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Pakistan: Millions of IDPs and returnees face continuing crisis

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An internally displaced family is seen leaving the UNHCR Jalozai camp with their belongings, July 5, 2009. REUTERS/Ali Imam
  • Country Statistics
  • Latest IDP figure:
  • 1.25 million
  • Number of refugees:
  • (Originating from the country)
    32,403 (UNHCR, June 2009)
  • Total Population:
  • 167,76 million
10 December 2009: Displaced children in urgent need of shelter and schools as winter approaches

At least 130,000 Pakistani children have been forced from their homes in South Waziristan since October 2009, according to OCHA. In recent weeks, renewed military operations in Bajaur and Khyber agencies have added to their numbers. Altogether, more than 500,000 children are thought to be displaced with their families in Pakistan.

As winter approaches, they may find it harder and harder to find warm shelter and adequate schooling. Hundreds of thousands of children have missed up to a year of school. Almost 5,000 school buildings have been occupied by IDPs in hosting districts, and as of mid-November, less than half of them had been refurbished ready for school to start again. In addition, hundreds of schools in the area of fighting have been targeted and destroyed, a disproportionate number of them schools for girls. With winter setting in, humanitarian agencies anticipate it will be even harder for families to return home, and recognise the need to provide warm shelter for families, and to reinstitute school programming so that children can access education in their place of refuge.



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Internal Displacement Profile

"Causes and Background","Displacement in FATA","Displacement in North West Frontier Province","Displacement in Waziristan","Displacement in Balochistan","Displacement of Hindus","Secondary displacement","Sectarian violence"
"Population Figures and Profile","Global Figures","Geographical distribution"
"Patterns of Displacement","General"
"Physical Security & Freedom of Movement","General"
"Subsistence Needs","General"
"Patterns of Return and Resettlement","General","Access to basic necessities in areas of return"
"Humanitarian Access","Humanitarian access to conflict affected areas"
"National and International Responses","National","International"

Previous Profile updates


News 
Pakistan: IDPs hit by female health worker shortage, Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), 2 December 2009
ICRC remains active in North-West Frontier Province, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 30 November 2009
Pakistan: UNHCR launches winter aid package for displaced people in camps, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 24 November 2009
South Waziristan IDPs move further from conflict zone, Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), 17 November 2009
Pakistan: UN seeks safe access to IDPs, Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), 8 November 2009
ICRC launches large-scale economic assistance in Malakand Division, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 5 November 2009
UN demands safety for civilians in Pakistan battle zone, Agence France-Presse (AFP), 5 November 2009
More
Recent reports 
Pakistan: South Waziristan Displacement, situation report 4, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), 19 November 2009
NWFP Displacement Situation Report #15, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), 28 August 2009
Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #21, US Agency for International Development (USAID), 14 July 2009
More