UN calls for $543m dollars

[Islamabad, 22 May 2009]  Fleeing from intensified insecurity in Pakistan's northwest provinces, some 1.7 million displaced people have been registered since early May and are now either living in relief camps or with host families. Traumatized by their journey, and leaving with virtually nothing, these vulnerable men, women, and children are in urgent need of food rations, safe water supply, medical assistance and shelter from soaring temperatures.The United Nations System agencies and humanitarian partners, including Pakistani NGOs, INGOs, and the Federal and Provincial authorities, are working together to ensure we get relief to people as quickly and effectively as possible, and sustain services to them over the coming months.

Displaced children need to be able to continue schooling, mothers and babies need special health and nutrition assistance, and all displaced families need access to primary and emergency medical care, as well as clean water and sanitation to prevent the spread of disease. In addition, the overstretched resources of host communities need to be supplemented to provide for the families they are supporting.

“The scale of this displacement is extraordinary in terms of size and speed, and has caused incredible suffering,” notes the acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Martin Mogwanja. “We are calling for generous support from the international community, in addition to the assistance being provided by both ordinary families and the national authorities.”

In response to the Government of Pakistan’s request for humanitarian assistance, the humanitarian community has revised the Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan to expand assistance and protection to the rapid and recent inflow of IDPs, as well as continue to support the 550,000 people who had fled the situation since last August. Rapid needs assessment of currently inaccessible areas and immediate response to families remaining there will be implemented as soon as access allows.

A total of 165 projects presented by 52 UN agencies, national and international NGO partners require US $543,172,583. With US $88,524,302 already provided or committed, the humanitarian community is calling for the remaining US $454,648,281 to be contributed urgently, to fund the assistance needed by the most vulnerable and worst affected for the rest of the 2009.