Renewed fighting between the Government of Pakistan (GOP) and militant groups in the Federally-administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Swat District in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province has resulted in widespread displacement and insecurity. Due to the ongoing military operation, in excess of 500,000 people are expected to be displaced from the SWAT valley in May 2009.

Large numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) are now residing in temporary camps in the North-West areas of the country. Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Kohat, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Charsadda, Swat, and Swabi districts are all affected. The major challenge is to provide housing, sanitation, water supply and medical care to these IDPs.

CBM’s strategic Partner CHEF (Comprehensive Health & Education Forum) International is experienced in the implementation of emergency projects in cooperation with other international and national organisations including the UN High Commission for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Health Organization.

Pakistan is a focal country for CBM and the objective of CHEF will now be to provide healthcare services on an emergency basis to IDPs, with a particular emphasis on the needs of persons with disabilities, through screening, identification, awareness-raising and networking with other service providers. The aim is to identify a minimum of 5000 persons with disabilities.

CBM has also committed to fund CHEF to meet this objective through specific services such as include outpatient services for children, women and the elderly, medicines, first aid, psychosocial counselling and referral, as well as facilitating access to services for persons with disabilities.