PAKISTAN: Aid workers bracing for possible new IDP influx

ISLAMABAD, 26 January 2010 (IRIN) - Aid agencies are preparing for an influx of a possible further 150,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northwestern Pakistan in 2010, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and other agencies.

According to a 21 December OCHA map, as many as 150,000 new IDPs could pour out of the tribal areas lying along the Afghan-Pakistani border.

"As military operations continue in various areas of the northwest, there could well be new displacements in 2010 from the tribal areas, though we do not expect anything on the scale we saw from the Malakand area in May 2009,"Ariane Rummery, a spokeswoman for the UN Refugee Agency, explained.

The summer of 2009 saw the displacement of 2.3 million people at the peak of the fighting. While most of these IDPs have returned, a large number remain in camps or with host families.

IDRF Launches Mobile Text Campaign to Donate Food to Haiti Relief Efforts

Text FOOD or IDRF to 20222 to Donate $5.00 to IDRF's Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts

Toronto, ON January 22, 2010 – The International Development and Relief Foundation (www.idrf.com) is pleased to announce the launch of their Text to Donate Food for Haiti campaign in support of Haiti Disaster Relief. Canadians can make a $5.00 donation to IDRF’s efforts in Haiti by texting the word FOOD to 20222 from most Canadian cell phones. Donors will receive a message asking them to confirm their donation.

The proceeds of each text donation will be directed to support the ongoing efforts to feed the victims of the recent horrific earthquake that has left thousands dead and many more without adequate food, clean water or shelter.

“Our immediate focus is to find ways to feed the already impoverished children of Haiti,” said Dr. Cassim Degani, Chairman of the Board for the IDRF. “We hope that we can provide a fundraising solution to direct donors funds to where it is needed most, sending food for Haiti's children.”

In the past few years, IDRF Representatives in various cities across Canada have been providing tremendous assistance. They ensure that their communities are kept informed about IDRF efforts and are particularly helpful in distributing IDRF reports and literature. Their dedication and assistance has proven to be invaluable.

In an effort to build on this, and to augment IDRF presence even further, IDRF has begun the process of creating Chapters in key cities across Canada. The Chapters will be managed by a volunteer Board of Directors, consisting of community leaders.

We are delighted that our first Chapter has opened in Calgary under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Abdul Rahman. Dr. Rahman and the vibrant team of individuals who form the Board of IDRF Calgary Chapter, have a history of being actively involved with many humanitarian causes, both in Calgary and overseas, and of carrying out highly successful fundraising initiatives for worthwhile causes. IDRF has very high hopes from them.

While still in the formation stage, the Calgary Chapter was instrumental in raising substantial funds for IDRF Swat relief aid. It has now embarked upon a fundraising drives IDRF Haiti Relief aid.

We encourage everyone in Calgary, and other friends in Alberta, to join them in supporting the efforts and initiatives of IDRF Calgary Chapter

For more information about IDRF events in your community, please contact your area representative or IDRF’s Toronto Office.

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