall given recent displacement.  UNHCR is obtaining locally 
produced items, including tents, water containers, and sleeping 
mats.  On May 12, UNCHR also externally procured 120 MT of plastic 
sheeting, plastic rolls, Rubb halls, and mosquito nets. 
 
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HEALTH AND NUTRITION 
-------------------- 
 
¶18. (U) The U.N. nutrition cluster is currently providing nutrition 
services through supplementary and outpatient therapeutic feeding 
centers in six IDP camps in Peshawar, Charsadda, and Nowshera 
districts.  In host communities, the cluster is providing nutrition 
services in Mardan, Charsadda, Peshawar, Nowshera districts. 
 
¶19. (U) The U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the 
general health situation in all IDP camps and host communities in 
NWFP remains stable.  WHO noted rising trends in diarrhea cases 
reported from the Jalozai IDP camps, likely due to poor hygiene 
conditions.  Disease surveillance teams are closely monitoring a 
suspected measles outbreak in Labor Colony, Mardan District. 
 
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PROTECTION 
----------- 
 
¶20. (U) UNHCR noted the need to register women IDPs among the newly 
displaced and that the majority of individuals who have currently 
registered are men.  UNHCR also noted that female IDPs living with 
host families must be specifically targeted with information on 
registration and access to basic services.  The U.N. gender 
sub-cluster has been established and is reviewing integration of 
specific gender interventions in ongoing U.N. cluster activities. 
 
¶21. (U) The U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) has established 49 child 
protection committees in IDP camps, which are regularly holding 
meetings to discuss and address child protection issues.  UNICEF is 
also supporting child protection monitors to indentify vulnerable 
children in camps and ensure access to basic services. 
 
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WASH 
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¶22. (U) The U.N. WASH cluster is providing 4.5 million liters of 
water to 280,000 IDPs in camps every day as of May 19.  Humanitarian 
organizations have constructed more than 6,800 latrines and 3,400 
bathing spaces.  Nearly all IDPs in camps are being reached through 
ongoing hygiene promotion activities and distribution of hygiene 
kits and soap.  The WASH cluster is also devising a strategy to 
provide services to support IDPs in host communities, and for those 
IDPs residing in schools and other government buildings. 
 
PATTERSON