EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Pakistan’s north-western regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) face a complex emergency dating back to four years ago. Security operations by the Government against armed non-state actors and sectarian violence have resulted in waves of displacement of up to 4 million people over the years. "As of 31 December 2012, the registration of IDPs by UNHCR and the authorities indicates that there were 163,102 IDP families in need of humanitarian assistance. Of these families NADRA has verified a total of 757,996 individuals. However, NADRA verification of registered families/individuals is ongoing, supported by the grievance redress mechanism.
Therefore, in working to ensure that the humanitarian needs of affected populations are met, and guided by an Inter-Agency sampling survey (February 2013) and desk review, which indicated a family size of 6 as average for planning purposes, it is accepted by both the Government of Pakistan authorities (PDMA/ FDMA) and by the humanitarian community to use the current total of 163,102 families and an estimated total number of IDPs 978,000 individuals for response planning purposes. As a result, the Humanitarian Operational Plan (HOP) aims to provide humanitarian assistance for 163,102 families with an estimated total population of 1,062,000 individuals(including additional expected caseload of 14,000 families from Tirah Valley, whose registration is currently ongoing), accounting for individuals already verified by NADRA (757,996 individuals), and individuals whose registration is under verification by NADRA. Due to the evolving humanitarian context, including ongoing displacement and potential returns, figures are subject to change."
With 757,996 registered people still displaced and hosted in three Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps and host communities as of February 2013. At the same time, since 2009, over 1.3 million people have returned to their homes in relatively safe areas of origin, with an additional planned caseload of 585,642 people (97,607 families) expected to return in 2013 to their native homes in Bajaur, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai and South Waziristan agencies and Frontier Region (FR) Tank between January and December 2013, while 532 families could be displaced from Central Kurram due to security operations. Despite the projection, actual returns are likely to be lower, based on past trends the humanitarian community foresee that only 25% (24,402 families) of the planned return caseload (97,607 families) could be facilitated to return in 2013.However, the HOP document will maintain the original planning assumption figures for return with a view to make amendments in the course of the year based on future scenarios especially on returns. In 2012, only 15 per cent (12,594 families) of the projected 85,000 families returned to their areas of origin.
This 2013 Humanitarian Operational Plan (HOP) analyses the humanitarian situation in north-western Pakistan and outlines partners’ response strategies and plans for 2013. It is a product of consultations among humanitarian partners and Government authorities in KP and FATA and focuses on addressing the outstanding needs of vulnerable populations. The plan outlines proposed humanitarian activities to support the Government of Pakistan (GOP) in meeting the needs of the affected population, taking cognizance of the complimentary Early Recovery activities outlined in the Early Recovery Assistance Framework (ERAF) for FATA.
The 2013 HOP‘s participatory and inclusive process included the proactive involvement of the KP Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) and humanitarian partners. The Political Administration of the Agencies provided planning figures for expected new displacements and returns. The 2013 HOP articulates the agreed operational priorities, based on a set of defined planning assumptions.
In 2012, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) identified two broad beneficiary groups that must continue to be prioritized: IDPs in KP and FATA, and returnees and “stayees” (people who were never displaced) in FATA. Groups in ‘transition’, either as they become IDPs or return to ‘normal’ life in their areas of origin in FATA or other parts of Pakistan, are particularly vulnerable, requiring significant assistance. The 2013 HOP provides an updated strategic direction for humanitarian responses, focusing on relief needs of the affected population. The 2013 HOP proposes to meet the relief need of IDPs during their displacement, and provide initial support for their return to their original areas. This transitional support will include facilitation of safe, voluntary, informed, and dignified returns through the provision of transport and basic return packages (including food, hygiene kits, and shelter repair kits). The early recovery needs of returnees and stayees in all affected agencies in FATA are covered in the ERAF.
The cross-cutting issues, in particular gender and disaster risk reduction, are fully integrated into respective cluster components in the 2013 HOP. The duration of the 2013 HOP is one year, with an expected mid-year revision. In order to ensure a holistic approach, eight clusters are actively providing assistance to the affected people In the complex environment of North-West (NW) Pakistan, where a range of stakeholders with diverse interests are an integral part of the dynamics, attention will remain focused on adherence to humanitarian principles at all stages of planning and response. Global policies that protect the independence, neutrality and impartiality of action provide overall guidance under which local policy agreements have been endorsed by the GOP and subsequent SOPs for humanitarian action developed.
In 2012, funding constraints forced the stoppage of reproductive health and newborn services for 2,800 pregnant displaced women, protection services for children in Dera Ismail Khan, Hangu, and Tank districts in KP and Kurram Agency in FATA, and education services for children in the camps and host communities. Other life-saving services are scheduled to end between March and June 2013 unless more funds are secured. Humanitarian partners received 76 per cent of the US$289 million required under the 2012 HOP.
Humanitarian partners have a funding gap of $139,568,793 to support 127 projects formulated by 7 UN and 140 NGOs, included in the 2013 HOP.
