ACTIVE CONFLICT

NATURAL DISASTERS

AIDS

SOCIAL EXCLUSION

REFUGEES/ DISPLACED PEOPLE

OTHERS

Hunger

Food insecurity

The main causes of hunger/food insecurity in this country are marked in red

Launch of programme: 2001-2004, re-entered in 2005 for an emergency programme after the October 8, 2005 earthquake. National staff: TBD Expatriate fieldworkers: 8 Beneficiaries: TBD Locations: Islamabad, TBD Programmes: Emergency Relief and Assessment, Water and Sanitation, Food Aid, Food Security Funding: Action Against Hunger Private Funds

HUMANITARIAN CONTEXT IN PAKISTAN

On 8th October 2005 a devastating 7.6 earthquake centered outside of Muzaffarabad left tens of thousands Pakistanis dead, and destroyed most of the infrastructure and homes in affected areas. The UN estimates that 4 million people will have been affected by the earthquake.

Pakistan has a high poverty rate and a lack of foreign investment as well as internal conflicts that have lasted for years and an ongoing conflict with India (including three wars and years of tension).

Although Pakistan has capitalised on its international image after September 11th and has received international loans thanks to the support of the United States, President Musharraf faces a strong anti-American sentiment throughout the country.

The country's natural and social equilibrium has been affected by the arrival of Afghan refugees.

EMERGENCY PROGRAMME

• Emergency airplane deliveries of food, nutritional BP5 biscuits, water and sanitation equipment, and nonfood items.
• Emergency assessment and response in the wake of the earthquake
• Distribution of food and nutritional supplements
• Distribution of nonfood items (blankets, tents, cooking equipment, etc.)
• Trucking of water into affected areas

NUTRITION

• Nutritional assistance as needed

FOOD SECURITY

• Distribution of nutritional BP5 biscuits
• Food Security assistance as needed

Water/Sanitation

• Drinking water is being supplied
• Rehabilitation of destroyed water systems and other infrastructure

pOLITICAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT IN PAKISTAN

• 1947: The UK partitions India and Pakistan and grants both independence from British rule.
• 1956: The Constitution founds the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
• 1965: Second war with India over Kashmir.
• 1971: Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) declares independence from Pakistan.
• 1980: The United States asks Pakistan for military aid after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
• 1991: A programme of economic liberalisation begins. Islamic law is formally incorporated into the penal code.
• May 1999: More than a thousand people die in a military conflict with India in Kashmir.
• May 1999: Coup d'etat lead by General Pervez Musharraf, which is condemned by the international community. Pakistan is expelled from the Commonwealth.
• Sept. 2001: General Musharraf becomes allies with the United States in the war against terrorism. The US lifts sanctions imposed after the nuclear tests in 1998.
• Dec. 2001: New confrontations in Kashmir. India accuses Pakistan of supporting terrorist groups who want Kashmir to become independent. 
• Apr. 2002: General Musharraf wins elections.
• May 2002: New tests with missle launchers.  The US and the UK order their citizens to leave the country.
• Nov. 2003: Pakistan and India declare a cease fire in Kashmir and resume commercial flights.
• Feb. 2004: A Pakistani nuclear scientist claims to have developed secret weapons, and to have exported this technology to North Korea, Libya and Iran.
• May 2004: Offensive against presumed members of Al Quaeda on the border with Afghanistan.
• October 2005: A 7.6 magnitude earthquake centered outside of Muzaffarabad, approximately 80 kilometers from Islamabad, leaves 30,000 dead and as many as 4 million affected. Much infrastructure is destroyed.

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