After the failure of the Swat peace deal in April 2009, military operations in Swat, Buner, and Lower Dir intensified, causing the second and bigger wave of displaced people from these districts to cross into the safer adjoining districts of Peshawar, Swabi, and Mardan. As of 6 July 2009, the number of IDP families residing in camps was 24,761 and 236,988 families living in host communities. The total number of IDPs, in and outside camps was around 1.8 million, out of which approximately 20% or 366,000 are children aged 5-11 years old. All these newly displaced children, in addition to the un-served children of the first displacement, need to be reached with education services.
The current insecurity has not only displaced people and disrupted children’s education it has also caused heavy destruction and damage to school facilities in areas of active crisis, as well as the adjacent hosting districts.In the crisis affected areas of Malakand Division, 231 (primary and secondary) schools, including 147 girls’ schools have been fully destroyed during the crisis and another 185 schools have suffered partial damage, depriving more than 14,000 girls of their education rights. More schools continue to be reported partially or completely damaged in various other districts of Malakand.Denmark has granted USD 12 million (DKK 60 million) to UNICEF’s efforts to provide education for children affected by the crisis in KPK as well as - when the situation allows it – the FATA. These girls and boys that have been affected by conflict and are highly vulnerable and without proper schooling the risk of both poverty and radicalism increases. The assistance will contribute to rebuild the 473 schools that have been entirely or partially destroyed during the conflict. The four outputs of this component will include: (i) Rehabilitation/repair of existing schools, (ii) “Back to School” campaigns, (iii) teacher’s development, and (iv) special education and re-integration of 14-18 year old children.
The component intervention will be a continuation of the support of DKK 10 million given in 2009 under the Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan, mainly targeting Malakand (Swat district) and providing educational services for returning IDPs.The present target will be the FATA region where recovery is needed for returning IDPs following the past military operations in the areas. Support provided will be a coherent approach to educational services, re-establishment of delivery of existing basic facilities and services, and enhancement of educational services to vulnerable groups, especially girls.