The Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan (PHRP) has received 44 percent ($240 million) of the ($543 million) requested for the humanitarian activities, which is creating concern among the plan managers.
The funding has remained constant over the last month receiving 44 percent of the appealed amount till date but the inflow has gone down during last week which is not a good news, said Martin Mogwanja, United Nations Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Pakistan here on Wednesday.
"Timely response is important as the official school year commences from September 1 and in case of failure the situation could go worse, said Martin and appealed the international community to step forward to assist IDPs.
He said that since the start of the return process on July 13, some 33 percent (765,000 individuals) of the over 2.3 millions verified IDPs have reached their places of origin according to the provincial governments Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and this total will increase to 904,624 when IDPs who returned to Buner District are factored in prior to July 13.
Kilian Kleinschmidt, Assistant Representative, UNHCR said that IDPs residing in host communities now stand at about 1.2 million with 166.785 living in 21 remaining camps. In the last week four additional camps have been closed bringing the total number of closed camps to nine since the returning process began.
He said that with the camp managers there is a mixed picture of ongoing return, closure and decommissioning of camps on the one hand and the establishment of new camps in Lower Dir and in Buner on the other. The new camps are in response to either new displacements (in the case of Buner) or to accommodate people set to vacate schools in Lower Dir.
Kilian said that displaced people in camps marked for closure can relocate to other camps. The government has designated Jalala camp in Mardan and Jalozai camp in Nowshera as the contingency camps to remain open for this purpose. He further said that ground has been prepared and tents are being pitched by UNHCR partners in a new camp at Wali Kandow in Lower Dir District to accommodate around 3,500 people. Almost 30 families have already moved in.
WFP and Unicef will provide food and water and sanitation facilities in the camp. It is one of the camps being established in Lower Dir at the request of the government to accommodate IDPs who have to vacate schools this month or for people newly displaced by ongoing military operations in Upper Dir. He informed that displaced people could take their relief items back to their homes when they return. Those who are not assisted in the displacement areas can be assisted in the areas of return.
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