The humanitarian community is carefully analyzing security incidents against humanitarian personnel with a view to determining how their operations can be fully resumed.

(New York, 5 June 2013): OCHA Operations Director John Ging highlighted the serious consequences of humanitarian funding shortfalls following his weeklong mission to Afghanistan and Pakistan with the Emergency Directors of six UN agencies.

“We are very concerned that donor funding for humanitarian operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan is falling short at a critical moment of positive transition in the region,” said Mr. Ging, who briefed the media at UN headquarters today.

The UN's Central Emergency Response Fund dispersed US$485 million to projects in 49 countries and territories in 2012 – the highest amount since its inception.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

SITUATION OVERVIEW

An estimated 1.5 million people in southern Pakistan are still highly vulnerable and require humanitarian assistance as they try and recover from the impact of the 2012 monsoon floods, according to humanitarian partners. The flood-affected people need livelihoods, shelter, health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene support.

Three consecutive years of flooding have only compounded the existing vulnerability of people living in hazard prone areas who are extremely poor and underdevelopment of their locations.

Faryab is currently the most conflict-affected province in the Northern region. While needs are on the rise, funding has declined and the presence of international humanitarian staff is lower than in previous years.

Armed conflicts, insecurity, protracted displacement and natural disasters affect millions of people across the region.

These include 1.5 million affected by last year's floods, over 1 million displaced due to insecurity, 1. 64 million Afghan refugees, and 1.3 million returnees.