51109 Pakistan Release And List

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contacts: Tawana Jacobs (202-552-6534 or [email protected]) Nasserie Carew (202-552-6561 or [email protected])

NGO Contacts: Jim Bishop (202-552-6524 or [email protected]) Elizabeth Bellardo (202-552-6566 or [email protected])

InterAction Members Respond to the Crisis in Pakistan Washington, DC (May 11, 2009)—The recent fighting between the Pakistani government and Taliban militants in the Lower Dir, Buner and Swat regions of northwest Pakistan has triggered a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation and as many as 200,000 people have been displaced in the last four days. People are continuing to flee to camps and are seeking shelter with friends and relatives. According to some estimates, new displacement over the next week—in addition to a half million pre-existing displaced persons—could bring the total number of dislocated people in this region of Pakistan up to 1.3 million in 2009. InterAction member organizations are providing shelter, health care, clean water and sanitation, food and education.

### A regularly updated list of agencies responding will be available at: www.interaction.org/pakistan InterAction has also developed guidelines on the most appropriate ways to help those affected by overseas disasters: http://www.interaction.org/disaster/guide_giving.html. InterAction is a coalition of more than 175 US-based private relief, international development and refugee assistance organizations. InterAction members have agreed to abide by a set of standards to ensure accountability to donors, professional competence and quality of service.

ORGANIZATIONS RESPONDING TO THE CRISIS IN PAKISTAN

ActionAid International Pakistan Humanitarian Relief 1420 K Street NW, Suite 900 Washington, DC 20005 1-202-327-9924 www.actionaidusa.org American Refugee Committee Pakistan Emergency Response Fund Donor Service Center NW 5618, P.O. Box 1450 Minneapolis, MN 55485 1-800-875-7060 www.ARCrelief.org AmeriCares 88 Hamilton Avenue Stamford, CT 06902 800-486-4357 www.AmeriCares.org CARE Emergency Relief Fund (US082) CARE Gift Center PO Box 1871 Merrifield, VA 22116-9753 800-521-2273 www.care.org Christian Reformed World Relief Committee Pakistan Relief 2009 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue, SE Grand Rapids, MI 49560-0600 1-800-55-CRWRC www.crwrc.org Church World Service Pakistan Crisis 2009 28606 Phillips Street PO Box 968 Elkhart, IN, 46515 1-800-297-1516 www.churchworldservice.org Concern Worldwide US 104 East 40th Street, Suite 903 New York, New York 10016 212-557-8000

www.concernusa.org Direct Relief International 27 South La Patera Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93117 1- 805-964-4767 www.DirectRelief.org Food for the Hungry Pakistan Relief 1224 East Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85034 1-800-248-6437 www.fh.org Friends of the World Food Program Attn: Development 1819 L Street NW Suite 900 Washington, DC 20036 1-866-929-1694 http://www.friendsofwfp.org International Medical Corps 1919 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 400 Santa Monica, CA 90404 1-800-481-4462 www.imcwoldwide.org International Relief Teams Pakistani Refugees 3560 Alvarado Canyon Rd, Suite 2G San Diego, CA 92120 619-284-7979 www.irteams.org International Rescue Committee PO Box 96651 Washington, DC 20090-6651 1-877 REFUGEE or 1-877-733-8433 www.theIRC.org/emergencyfund LIFE for Relief and Development 17300 W. 10 Mile Road P.O. Box 236 Southfield, MI 48037 1-800-827-3543 www.lifeusa.org

Mercy Corps Pakistan Emergency Response Dept NR P.O. Box 2669 Portland, OR 97208 1-800-852-2100 www.mercycorps.org Relief International Pakistan Emergency Response 5455 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1280 Los Angeles, CA 90036 1-310-478-1200 www.ri.org Save the Children Pakistani Children in Crisis Appeal 54 Wilton Road Westport, CT 06880 1-800-728-3843

www.savethechildren.org United Methodist Committee on Relief International Disaster Response Pakistan #982450 PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087 1-800-554-8583 www.umcor.org World Vision P.O. Box 9716 Federal Way, WA 98063 1-888-56-CHILD www.worldvision.org

