Emergency Relief supplies to aid 10,000 families fleeing South Waziristan conflict

An estimated 430,000* Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have sought refuge outside of South Waziristan in camps and host communities, most travelling over difficult terrain with limited supplies – especially items to protect them from the cold.

Given the military restrictions on movement and humanitarian activity by international organisations, providing relief aid is becoming a major challenge especially in D.I. Khan and Tank districts where only a small number of local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are able to assist the IDPs from South Waziristan. In order to provide these IDPs with urgently needed assistance, the humanitarian community needs to have safe and continuous access to the hosting and conflict-affected areas.

...humanitarian organisations must find safe and effective ways of helping those in need – working with partners who already operate in the area is one of those ways “The security situation has deteriorated markedly, but humanitarian organisations must find safe and effective ways of helping those in need – working with partners who already operate in the area is one of those ways”, said Timothy Rae, Response Manager for World Vision Pakistan.

Although security issues have impacted World Vision’s relief response in Buner and Lower Dir districts in the North West Frontier Province, the organisation continues to provide assistance to thousands displaced during the conflict earlier in the year.

Food rations are being distributed to 20,000 households every month in Buner district, in partnership with the World Food Programme, water purification packets are distributed to ensure the displaced have clean water to drink and water sources are being rehabilitated in various villages.

Economic recovery for people who have returned to their homes in Buner district is also a focus for World Vision, which is working to assist some 86,400 people through Cash for Work activities and other agricultural activities to help families re-start farming and work towards income generation and self-sufficiency.

* OCHA, Sitrep # 5, Published 11th December 2009

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