ACT Situation Report # 5
Geneva, October 22, 2009

Deteriorating security
The security situation for civilians and aid workers in Pakistan has deteriorated further with an increase in military offensives and militant attacks over the past couple of weeks, which are seriously limiting the operations of humanitarian organizations and access to conflict-displaced people in need of urgent assistance.

The series of recent attacks by militants appears to primarily on law-enforcing agencies, humanitarian organizations and educational institutions. On October 5th, five staff members of the UN World Food Programme office in Islamabad were killed in a suicide bomber attack. On October 20th, twin suicide bomb attacks at Islamabad's International Islamic University killed and injured several people leading to the closure of all educational institutions on government orders. From Islamabad today, members report a further attack on a police convoy and another suicide bomber attempt leading to the closing down of one sector of the city. Movement within Islamabad is restricted, including for humanitarian coordination meetings, and ACT members' are taking necessary precautions for their staff and local partners.

Displacement from Waziristan
On October 17th, the Pakistan military also launched a ground offensive in South Waziristan. Communication lines in the conflict area have been cut off since that time. Thousands of inhabitants of the conflict-affected areas continue to flee to neighboring districts including Dera Ismail Khan and Tank in the southern area of North West Frontier Province and are taking refuge in with friends and family in local communities. The UN reports that 100,000 new internally displaced people (IDPs) have reached Dera Ismail Khan and Tank. More than 80,000 people had already been taking refuge in these areas since May, displaced by smaller outbreaks of conflict, including from North Waziristan.

Limited access to meet urgent IDP needs
Humanitarian access for international non-governmental organizations to provide assistance to the latest people displaced from South Waziristan remains significantly restricted, with new access to provide assistance to IDPs only allowed for local organizations currently. The direct operations of all international organizations have been stopped.

Local partners of ACT members in Dera Ismail Khan and Tank report that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) can only sustain themselves for a short time with very limited provisions that they have been able to carry with them so that basic relief assistance is required. The meeting of minimum water, sanitation and hygiene requirements is a major problem putting people's health at risk. With the winter season setting in, shelter and heating will also become an increasing concern.

Response by government and UN agencies
The Government is considering establishing formal camps for Waziristan IDPs. However, it could take several more days for camp plans to be finalized. UNICEF estimates that 50,000 people are likely to settle in potential camps and 200,000 in host communities.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) working through local partners has started distributing relief items such as kitchen sets, blankets, sleeping mats and jerry cans to registered IDPs. UNICEF reports significant water quality problems for the IDPs in Dera Ismail Khan and Tank and is planning water and sanitation interventions for up to 250,000 displaced persons.

ACT International response
ACT members Church World Service- Pakistan/Afghanistan and Norwegian Church Aid are closely monitoring the new IDP and security situation. Appropriate security measures are being taken with staff and partners. The ACT Coordinating Office expects to receive a request from CWS tomorrow to immediately disburse up to US $60,000 from the ACT Rapid Response Fund to deliver the most urgent assistance to new IDPs from Waziristan.

The ongoing relief activities of CWS and NCA (ACT appeal PAK091) to assist previous IDPs in Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Swabi, and Buner districts of North West Frontier Province are not affected due to the new emergency situation and new IDPs further south in the province. These activities will continue until the end of November or December 2009 with funding available. The development of plans and an appeal for recovery and rehabilitation support for returned IDPs in Buner and Swat is currently underway.

CWS is working to strengthen and support local partner "Sarhad" to get permission to deliver assistance to the new IDPs in Dera Ismail Khan. Sarhad have expertise in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector and have extensive experience working in the tribal and conflict-affected areas. Dependent on funding, CWS has the potential to mobilized hygiene kits, basic family non-food item kits and blankets for 5,000 families are In addition, CWS-P/A hopes to provide safe drinking water to 8,800 IDPs through 80 communal hand pumps, along with sanitation support through 440 latrines, 80 bathing places and 80 washing points. The establishment of free medical camps is also being considered to serve the IDP population at the union council level to reduce the chance of abdominal diseases in children.

As well as the forthcoming Rapid Response Funding request, CWS are also exploring other possible international funding accessible at the national level.

NCA has indicated that it will support a relief operation for the new South Waziristan IDPs only if the situation worsens further as it monitors the situation through national partners.

ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.