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P 070317Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4742
INFO AMCONSUL KARACHI 
AMCONSUL LAHORE 
AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
NSC WASHINGTON DC
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002149 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PK PINR PREL PTER PREF IO
SUBJECT:  SWAT HUMANITARIAN AID CONTINUES 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  USAID/OFDA implementing partners, UN agencies and 
other humanitarian organizations continue to provide assistance to 
populations in Swat, Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP).  Following 
an August 30 suicide bombing in Mingora, the capital of Swat 
District, international media mistakenly reported that the 
Government of Pakistan (GOP) suspended humanitarian assistance 
programs in the district.  USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster 
Assistance (USAID/OFDA) partners, including the Agency for Technical 
Cooperation and Development (ACTED), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), 
Mercy Corps, and Save the Children have opened offices in Swat 
District and continue to implement programs aimed at supporting 
sustainable returns and early recovery.  Similarly, the UN World 
Food Program (WFP) and the UN World Health Organization (WHO) 
continue activities in Swat.  Nearly 88 percent of the displaced 
population has returned and 80 percent of schools and 90 percent of 
shops have reopened in Swat.  End summary. 
 
---------- 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Beginning in early July, humanitarian organizations with 
access to Swat District began reporting a fluid but improving 
security situation, noting that individuals had spontaneously 
returned to areas of origin in the district, largely to Mingora and 
areas south of Mingora. 
 
¶3. (SBU) During July, USAID/OFDA staff conducted assessments in 
southern Swat District and reported less conflict-related damage 
than previously expected and an ongoing and organized returns 
process.  Confirming the USAID/OFDA assessment results, two 
USAID/OFDA implementing partners conducted assessments in Swat 
District and reported that approximately 50 percent of a displaced 
population of 1.7 million individuals - including women - had 
already returned to areas of origin as of late July. 
 
----------------- 
CURRENT SITUATION 
----------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Humanitarian organizations continue to report an improved 
but unpredictable security situation in southern Swat District.  On 
August 24, Pakistan's UN Humanitarian Coordinator Martin Mogwanja 
participated in a multi-cluster assessment in Swat District. 
According to the UN assessment team, 80 percent of the schools and 
90 percent of the shops have reopened, and civilian life is 
returning to normal.  As of September 1, the GOP Special Support 
Group reported that more than 902,000 individuals, representing 
nearly 88 percent of the displaced population from Swat District, 
had returned to the district, either with GOP assistance or personal 
resources. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Despite recent improvements and large-scale population 
returns to the district, the security environment remains uncertain, 
particularly in areas north of Mingora, where humanitarian access 
remains limited.  On August 30, a suicide bombing in Mingora 
resulted in the death of 16 police cadets.  Following the incident, 
international media reported that the GOP suspended the provision of 
humanitarian assistance in Swat District.  But USAID/OFDA field 
staff surveyed implementing partners, UN agencies, and GOP officials 
and confirmed the press reports were wrong.  All USAID/OFDA 
implementing partners, as well as UN agencies and other humanitarian 
organizations, operating in Swat District continue to provide 
assistance. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Four USAID/OFDA partners, including the Agency for 
Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED), Catholic Relief 
Services (CRS), Mercy Corps, and Save the Children have opened 
offices in Swat District and continue to implement programs aimed at 
supporting sustainable returns and early recovery.  While Save the 
Children temporarily suspended activities following the August 30 
security incident, the organization resumed activities on September 
3, noting that the situation remains challenging but operable. 
Another USAID/OFDA partner, International Rescue Committee (IRC), 
reported plans to open offices in Swat District during the week of 
September 7.  In addition, USAID/OFDA-funded IRC protection teams 
are currently collecting information on the returns process in Swat 
District. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) revised 
security restrictions following the August 30 incident by 
prohibiting UN staff from remaining in the district overnight.  As a 
result, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 
(OCHA) and WFP delayed plans to establish permanent offices in the 
district.  In addition, WFP temporarily suspended the plans to 
identify locations for additional humanitarian hubs in Swat 
District.  Despite the temporary delays, however, UN assistance 
programs remain ongoing and agencies continue to adapt to the 
evolving situation. 
 
¶8. (SBU) OCHA plans to reschedule the first UN General Coordination 
Meeting in Swat District for the week of September 7. In addition, 
WFP and WHO continue to provide food and medicines to 
conflict-affected populations in Swat. During August, WFP provided 
assistance to nearly 18,000 returnees in the district.  In addition, 
WFP currently operates seven humanitarian hubs in Swat District, 
including three newly opened hubs. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Comment:  Post will continue to monitor humanitarian 
assistance to Swat and to work with USAID/OFDA implementing partners 
and the UN to keep critical assistance flowing as the internally 
displaced population re-settles in the district. 
 
PATTERSON