In response, ICMC conducted a rapid needs-assessment in the Mardan District immediately following the arrival of the first IDPs to the area. Temporarily hosted in government schools, ICMC’s initial assessment found that over 8,000 conflict-affected individuals in the Mardan District alone were enduring inadequate living conditions.

Significant numbers of children and female-headed households have been displaced, parents and husbands have been left behind or are reportedly dead, and vulnerable children were found to be in urgent need of psycho-social support. Since the time of ICMC’s initial assessment, the number of schools accommodating IDPs has grown to include some 3,000 across nine NWFP districts.

In light of the current situation, ICMC humanitarian response currently focuses on the distribution of hygiene kits, kitchen utensils and other non-food items to displaced persons staying at schools within the Mardan district.

Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) are being established in selected Government schools, offering displaced children safe areas to learn and play, and awareness raising sessions on child protection and gender-based violence will be conducted on a regular basis within the select schools.

In the face of growing humanitarian needs, ICMC is seeking to initially reach 1,000 conflict-affected families residing outside camp facilities, with the intention of expanding outreach to IDPs and host communities in other districts.

ICMC front-line interventions are carried out in close coordination with government entities, UN Agencies and humanitarian NGOs. Together with Trocaire, ICMC has joined the emergency appeal launched by Caritas Internationalis, while start-up funds for urgent interventions have been made available by the generous contribution of CAFOD.

Without additional funding, however, ICMC will not be able to sustain these critical emergency interventions in Pakistan. Individual contributions to support ICMC's work with vulnerable IDPs in Pakistan are therefore warmly welcomed and may be made by clicking here.

To learn more, see also:

ICMC Rapid assessment report of IDPs in Mardan and Nowshera Districts

ICMC donor, CAFOD

Caritas Internationalis Emergency Appeal