Pakistan Emergency Please Donate Now

Current Situation (May 27, 2009):

As 2.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) struggle for survival in northwest Pakistan and millions remain trapped in the conflict zone waiting to escape, Islamic Relief USA has upped its initial fundraising appeal for Pakistan's IDP crisis from $750,000 to $1 million.

"This is one of the fastest major displacements that we have seen in some years," said UN spokesperson Ron Redmond, estimating that 126,000 people have fled their homes every single day since fighting erupted on May 2.

This rapid and widespread displacement has put great demand on resources and made it very difficult for the impacted people to receive the aid and services they need for survival.

The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, has declared the Pakistan Emergency to be one of the worst IDP crises in years.

Displaced people are finding nowhere to go as intensified fighting in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province has led to the overcrowding of nearly all the neighboring communities and government-run IDP camps.

Only about 100,000 of the estimated 2.5 million have settled in camps, while the rest of the IDPs are burdening host communities and receiving little or no support.

There are thousands of pregnant women in need of medical care, with nearly 5,000 due to give birth in the month of June. There are very few trained medics available, scarce resources and a lack of facilities, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Islamic Relief field workers are greatly concerned for the safety and wellbeing of the displaced people, especially since about 80 percent of them are women and children.

"[Many] had to trek long distances with nothing with them but the clothes on their backs," said Jerome Akram, an Islamic Relief aid worker on the ground in Pakistan.

"It pains us much to be unable to help because of limited resources," he added.

Islamic Relief has launched operations in the conflict zone, currently distributing aid to thousands of beneficiaries and constructing 'mercy centers' that will provide food, shelter, basic medical care, psychosocial counseling, and other vital services.

Without your support, this would not be possible. We are very thankful for your prayers and contributions, but the IDPs in Pakistan still need your help.

Many are separated from loved ones, and most are enduring harsh conditions without food or water.

Please help Islamic Relief alleviate their suffering and donate today.

"Humanitarian workers are struggling to keep up with the size and speed of the displacement."
-UN spokesperson Ron Redmond

Situation Facts:
• About 2.5 million displaced
• Nearly 2 million fled since May 2
• About 80% of those displaced are women and children
• 90% of IDPs have no clothes, food, water, or utensils
• Over one million IDPs are staying with already crowded host communities
• 60-70% of the children are traumatized

Case Study: Struggling for Survival
Noor Bibi was having what she called a "normal" day at home with her six children when fighting erupted in her village in Swat, Pakistan.

"It was so sudden I did not know what to do," Bibi, 35, told an Islamic Relief field worker. "My main concern was my children."

Carrying her infant son, Bibi gathered her family members and fled, with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing.

In the commotion, a piece of shrapnel struck Bibi's leg, injuring it severely.

"It started to bleed badly, but there was no way I could get any medical treatment," Bibi recalled.

Neighbors helped Bibi and her children reach a government-run camp in the neighboring village where she received medical attention, but Bibi noticed that her family was not complete.

Her husband and nine-year-old daughter, Shakira, were unaccounted for.

She informed camp officials who told her that her husband had registered and was safe in the same camp. Her daughter was still missing.

"We have no idea where and in what condition she is," Bibi told an Islamic Relief field worker. "I can't wait to see her, not having her around is more painful than the injury."

"There is nothing like home and we cannot wait to be back home where we can live the way we used to," Bibi said. "This way of life is very tough and we are not comfortable with it at all."

There are many stories just like Bibi's being told in Pakistan today.

Habib Malik, an Islamic Relief staff member who was visiting the camps, reported: "One 10-year-old boy I met was in the camp on his own. He had been separated from his family in the chaos as everyone fled from his village and has not seen them since."

"Unfortunately, his story is not unique," Malik said.

Displaced and Stranded
More than two million people have fled their homes and settled in host communities or emergency camps.

Many prefer the host communities over the camps because of cultural traditions. Unfortunately, this means thousands of people are staying with complete strangers and are not registered to receive aid from the camps.

Most were forced to leave carrying little more than the clothes on their backs. Large groups of IDPs had to settle outside the camps due to overcrowded facilities and lack of supplies.

Thousands upon thousands of the children don't have schools to attend, while most of the IDPs are facing widespread shortages of food, clean water and sanitation facilities.

The camps cannot accommodate the influx of people and many are settling outside in the heat.

Aid workers on the ground report that around 80 percent of those who have been displaced are women and children.

Pakistani government officials report that 60 to 70 percent of the children are suffering from psychological trauma and are at risk of serious health problems.

Islamic Relief's Response:
Islamic Relief USA launched an emergency fundraising appeal, which it raised from $750,000 to $1 million on May 27.

To date, field staff have distributed kitchen sets, household sets and hygiene kits to about 2,000 families (Approx. 12,000 beneficiaries) in the conflict zone.

In coordination with partners, Islamic Relief also distributed hygiene kits, household kits, kitchen sets, clothing and mosquito nets to about 500 families (Approx 3,000 beneficiaries).

Islamic Relief is also constructing 'mercy centers' around the conflict zone. These centers will provide food, shelter, basic medical care, psychosocial counseling and other vital services.

They are expected to begin opening their doors by the end of May.

Islamic Relief hopes to provide three months of emergency support to 70,000 beneficiaries in the Mardan and Swabi districts.

Assistance will include the provision of emergency aid such as blankets, clothing and cooking sets, supplies of clean water, and psychosocial support for traumatized children.

Please donate today to help provide comfort for children forced to flee from violence

Facts on Pakistan:
• Over 73% of the population lives below $2 a day
• 24% of the population is undernourished
• 38% of children are underweight

Islamic Relief in Pakistan:
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 campsite development, water and sanitation facilities, and basic health and hygiene care.

Islamic Relief also provided essential emergency aid after the 2005 earthquake, raising over $70 million worth of aid worldwide, $20 million of which came from US donors.

In addition, Islamic Relief provided over $1 million of aid which benefited over 90,000 victims of the June 2007 cyclone in Baluchistan.

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