VZCZCXRO6411
OO RUEHKW RUEHPOD
DE RUEHC #5536/01 1492159
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 292146Z MAY 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO EU CANDIDATE STATES COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 STATE 055536 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PHUM PK PREF
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN'S DISPLACED PERSONS CRISIS 
 
REF: STATE 50276 
 
¶1. (U) This is an action message.  See paragraphs 10-13. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Summary. Fighting between the Pakistani military and 
extremists in the North West Frontier Province has displaced 
approximately 2.8 million persons.  There is an estimated gap 
of more than $250 million required to meet the UN appeal of 
$543 million to provide relief through December 2009.  The 
overall cost for relief and reconstruction will be much 
higher, especially once Pakistan extends counterinsurgency 
operations into North and South Waziristan.  It is critical 
that donors step up to fill the funding gap, or, if they have 
already pledged, to follow through quickly to deliver their 
assistance.  End Summary. 
 
Background 
 
¶3. (SBU) Reftel provided information on the unfolding 
humanitarian crisis and response in Pakistan and instructed 
posts to appeal to host governments for support.  In the past 
few weeks, the number of displaced persons has grown from 
under 600,000 to 2.8 million as a consequence of fighting 
between the Pakistani military and extremists in the North 
West Frontier Province (NWFP). Some 338,000 people are in 23 
camps; the remainder have sought refuge with relatives and 
within villages in safe areas. The onset of summer heat and 
crowding in the camps is posing health risks as well as a 
continuing need for protection, nutrition, water, health 
services and education within and outside of the camps. 
Fighting is severely limiting access by humanitarian 
organizations in Swat and Buner in NWFP. 
 
¶4. (U) A new displacement has been reported in South 
Waziristan in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), 
as residents flee in anticipation of fighting, although the 
actual and prospective magnitudes are uncertain at this 
juncture. While some people displaced last fall have begun to 
return to Bajaur in the FATA, the Government of Pakistan 
(GOP) and UN expect the overall number of displaced persons 
to remain well above 2 million for several months. 
 
¶5. (U) On May 22, the UN launched an appeal to fund the 
revised Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan (PHRP), designed 
to support emergency needs, returns, and recovery through 
December 2009. The funding requirements in the PHRP do not 
include costs of reconstructing damaged infrastructure or 
reintegrating returnees, which the GOP has stated it will 
assess in consultation with the humanitarian community.  The 
PHRP estimates total funding requirements of $543 million, of 
which $454 million are unmet. Taking into account recent 
pledges, the gap still remaining between requirements and 
pledges exceeds $250 million. 
 
¶6. (U) Secretary Clinton announced on May 19 a U.S. 
assistance package of $110 million, to include food aid, and 
support for health and nutrition, emergency shelter, water, 
hygiene, and humanitarian coordination. At the request of the 
Pakistani government, the U.S. military is providing water 
trucks, Halal meals, and tents with environmental controls 
for hot weather. 
 
¶7. (U) The Pakistani people are showing resolve in the face 
of this crisis. On May 18, an All Parties Conference convened 
 
STATE 00055536  002 OF 004 
 
 
by the government resolved to support the security and 
welfare of displaced people and unite the nation to combat 
terrorism, extremism, and sectarianism. General Nadeem Ahmed, 
who led GOP relief operations following the 2005 earthquake, 
is a key advisor of the Special Support Group which 
coordinates humanitarian relief. 
 
¶8. (U) The Pakistani government has committed $100 million to 
fund humanitarian relief. The NWFP provincial government has 
frozen some $342 million in development projects to re-direct 
resources to humanitarian relief.  Punjab,s provincial 
government is donating 5,000 tons of wheat per month to help 
feed displaced people. These efforts come in addition to 
substantial contributions of human, financial, and material 
resources from the federal and NWFP governments to alleviate 
the crisis. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Information from posts, the UN, and press reports as 
of May 29 indicates the following pledges from donors other 
than the U.S.: 
 
Australia    $9.2 million 
Canada       $8.0 
China        $4.4 
Denmark      $0.9 
EU/ECHO     $17.2 
France      $16.2 
Germany     $17.6 
Italy        $1.1 
Japan       $23.6 
Korea    $0.5 
Norway      $12.0 
Netherlands  $1.365 
Poland       $0.408 
Singapore    $0.030 
Sweden       $3.0 
UK         $ 34.3 
 
Total      $149.8 million 
 
ACTION REQUEST 
 
¶10. (SBU) Posts are instructed to acknowledge with 
appreciation the above host governments' prompt response to 
the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan and urge quick 
disbursement of pledges.  At their discretion, posts may urge 
governments to contribute additional resources now that the 
UN appeal has been launched and requirements quantified. 
 
