Pakistan: Situation Report No. 18

This report was issued by OCHA HQ with a coverage period from 10 September to 16 September 2009. A report will not be available next week because of a national holiday. The next report will be issued on or around 2 October, 2009.

I. Highlights/key priorities:

- Military operations in Khyber Agency have caused new displacement. The number of IDPs ranges from 56,000 to 84,000 individuals.

- Three additional humanitarian hubs were set up, bringing the total to 29.

- Security concerns in some areas of return make it difficult to conduct humanitarian needs assessments, and deliver humanitarian assistance.

New Displacement from Khyber Agency: Between 8,000 and 12,000 families (56,000 to 84,000 individuals) have been internally displaced as a result of military operations which began on 1 September in the Bara area of Khyber Agency, in the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA).

A UNHCR assessment estimates that about 87 percent of the displaced have moved in with relatives and 13 percent have rented separate accommodations in other areas of Khyber Agency as well as in the Peshawar area, 15 kilometres from Bara.

Two relief camps have been established by the charity wings of two political parties. The government is also planning to set up a camp, according to the Information Minister of North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The Social Welfare Department of the Provincial Government and the government's Special Support Group (SSG) have agreed to begin registering these IDPs immediately after Eid (around the last week of September). Humanitarian assistance in the form of food, non-food items (NFIs), protection and health services are required. The population of Bara is over 286,000 people.