ISLAMIC RELIEF WORLDWIDE (IRW) has launched an appeal to raise £5 million to help those affected by the growing humanitarian crisis in North West Pakistan.
1.3 million people are displaced by fighting in the volatile Swat Valley in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. 800,000 have fled in the last few days as fighting in the region has intensified.
There are fears that this number could rise to more than two million.
As people have poured out of Swat they have settled in emergency camps established by the district government or have found refuge with family and friends. They are facing shortages of food, clean water and sanitation facilities.
Islamic Relief aid workers report that many of the displaced are women and children who left their homes without their husbands who have remained behind with their land and houses. Often they have travelled great distances on foot to reach a place of safety.
Around 80 per cent of those who have been displaced are children. IR aid workers report that many of these children are suffering from psychological trauma and are at risk from serious health problems.
Niyaz Muhammad, an aid worker with Islamic Relief-Pakistan said, “Many of the people who have fled Swat have come to the camps with no more than the clothes they were wearing. They are in urgent need of blankets, clothes and hygiene kits.”
“The conditions in the camps are very difficult, especially for the children. Many have fled fighting in their home villages and have travelled long distances on foot to reach these camps. In the camps they lack proper water and sanitation facilities, as well as food and healthcare.”
Islamic Relief has been working in Pakistan since 1992 and previously worked in the Jelozai camp in North West Frontier Province until April 2009. Work in the camp included providing camp site development, water and sanitation facilities, and basic health and hygiene care.
Islamic Relief is initially planning to provide support to 11,200 families in camps in Swabi and Mardan, focusing mainly on the needs of children. Work will include the provision of emergency aid such as blankets, clothing and cooking sets, supplies of clean water, and psychosocial support for traumatised children.
For more information and to arrange an interview with Islamic Relief staff in North West Pakistan, please call:
Helen Mould (Press Officer) – +44(0)121 622 0719 or +44(0)7855 499 645