*Source: The map has been prepared using reports of conflict from the media and sources on ground

II. Situation Overview

 According to Inter Service Public Relations [(Pakistan Army) Press Release No 111/2009-ISPR, early morning Wednesday (29 April, 2009) airborne forces successfully landed at Daggar and surroundings areas and secured Daggar, headquarters of Buner District and linked up with Police and Frontier Constabulary.

According to a press briefing of the same source on 30^th April 2009, security forces are exercising restraint during the military operation in Buner as armed opposition are allegedly using civilians as human shields. Pakistan Army has taken full control of Daggar, the administrative capital of Buner district. The source claims, that normalcy is returning to the Lower Dir and the curfew has been relaxed in the area between 8 am and 1 pm. It was also reported that Swat armed oppositions are attacking security personnel in violation of the Swat peace agreement.

About 50,000 IDPs as reported by the District Coordination Officer (DCO) Lower Dir have moved from the conflict affected areas (Maidan, Lal Qila and Islam Dara) in Lower Dir to safer places within the district. Frontier Corps however has reported only 2,000 IDP ’ s as result of the military operation in Lower Dir.

The Al-Khidmat Foundation, a local NGO working in Lower Dir reports as many as 70,000 IDPs have been displaced within the district, out which 15,000 IDPs are likely to have moved or in the process of moving to the neighbouring districts of Mardan and Malakand.  So far Social Welfare Department (SWD) has registered 50 families in Mardan from Lower Dir. SWD has also informed that the registration points in Mardan and Swabi will be fully functional by 1 May to register the incoming IDPs. 

On 28 April, Amnesty International reported that 33,000 people were displaced and 5 deaths occurred in the District Headquarter Hospital in Timergarah, Lower Dir due to severe injuries received at the areas of conflict.

Around 500 displaced families are residing in 4 spontaneous camps in Lower Dir, (150 in Government Degree College Timergarah, 100 in Government Commerce College Timergarah, 60 in Tameer-e-Nau school and 100 families in different buildings at Timergarah Bazar) according to Helping Hands Relief and Development, another NGO working in the area.  A majority of the IDP families live with host families in Union Councils of Lower Dir (Khal Dir, Samarbagh, Timergarah, Talash, Chakdarah) and Malakand (Batkhela and Tana Malakand Agency).

Major needs for the families in the camps include food items, drinking water, medical aid, and NFIs (bedding, clothing and kitchen utensils). Various organisations (Al-Khidmat Foundation and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation) are assisting the IDPs with transportation, food and medicine provision.  Pakistan Red Crescent Society is assisting in spontaneous camps with camp management.

Access to Lower Dir and Buner is still restricted. DCO, Lower Dir confirmed that the main road leading to Timergarah from Chakdara continues to be blocked by the security personnel. The district administration reports that the security situation remains tense in Buner and military operation is on hold on Lower Dir. People are facing difficulty in reaching safe places due to security blockade.

Permission from Home Office NWFP is required to access the area.  

III. Humanitarian Response

One of the largest IDP camp Jalozai Camp in Nowshera is currently hosting 7,892 (families) equals to 48,760 (individuals) IDP ’ s.  United Nations continue to provide support to this camp and is ready to assist relief and shelter for 1,000 families in this camp. Phase 9 of Jalozai Camp can be developed on matter of urgency which can host further 5,000 families in case displacement is extended to outside of Lower Dir and Buner. 

Commissioner Afghan Refugee (CAR) reported that 3 sites have been identified in Lower Dir to accommodate more than 700 displaced families (300 families in Khungi camp, 300 in Football Ground and 150 in Government Degree College Timergarah). Additional 150 tents are being set up in GDC Timergarah to house the IDPs with support of UNHCR.

CAR has identified Jalala camp in Mardan for IDPs moving from Buner where 400 families can be accommodated. A joint team including CAR, UNHCR, UNICEF has visited the site to see the feasibility. Assessment report will be submitted on 1 May.  

UNHCR has an available stock of NFIs for 21,000 people coming from Lower Dir and Buner to host districts. Whereas there is an existing stock of 1,400 tents that can be utilised in Dir. UNHCR has provided 600 tents to DCO Dir. MSF and ICRC have an existing stock of 400 tents each.

UNHCR has requested CAR to start registration of Dir IDPs in Jalozai camp. UNICEF, UNHCR and CAR plan to carry out a joint site assessment for setting up Jalozai phase 9 which can accommodate 5,000 IDPs. UNHCR is expected to start work on the new site on 30 April.

WFP and ICRC have coordinated to provide food ration for the newly displaced families. WFP will provide food assistance through humanitarian hubs to families moving to the camp in Mardan and other districts outside Dir while ICRC will take care of food provision in Lower Dir. ICRC has 7,000 food packages and 400 tents in stock and another 10,000 food packages in the pipeline for IDP families in Dir. However due to access problems, they remain to be mobilised.

UNICEF can provide hygiene kits and blankets to the affected population. In addition, services can be extended in Education, WASH, Nutrition and Children Protection after the security situation becomes stable.

WHOwill provide medicines and necessary support to Health Department in Lower Dir to cover the new influx of IDPs through cluster partners.

IV. Coordination

Commissionerate of Aghan Refugees is holding meetings on a daily basis in Peshawar to discuss the displacement scenario and required response.

Clusters continue to operate and plan response by sector.

The Home Department, NWFP has established Crisis Management Cell in Mardan to handle the emergency situation.

V. Contact

For further information please contact:

Humanitarian Coordinator's Office / OCHA, Islamabad: Manuel Bessler, Head of Office OCHA bessler@un.org  - 0301-8542465

Humanitarian Coordinator's Office / OCHA, Islamabad: Fawad Hussain, National Humanitarian Affairs Officer fawad.hussain@un.org.pk - 0301-8542495

Humanitarian Coordinator's Office / OCHA, Peshawar focal point: Hussain Ullah, National Humanitarian Affairs Officer, hussain.ullah@un.org.pk - 0301-8542449 

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