Pakistan military started massive operation against Taliban militants on May 7, 2009. The operation is being undertaken in Swat, Lower and Upper Dir, Bunner, Malakund and other adjacent areas where Taliban had taken over in contravention with the agreement with the government of NWFP, to lay their arms down, accept the writ of the State and immediately stop heinous human-rights violations.

The operation has triggered the biggest displacement in the history of Pakistan.  In this operation, heavy weapons are being used from both sides. The casualties are very high, of citizens mostly who are left behind and are hostage of Taliban. More than 1000 were reported as killed on May 12, 2009. Media and NGOs are not allowed to move in due to the volatile situation. According to the NWFP government and the independent sources, including UNHCR, between 1 and 1.3 million people have already moved from their homes and settled at Swabi, Charsadda, Peshawar, Mardan, etc. Mardan, Sawabi and Jalala, Talash and some parts of Timergra are so far safer places to live. The numbers of IDPs however are swelling day by day. Most of the people fled from the affected areas via Ambela-Sawabai Road, Dagar-Mardan Road, Jowar-Daragi Road (via Bazdara and Girarai). According to the local sources, 60% population of the affected areas has left villages. The remaining population is facing shortage of food, water and health facilities.

The UN issued appeal of US $ 159.9 million. Of the total, 47 % of the required funds are so far secured. The rest is therefore a challenge. The response from the support community has been reported as slow. The Minister for Information NWFP, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, in his appeal on media, requested the local and international community to raise at least ten billion rupees immediately in order to meet the herculean challenge of relief at the moment.

Insan Foundation Trust believes that this relief operation is very crucial. Insan Foundation has planned to provide ‘relief package’ to 2500 families (five to six members in each family) of IDPs, at Charsadda and Peshawar, of worth 142,083 US Dollars. Each package includes food-rations and some support material, which is urgently required. The rations will suffice one-month’s basic needs of the target families.

Please note that the appeal is urgent. It will close on June 4 by 5:00 p.m. It practically means that the proceeds coming before this deadline will be immediately plugged in the appeal. Proceeds coming later than the deadline will be used in the next month’s response (July 2009: according to the then assessment). So, please do whatever you can, in your individual, collective and organizational capacity, to help IDPs in Pakistan. 

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