Pakistan: Red Crescent doubles assistance to the displaced from North Waziristan
As a result of a military operation in North Waziristan, in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced to various districts in neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. From the outset, the Pakistan Red Crescent has delivered emergency aid, medical services, food, water and sanitation.
On 25 July, the number of internally displaced people registered by the Pakistani authorities stood at almost one million. However, the verification process still under way is expected to significantly bring this number down.
With the increased number of displaced people, the Pakistan Red Crescent has recently doubled its caseload to 8,000 families (around 100,000 people in all).
"Our partner organization, the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, was one of the first humanitarian agencies to bring assistance to the Bannu District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where most people displaced from North Waziristan have arrived," said Reto Stocker, head of the ICRC delegation in Pakistan.
The ICRC allocated one million Swiss francs to support the Pakistan Red Crescent for the first three months in this relief operation, which is being carried out in close coordination with the local authorities and the other humanitarian organizations providing aid for displaced people.
Between 19 June and 28 July, with ICRC support, the Pakistan Red Crescent provided:
Health services
- deployed six mobile health units that have already treated over 25,000 men, women and children. Two of the units are permanently deployed in Milad Park, in Bannu, while the other four move to different union councils according to need;
- administered first aid to approximately 660 people at the beginning of the operation;
- formed six two-person (one male and one female) volunteer teams to provide psycho-social support. The teams will be operational in August.
Water and sanitation
- installed a water filtration plant at Milad Park to provide 32,000 litres per day of clean drinking water;
- installed 59 pit latrines and repaired 14 latrines;
- installed 17 water tanks.
Distribution of food and other items
- provided cooked food for 23,000 people in the initial week of displacement;
- distributed 700 food rations donated by the Punjab branch of the Pakistan Red Crescent;
- provided an Iftar dinner for 1,000 displaced people;
- distributed 500 food packs donated by the Turkish Red Crescent Society;
- signed an agreement with the World Food Programme to distribute food packages to 8,000 families in August;
- set up three distribution points in two union councils of Bannu to facilitate delivery of essential aid;
- distributed essential supplies to 8,000 families.
Restoring contact between family members
- formed a team to assess the needs of family members dispersed by displacement. The team will begin its activities in August.
ICRC support for the Pakistan Red Crescent Society
- provided one million Swiss francs in funding;
- provided technical support to help draw up a comprehensive plan of action;
- donated two kits to facilitate distributions;
- sent several technical staff to join Pakistan Red Crescent personnel in the field;
● made available and installed an 80 kilovolt-ampere generator for the Pakistan Red Crescent operational hub in Bannu;
● sent a photographer to the field in agreement with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society to enhance the society's visibility.
The ICRC will continue to support the Pakistan Red Crescent and monitor the needs of displaced people. It will base its further assistance on settlement patterns of the displaced and on the needs of those who might choose to return to their home areas.
For further information, please contact:
Yuriy Shafarenko, ICRC Islamabad, tel: +92 300 850 8138
Anastasia Isyuk, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 79 251 93 02