WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 24, 2009) - Refugees International released a timely field report today on the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Pakistan, underscoring the importance of stabilizing the refugee situation for both humanitarian and political reasons. The U.S. Congress and the administration are doing much to help displaced Pakistanis now, but the U.S. must prepare for a prolonged aid effort as more people are displaced from their homes and military operations expand to Waziristan.
Internal fighting in Pakistan, one of America's most important strategic partners, has already displaced over two million people from their homes, villages and farms. According to the report, only a third of the UN's appeal for humanitarian aid for the refugees has been funded, leading to serious shortfalls. The report highlights:
- A dangerous assistance vacuum which is being filled by political parties and jihadist groups who have "set up shop" in the camps to help them gain popular support and allegiance;
- Worry over the role of the Pakistani military in coordinating the relief effort and delivering assistance;
- A lack of funding channeled through local aid groups;
- Mounting concerns over the possibility of forced returns. The Pakistani government is sending signals that it may force people to return home before it is safe to do so. Officials talk of voluntary returns and then set fixed return dates.
"An international agency suspended its visits to some camps on Fridays and Saturdays because on these days the jihadists distribute their assistance," said Kristele Younes, Refugees International senior advocate, who co-authored the report and just returned this week from a fact-finding trip in Pakistan. "The vacuum in international assistance is being filled by politically motivated actors in order to gain popular support and allegiance. It is a dangerous trend, similar to one we witnessed in Iraq a few years ago."
There is also mounting concern that an unknown number of civilians are trapped in conflict zones where no independent humanitarian assessment has been conducted. The government has publicly expressed its desire to move its military operations to the southern region of Waziristan. In the planning of this operation, there are troubling indications that civilians will be prevented from leaving the area.
"Civilians have a right to seek protection from conflict, and should be able to move freely to any district or region," said Patrick Duplat, Refugees International advocate and report co-author. "The Pakistani government and international community must ensure that they are not trapped in conflict areas. Having the military coordinate the relief effort can lead to conflicts of interest when it comes to protection of civilians."
Despite the overwhelming humanitarian crisis and further evidence that this situation will likely worsen in the coming months, the Refugees International research team has identified a number of actionable solutions that could improve the refugee situation in Pakistan.
To view the full report from Refugees International with its complete situation analysis and policy recommendations, please click here. Report authors Kristèle Younès and Patrick Duplat are available to speak to the findings and the recommendations in the report, having just returned to the United States from Pakistan this week.
Refugees International is a Washington, DC-based organization that advocates to end refugee crises and receives no government or UN funding.
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Contact: Vanessa Parra, 202-904-0319
vanessa@refugeesinternational.org
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
An internally displaced boy, who fled a military offensive in the Swat valley region, is photographed at the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) Jalozai camp, about 140 km (87 ...