DETAILS OF ASSISTANCE BEING PROVIDED

ActionAid International www.actionaidusa.org/pakistan 1420 K Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005 / 1-202-327-9924 Designate “Pakistan Humanitarian Relief” (May 11, 2009) ActionAid is providing immediate relief in the form of food, water, medical supplies and sanitation facilities. We are assessing medium on long-term needs, such as helping families secure copies of their registration documents which many families left behind when they fled but which are strictly required by the government. We are also trying to meet the needs for clothing and shelter. For the many women and children displaced there are concerns of increased sexual violence and exploitation. The capacity of cities to absorb these people has been increasingly exhausted, leading to ever greater competition for scarce resources and livelihood opportunities. ActionAid will continue to provide relieft while working for long-term solutions. AmeriCares www.AmeriCares.org 88 Hamilton Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902 / 1-800-486-4357 (May 11, 2009) AmeriCares is preparing an emergency shipment of medicines and supplies for delivery this week to help people displaced by the recent fighting in northwestern Pakistan. The shipment includes surgical sutures, safety syringes, gloves and iodine-based disinfectants needed for safe surgeries and wound care. Antibacterial and antifungal agents that prevent the spread of disease, pain relievers and medications for people with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension, will also be included. As the violence between the government and Taliban militants intensifies, it is estimated that as many as 1.3 million civilians will be forced to flee their homes. In January, AmeriCares delivered a shipment containing more than 380,000 syringes to Islamabad – 200,000 of which were sent to the Swat Valley, where they are being used in hospitals and clinics treating civilians wounded in the conflict. For more information, visit www.AmeriCares.org American Refugee Committee www.ARCrelief.org Donor Service Center NW 5618, P.O. Box 1450 Minneapolis, MN 55485 / 1-800-875-7060 Designate “Pakistan Emergency Response Fund” (May 11, 2009) The American Refugee Committee (ARC) is accepting cash donations to assist victims of the violence in Pakistan. Donations will provide displaced people in North-West Frontier Province with access to medical care and supplies, immunizations, clean water, hygiene kits, latrines and sanitation systems. ARC has an existing presence in the region and has provided similar response services during several emergencies in the region, including the Earthquake of 2005 and Cyclone Yemyin. Visit www.ARCrelief.org for information on ARC and to make a tax-deductible donation. CARE www.care.org Emergency Relief Fund (US082) CARE Gift Center PO Box 1871 Merrifield, VA 22116-9753 800-5212273 (May 11, 2009) CARE will respond to the crisis in Pakistan with life-saving supplies alongside and through other agencies who are providing food, water, non-food items and shelter. CARE operates in nearly 70 countries fighting poverty with an emphasis on empowering women to bring about positive change. Christian Reformed World Relief Committee www.crwrc.org 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue, SE Grand Rapids, MI 49560-0600 / 1-800-55-CRWRC Designate “Pakistan Relief 2009” (May 11, 2009) CRWRC is beginning a $10,000 response to displaced persons in IDP camps with nonfood items through partners in Islamabad. Church World Service www.churchworldservice.org 28606 Phillips Street, PO Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515 / 1-800-297-1516 Designate “Pakistan Crisis 2009”

(May 11, 2009) Church World Service staff on the ground are moving response teams and relief items into the affected area to meet the needs of those who are in makeshift camps--thousands in small refuges where no sustainable food, shelter, water or hygiene is available. CWS has already distributed 250 food packages and 190 shelter kits; further distributions are planned. Church World Service has been active in Pakistan for more than 50 years, with programs in disaster management, capacity building, development and assistance for displaced people. The agency's Pakistan offices served as a lead agency in recovery following the country's massive 2005 earthquake. Concern Worldwide US www.concernusa.org 104 East 40th Street, Suite 903, New York, New York 10016 / 212-557-8000 (May 11, 2009) Concern Worldwide is responding to the current crisis in Pakistan by supporting the most vulnerable displaced families - those who are not in camps but are staying with local communities. Concern Worldwide has been working in Pakistan since 2001 and is working with one of our established local partner organizations to deliver household items to affected families in Mardan district. Concern Worldwide is accessing its emergency in-country supply of hygiene kits, jerry cans and ground-sheets and distributing this to an initial 1,200 families. Concern Worldwide is planning to distribute a wider set of supplies (ground sheets, hygiene kits, jerry cans, mosquito nets and kitchen sets) to a total of 2,000 families. Direct Relief International www.DirectRelief.org 27 South La Patera Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93117 1- 805-964-4767 (May 11, 2009) Direct Relief International will be supporting our partner healthcare organizations throughout Pakistan who are receiving an increased number of patients due to the civil conflict caused by the Taliban’s recent expansion in the SWAT valley. Direct Relief has provided more than $14 million in humanitarian medical aid and grants to Pakistan following the 2005 earthquake, and has developed strong relationships with healthcare providers there. Food for the Hungry www.fh.org 1224 East Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034 / 1-800-248-6437 (May 11, 2009) Food for the Hungry is working with partners on the ground we have established relationships with from past relief work in Pakistan, including a large-scale response to the Pakistan earthquake in October 2005. Food for the Hungry is serving and providing relief to the Sikhs families displaced from Swat, Buner, and Orakzai Agency due to the conflict in the region. Friends of the World Food Program http://www.friendsofwfp.org Attn: Development 1819 L Street NW Suite 900 Washington, DC 20036 1-866-929-1694 (May 11, 2009) Friends of WFP is a U.S.-based, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that focuses on building support in the United States for the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and other hunger relief operations. In the wake of fighting in Pakistan, the United Nations World Food Program is preparing to feed as many as one million displaced people in targeted areas. The government estimates that 150,000-200,000 people have already arrived in safer areas over the last few days and another 300,000 are on the move or about to move. WFP-managed Humanitarian Hubs (extended food delivery points) have been increased from 11 to 15, and three additional hubs will be open early next week. International Medical Corps www.imcwoldwide.org 1919 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 400, Santa Monica, CA 90404, 1-800-481-4462 (May 8, 2009) International Medical Corps emergency response teams are on the ground delivering critical services and supplies to the displaced population of Swat Valley. Primary health care services are being delivered throughout the camps along with maternal and child health care and health and hygiene education. The teams will also be implementing water and sanitation and psychosocial support services. International Medical Corps have distributed 100 health and hygiene kits. Emergency health kits and medicines have been secured and are being transported. International Medical Corps has worked in Pakistan since 1984 and is also providing services to 50,000 people who were displaced in August 2008 in Peshawar, Nowshehra, Charsadda, and Lower Dir. International Relief Teams www.irteams.org

