Even though a few families have chosen to return to their homes in Pakistan’s Swat valley, international aid agency Church World Service today urged continued support for the millions who remain displaced by fighting between army and Taliban forces, which began in early May.

Pakistan government officials announced Monday, July 13, 2009, a three-phase plan to return home those who left for safety, otherwise known as internally displaced persons. While some IDPs are in government-managed camps, most sought shelter in private residences, leading to a more complex humanitarian response.  As many as 1.7 million registered in camps, according to United Nations officials, and millions more remain in private residences.

PDA has supported the work of our ecumenical partner Church World Service (CWS) in providing emergency shelter and food kits to families in camps.   The PDA-supported effort continues to work with local partners to identify communities in need of food assistance.

CWS Emergency Response Director Donna Derr said, “The numbers of people returning home from safe haven are quite small, and a humanitarian crisis remains across Pakistan.

Many of those displaced are women and children … without a male head of household to accompany them, many women face challenges in securing food and medical assistance.”

The local partner in the response, the Movement for Rural Development Organization, continues to help identify communities where women are in need of food and medical care. Mobile Health Units from CWS Pakistan/Afghanistan feature a female medical professional who can provide care in areas where it is culturally unacceptable for a man to do so.

“The process of ensuring security and returning people home is going to take some time,” Derr said. “Until then it is up to all of us to help those caught in a situation far beyond their control.”

Information for this report was provided by Church World Service