¶11.  For EU Brussels, Rome, and Tokyo: See also targeted 
points in Talking Points below, paragraph 14. 
 
¶12. (SBU) For Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait, Manama, Muscat, 
Riyadh: Except for an in-kind contribution from Abu Dhabi 
several months ago, we are not aware of any pledges from your 
host country in response to the revised PHRP.  Please present 
point below to host government. Secretary Clinton and SSRAP 
Holbrooke met with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ambassadors 
May 29 to urge their support for the humanitarian effort, and 
Ambassador Holbrooke plans to visit Gulf States the week of 
June 1. UNHCR,s head of donor relations, Panos Moumtzis, 
also plans a visit to the Gulf to generate contributions. 
Please advise on whether a visit to your host country would 
be productive, whom he should see, and how you can assist. 
 
 
¶13. (U) For Bandar Seri Begawan and Bern: The Department is 
repeating reftel to you.  Please draw on in this message and 
 
STATE 00055536  003 OF 004 
 
 
reftel to approach host governments. 
 
 
¶14. (SBU) TALKING POINTS 
 
-- The situation in Pakistan is critical.  We urge to you 
respond positively and generously to UN appeals for 
additional assistance as Pakistan struggles to defeat 
militants and confront this humanitarian crisis. 
 
-- U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan 
Richard Holbrooke plans to visit Pakistan soon, to assess the 
situation and underscore U.S. support for Pakistan and the 
plight of the displaced. 
 
-- Pakistan is struggling against extremists that present a 
global threat to security.  Pakistani public opinion supports 
the operations against the Taliban but that support could 
erode if more is not done to address the needs of the 
displaced populations.  It is all of our interests to help 
Pakistan, the UN and other humanitarian organizations address 
their needs. 
 
-- Continued fighting in Pakistan's North West Frontier 
Province has displaced large numbers of people.  More than 
2.3 million have been displaced this month, bringing the 
total to 2.8 million.  The population of displaced people 
from NWFP is expected to remain above 2 million for several 
months.  The size and speed of the displacement, coupled with 
the onset of summer heat and attendant risks to health, pose 
special challenges. 
 
-- A new displacement has begun in Waziristan in the 
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), as residents flee 
in anticipation of fighting. Those fleeing could add up to an 
additional one million people to the existing displaced 
population. 
 
 -- The Pakistani authorities and people are responding 
decisively to the unfolding situation, and the international 
community needs to support them. 
 
-- On May 18, an All Parties Conference convened by the GOP 
resolved to support the security and welfare of displaced 
people and unite the nation to combat terrorism, extremism, 
and sectarianism. 
 
-- General Nadeem Ahmed, who led GOP relief operations 
following the 2005 earthquake, is advising the Special 
Support Group to coordinate relief efforts. 
 
-- The Pakistani government has committed $100 million. The 
NWFP provincial government has frozen some $342 million in 
development projects to re-direct resources to humanitarian 
relief. Punjab,s government is donating 5,000 tons of wheat 
per month. 
 
-- These efforts come in addition to substantial 
contributions of human, financial and material resources from 
the Federal and NWFP governments to alleviate the crisis. 
 
-- On May 22, the UN launched a revised appeal (Pakistan 
Humanitarian Response Plan - PHRP) to provide immediate 
relief and limited support for initial returns through 
December 2009.  Total financing requirements are $543 
million, of which $453 million were unmet needs.  Taking into 
account donor pledges in the past week, we estimate a current 
funding gap of more than $250 million. UN/OCHA reports that 
 
STATE 00055536  004 OF 004 
 
 
the appeal is severely underfunded. Furthermore, the 
displaced population already exceeds the number assumed in 
the PHRP, and could grow further with a new exodus from 
Waziristan. 
 
-- Secretary Clinton announced on May 19 a U.S. assistance 
package of $110 million, to include food aid, and support for 
health and nutrition, emergency shelter, water, hygiene, and 
humanitarian coordination. At the request of the Pakistani 
government, the U.S. military is providing water trucks, 
Halal meals, and tents with environmental controls for hot 
weather. As additional needs are determined, the U.S. will 
continue to respond.  We are considering significant 
additional assistance.  Further significant support from the 
international community will be critical. 
 
-- For Rome:  Now that that the UN has issued the revised 
PHRP, we ask you to consider an additional contribution 
commensurate with those of other large EU members. 
 
-- For EU Brussels and Tokyo:  Thank you for your assistance 
to date.  We understand that you were waiting for the launch 
of the PHRP to consider additional contributions.  We urge 
prompt disbursement and consideration of additional support. 
CLINTON