Displaced Civilians in Pakistan
| Date | Tuesday, November 3, 2009 |
| Location | Capitol Visitors Center, Room SVC 209 |
November 3, 2009 — Mike Young, the International Rescue Committee’s Deputy Regional Director in Pakistan, joined us for a discussion on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Pakistan. Mr. Young currently serves as Country Representative in Pakistan and as a senior leader of Asia and Caucasus region for IRC. He also oversees the Pakistan Humanitarian Forum, the INGO coalition in Islamabad.
Mr. Young gave a brief overview of the current situation in Pakistan and the International Rescue Committee’s extensive work in the country. He delved into the complex situation regarding Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons, especially in the FATA agencies. From April to June 2009, the number of internally displaced persons increased to approximately three million people, and while re-placement is occurring in some areas, many Pakistanis are still unable to return to their homes.
The briefing also focused on the increasing need for food, water, medicine, and sanitation accessibility for IDPs, but these efforts have been hindered by restrictions place on humanitarian aid by the Pakistani government and military. Mr. Young emphasized that the key dynamics to overcoming this humanitarian crisis in Pakistan are to enhance security for humanitarian aid workers in the region, allow more humanitarian access to crises areas where IDPs are located, and reform legal rights for IDPs within Pakistan.
The Question and Answer session touched on the Pakistani government’s role in humanitarian assistance, the public’s perception of the U.S. aid package, and the relationship between humanitarian organizations and local governments in distributing assistance. The restrictions and control on aid by the Pakistani government and military were further discussed along with the future implications of the IDP situation within Pakistan.
What is the current status of internally displaced persons in Pakistan? How does this relate to the military's campaign against the Taliban, and what steps need to be taken to ensure delivery of humanitarian relief?
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