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Support for internally displaced persons in Pakistan

27.05.2010 - Press release

The Federal Foreign Office is making 2 million euro available to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to help fund aid projects for internally displaced persons in Pakistan.

The Federal Foreign Office is making 2 million euro available to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to help fund aid projects for internally displaced persons in Pakistan.

According to latest figures from the United Nations 1.3 million people in Pakistan are registered as internally displaced persons. People are still being forced to flee in large numbers because of continued clashes between government troops and militant extremists. Since the beginning of this year alone nearly 300,000 people from the tribal areas of Orakzai and Kurram have fled to neighbouring provinces, where they are staying in camps or with host families.

The humanitarian situation is critical in the camps as well as in the host communities. Accommodation is often inadequate and there is a lack of essential supplies. The fragile security situation further limits the independence and freedom of movement of the refugees, which means they have to rely on outside help. The registration of displaced persons is crucial for providing appropriate supplies.

As well as supporting the work of the UNCHR in distributing household goods (such as blankets, water containers, sleeping mats, hygiene items etc) and providing tents to improve the accommodation situation, the funds provided by the Federal Foreign Office will also help the organization to implement measures to improve the registration process.

Part of the UNCHR programme is also to ensure basic security for displaced persons, especially for women and children, as well as providing general support for infrastructure and in managing the camps.

In 2010 the Federal Foreign Office has so far made available over 1 million euro for the aid effort in Pakistan. This will mainly be used to provide essential medical supplies, drinking water and sanitation for the refugees. To date the German Government’s total humanitarian aid for Pakistan stands at over 3 million euro.

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