CARE Sounds Alarm as Women, Girls Flee Violence in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (May 13, 2009) - CARE fears that women and children are being disproportionately affected as more than 500,000 flee fighting between the Taliban and the military in Pakistan. Thousands more could be on the move in the coming days. "They leave with nothing but the clothing on their backs," says Zahid Mahmood, emergency coordinator for CARE in Pakistan.

There appears to be a severe shortage of female medical staff in the camps where people are taking shelter. That can compromised the health of women and girls who, for cultural reasons, are reluctant to seek treatment from male medical staff.

"There is need for shelter and non-food essentials – particularly women's hygiene materials,” reports Daw Mohamed, assistant country director for CARE in Pakistan. "Many of the tens of thousands that have fled the violence in the North West region are injured, but access to medical care for most people in the camps is a problem."

More than 485,000 new displaced people have been registered in the past few days. Roughly 15 percent now reside in camps. The people staying in camps do not have money for transport to access district medical services or other health facilities in nearby areas. CARE calls for donations to provide relief assistance.

In the coming days, CARE will distribute tents as well as plastic floor mats, kitchen sets, shawls, hygiene kits and mosquito nets to about 1000 displaced families in the region of Mardan and Swabi. The distribution will take place with the assistance of local partner organizations. Afterward, CARE plans to reach 10,000 households (60,000 people) with shelter, emergency items, health care, water and sanitation as well as psychosocial care.

In addition to medical care there is a need for psychosocial support, especially for women and children. "Many of these people are already traumatized from the firing and shelling they've survived," Mohamed said. "Children are terrified now whenever there is a loud noise, like the sound of helicopters and planes flying over the camps. Injured minds need treatment as much as injured bodies."

Hundreds of thousands of people are staying with families in the region, but the resources of host communities are being stretched to accommodate the influx. The existing camps do not have the capacity to house the 500,000 people the United Nations estimates could ultimately be displaced by the fighting. Most of the fleeing Pakistanis were unable to bring basic household items with them. While some families have received tents, the majority are without shelter and do not have basic items such as clothing, bedding, hygiene materials, pots, pans, and plates. Although water is being trucked to the camps using tankers, the supply is inadequate and irregular. In addition, many of the camps lack adequate and appropriate latrine facilities.