Ministry of Environment in collaboration with national and international agencies will launch the first phase of "TAHAFUZ-Together in Emergency for Health, Family and Environment," for 5,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Mardan, costing Rs 4 million. This was revealed by Kamran Lashari, Secretary Ministry of Environment, while addressing a press conference here on Friday. Lashari said that the launch of the first phase of the TAHAFUZ initiative will initially cater to the emergency needs of 5,000 IDPs in the coming week. He said that after the success of first phase the Ministry will launch the second phase in which 10,000 IDPs will be facilitated. Sharing the details he said that the agencies including UNICEF, RSPN, WSP, Water Aid and Plan International have launched "TAHAFUZ" in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment to meet emergency needs of water, sanitation and hygiene of IDPs. Developed on the directives of Federal Minister of Environment, Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi, he said that TAHAFUZ is an integrated approach, encompassing access to safe drinking water, safe disposal of solid waste, safe defecation practices and improved hygiene conditions for the families to minimise the risk of water and sanitation related outbreaks. "TAHAFUZ also seeks to create local employment opportunities through cash for work for IDPs", said Lashari. He informed media persons that the Minister of Environment has sent a team of senior officers to assess their needs, so that more assistance for this programme may be sought from the partner agencies for helping the IDPs. He said that the Minister would be visiting the IDPs camps on Monday to formally launch the programme. Lashari said that TAHAFUZ model is designed to reach out to all IDPs and service providers by disseminating basic minimal standards of water, sanitation and hygiene services as per international standards and national sanitation policy. He said that we would extend this programme with the assistance of the partners including the development agencies and corporate sector. He said that Ministry of Environment has the mandate for provision of sanitation and hygiene facilities that is why this area has been selected. Lashari said that through development of further partnerships, TAHAFUZ can be replicated to reach out to all IDPs in Frontier Province. "This initiative focuses both on the service provision and awareness amongst IDPs about water and sanitation issues" added Lashari. Secretary Environment also announced that all officials of the Ministry have donated one day's salary to help out IDPs. He said that the Ministry encourages individuals, organisations, corporate sector and others to join hands with TAHAFUZ through generous contributions in cash or kind. Contributions can be deposited in Ministry of Environment's Account No 6494-2, in National Bank of Pakistan, Melody Branch, Islamabad. Answering a question about initiatives Ministry of Environment has taken in the federal capital for the IDPs, Lashari replied that soon it will launch a campaign in collaboration with Capital Development Authority (CDA). On the occasion Ministry of Environment launched Biodegradable bags campaign. These bags will be used in TAHAFUZ, Lashari added.