As the conflict between government troops and the Taliban insurgents escalates in the Swat valley of northern Pakistan, killing and injuring many civilians, the flood of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) continues to grow. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than one million are estimated to have fled fighting, and hundreds of thousands of civilians are still trapped in the conflict zone, used as human shields and not allowed to escape. According to testimonies, the Taliban may have dug trenches and mined the streets to slow the army forces and prevent the population to get away.
Facing this terrible humanitarian tragedy – the largest and the swiftest displacement of people to take place anywhere in the world in recent years – Pakistan’s President has called, on May 12th, for urgent and massive international help for those left homeless by fighting.
Leaving behind them all their possessions, displaced people are traveling kilometers to join the camps and those that have already fled the outbreak of violence last August. Over 20 refugee camps are now installed in the districts of Mardan, Swabi and Charsadda. Humanitarian assistance is trying to organize to supply food, water and shelters to the IDPs. A number of "humanitarian hubs" are also being set up to provide help to people who are staying outside of the camps, the majority of IDPs, and who have settled with family, friends or host communities. The strains on the host communities are huge, with schools being converted into temporary shelters and medical clinics facing overwhelming demand.
Over the coming months, the humanitarian community is preparing to face new episodes of violence and new movements of civilians in this region where the telecommunication infrastructures are very limited.
In collaboration with United Nations agencies on site, TSF’s team is evaluating the needs of the humanitarian community in the zones touched by the conflict. The objective is to establish a satellite connection via a mobile system to provide internet and telephones. The team will remain in the zone for one month in order to guarantee solutions that benefit the entire humanitarian community for the coming months, including the establishment of a durable fixed satellite system.
If security conditions permit and if access into the camps is possible, TSF specialists in emergency telecommunications will run humanitarian calling operations enabling the civilians to contact their relatives in Pakistan or abroad. Displaced civilians will be able to call their loved ones anywhere in the world to reconnect, give news, or asked for personalized assistance.
The mission is supported by the Vodafone Foundation, the United Nations Foundation, Inmarsat, Eutelsat, Vizada, AT&T, Cable and Wireless, PCCW Global, the Communauté d’Agglomération de Pau, and the Conseil Régional d’Aquitaine.