Pakistan Crisis

Children staying at one of the IDP camps receive bread. Photo by Ghulam Rasool, CWS/ACT.

The ongoing violence in Pakistan between Pakistan’s military and the Taliban rebels has displaced more than 3.5 million people. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said the current displacement is bigger and faster than the movement of people following the Rwandan genocide in 1994.

Displaced women and children are at the greatest risk, with families split up in the chaos and children separated from parents. Women heading south without their husbands and fathers in this male-dominated society find it increasingly hard to secure food and shelter.

Many IDPs are spending much of their disposable income on rent, with very little left for food or other daily requirements. In May, an assessment showed 90 percent of the IDPs without any basic assets like clothes, shoes, utensils, food, mosquito mats, coverlets for sleeping or food for children.

They are also living in temperatures higher than 40 degrees (104 degrees Fahrenheit), so the risk of dehydration and disease is extremely high.

Having to leave behind their homes and work, most of the IDPs have been deprived of their livestock assets and economic means. Their livelihood skills are not relevant in their displaced locations, so while they try to obtain work, they have no means of sustainable income.

Children are suffering trauma, both from seeing war activities and from the loss of their educational opportunities. 

Strains on host communities

The displaced population is in a vulnerable state. Many have taken refuge with family and friends or in rented spaces, and others stay in schools or in IDP camps. In areas where the majority of the IDPs are given spaces in homes by the host communities, almost every home is left over crowded, and each host family is bearing an extra economic burden.  Even residing with relatives is difficult, as the host communities do not have the capacity to provide adequate shelter, food and other necessities to the mass influx of IDPs. 

The massive influx of the IDPs has caused a shortage of safe drinking water and greater risks of water related disease outbreaks. A supply of water is needed, along with additional sanitation facilities in the host communities.

Response

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is supporting the relief efforts of IDPs in camps as well as IDPs in host communities in cooperation with Church World Service/Pakistan and other partners and members of Action by Churches Together (ACT).  Two of the main response locations are the districts of Swabi and Mardan.

Relief and recovery activities include assistance in the areas of food and nonfood relief, livelihoods, education and health.

Immediate food relief packages for a families include wheat, rice, pulses, oil, sugar, tea, salt, fortified biscuits, baby good, milk powder, soap and matches.

Training will be offered to enhance vocational skills and income earning opportunities. 

Primary schools will be set up, offering children the chance to continue their education and providing an opportunity for teachers.

Shower units will be set up in IDP camps, and medical staff will be available for immunizations and other medical needs.

Local communities

IDP Support Groups have been created to help with the smooth implementation of project interventions and to promote and strengthen a congenial and conducive environment for the IDPs’ relief and rehabilitation. Food items will be distributed directly to IDPs in the host communities. Food distribution points will be set up in each community within walking distance from IDPs’ temporary host locations.

IPD camps

Before the situation deteriorated, the humanitarian community had established 11 IDP camps across NWFP, providing the conflict-affected population in these camps with shelter, food, water, sanitation and hygiene services, child and women-friendly spaces, education facilities and nonfood items (kitchen utensils, pillows, folding beds, prayer rugs, torch, water coolers, clothes and shoes, coverlets for sleeping, mosquito mats, cereal food and dry milk for children). Eleven additional camps have been established to provide food and nonfood items.  

What you can do

Your support and prayers are needed to bring hope to more than 3.5 million people displaced by violence in Pakistan. 

GIVE. The generous sharing of your financial blessings through the One Great Hour of Sharing offering and special designated giving provides the resources needed to meet the basic humanitarian needs of displaced families.

Individuals may give through their local Presbyterian congregation, on the secure PC(USA) Web site or by sending their check to:
 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Individual Remittance Processing
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA  15264-3700

Please include the special designated giving account DR000038 - Pakistan

Congregations should send donations through their normal mission giving channels.

ACT. Stay informed. Sign up to receive PDA-RIN notices to alert you of additional needs.

PRAY.  Please continue in prayer for all who have been affected by the ongoing civil conflict.