In the past few days the ICRC has returned to
Swat, where the security situation remains volatile. Damage to civilian infrastructure is considerable in and near the main city, Mingora, where local residents were cut off from basic services for
weeks.
Several checkpoints are in place along the main road leading into Swat valley, making the transportation of commodities difficult.
Little food, for example, has so far
reached Mingora.
The harvest season will soon come to a close but many fields in the valley have not been tended for weeks.
In recent days, some farmers have started to work in
their fields again, often carrying a white flag.
There are growing concerns, however, that crops could be lost.
If that were to happen, there could be food shortages in the
medium term.
On 31 May the ICRC started assessing the needs of tens of thousands of people still in the area.
Residents have had little access to clean water, health services,
electricity and telephone service since early May.
Stocks in local markets are depleted and banks are closed.
As a result of preliminary assessments, the ICRC is stepping up its
activities considerably in Swat and in other conflict-affected areas such as Lower Dir.
In recent weeks, tens of thousands of residents have used temporary suspensions of the curfew put in
place to flee Swat.
Many families are currently staying with relatives in areas where few humanitarian organizations operate because of security concerns.
Since these families
are likely to return to their homes in the coming weeks and months, the ICRC plans to help them and local authorities to restore basic services such as the delivery of clean water to the area.
ICRC staff, including medical personnel, are currently in Mingora conducting further assessments, meeting local residents and authorities and delivering aid.
The ICRC intends to
coordinate its relief efforts from Mingora itself and is currently exploring the possibility of establishing a permanent office there.
The ICRC has also sent 31 trucks with food and other
items for over 30,000 displaced people (IDPs) currently living in four camps near Timergara, in Lower Dir.
The area had been off limits since the onset of hostilities.
Each
displaced family will receive a month's supply of food and other essentials.
The ICRC continues to support the emergency response of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, notably in its
efforts to assist displaced people in Swabi and Malakand districts.
The ICRC will substantially increase its level of support and its cooperation with the Pakistan Red Crescent in the
coming days.
U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke (C) is briefed by a Pakistani official while visiting internally displaced persons at the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) Sheikh Shahzad camp in district ...