3560 Alvarado Canyon Rd, Suite 2G, San Diego, CA 92120 / 619-284-7979 (May 11, 2009) International Relief Teams is providing emergency medicines and supplies to refugees fleeing the Swat Valley. These supplies will be distributed by in-country partners at the refugee camps being set up by the Pakistani government. International Rescue Committee www.theIRC.org/emergencyfund PO Box 96651 Washington, DC 20090-6651 1-877 REFUGEE or 1-877-733-8433 (May 11, 20009) The International Rescue Committee, which has been providing humanitarian aid in Pakistan for 28 years, began assisting a wave of internally displaced people (IDPs) from Bajaur and Mohmand in November of last year. Since then, our teams have aided some 600,000 IDPs -- providing water, sanitation and education services in two camps and working with UNHCR and Pakistan's government to register IDPs, improve access to emergency assistance and safeguard their rights. Additional IRC aid teams are now working in new camps set up for people recently displaced from Dir, Buner and Swat in the districts of Swabi and Mardan and will be stepping up water, sanitation and education programs in these areas as well as camps in Nowshera and Charsadda. The IRC will also be extending humanitarian relief services to vulnerable IDPs in North West Frontier Province who have not found refuge in camps, and make up the majority of displaced people in Pakistan. LIFE for Relief and Development www.lifeusa.org 17300 W. 10 Mile Road, P.O. Box 236, Southfield, MI 48037, 1-800-827-3543 (January 5, 2009) LIFE for Relief and Development has been working in the NWFP of Pakistan since 2001. LIFE is providing emergency assistance to IDP's which includes tents, blankets, food, potable water, medicines and medical supplies. Mercy Corps http://www.mercycorps.org/countries/pakistan Dept NR, P.O. Box 2669, Portland, OR 97208, 1-800-852-2100. Designate “Pakistan Emergency Response” (May 11, 2009) The global relief and development agency Mercy Corps has dispatched an emergency assessment team to Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province. Fighting has forced an estimated 500,000 people to flee their homes into camps where there is an urgent need for basic supplies such as food, water and shelter. Mercy Corps’ three-member assessment team has been deployed to determine where the needs are greatest, and to start delivering emergency supplies as soon as possible. Mercy Corps has worked in Pakistan since 1986. Relief International www.ri.org 5455 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1280, Los Angeles, CA 90036, 1-310-478-1200. Designate “Pakistan Emergency Response” (May 11, 2009) Relief International (RI) is responding to meet the needs of 15000 IDP families in NWFP, Pakistan arriving from Swat Valley by rapidly expanding its current emergency program. Our efforts are striving to ensure the displaced are able to afford housing in host communities via rental grants and to earn income with short term opportunities on community improvement projects. RI's efforts will provide Swat Valley families the ability to live with dignity and safety in this critical period. RI has implemented relief and development programs in Pakistan since 2005, demonstrably improving community welfare through community redevelopment. RI’s NWFP office supports emergency food distribution, temporary work and shelter, medical response, and other life-saving assistance Save the Children http://www.savethechildren.org/newsroom/2009/pakistan-dp.html 54 Wilton Road, Westport, CT 06880, 1-800-728-3843. Designate “Pakistani Children in Crisis Appeal” (May 9, 2009) Save the Children has launched a broad relief effort to assist children and families forced from their homes by intensified fighting in Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province. The agency — as part of a coordinated response and in partnership with the government of NWFP and local authorities — will be working to ensure that children and families affected by the crisis receive emergency assistance, including health services and hygiene and household supplies. It also will work to provide protection and education programs for children in camps or temporary shelter.

United Methodist Committee on Relief www.umcor.org International Disaster Response Pakistan #982450, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087 1-800-554-8583 (May 11, 2009) UMCOR is working through its partner Muslim Aid to provide tents, water and non food items for displaced people living in camps. World Vision www.worldvision.org P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063, 1-888-56-CHILD (May 11, 2009) World Vision has finished its preliminary assessments from the Jalala camp in Mardan and the Chota Lahore camp in Swabi and this week will begin distributing non-food items such as pots, pans and cooking supplies to families in need in both the camps and the host communities. The aid agency has set up a temporary office in Peshawar, the provincial capital of the Northwest Frontier Province, in order to be closer to the camps and respond quickly. Additional relief efforts will be focused on food, water and adequate shelter for the displaced.