Pakistan: Registration of Waziristan IDPs underway

The registration of the tribesmen displaced by the military operation in North Waziristan is continuing as the IDPs (internally displaced persons) are approaching the registration points in large numbers to get themselves registered and the consequent shifting to the relief camps, setup around the agency.

The district administration has made adequate arrangements for ensuring clean drinking water, fans, electricity, washrooms and others basic necessities of life at IDPs camps and registration Centres. It is noted that most of IDPs preferred to stay with the relatives in parts of the province while some hired rented houses in Bannu district after their registration at the check post and registration points.

According to officials details, the curfew was relaxed for Mir Ali and Razmak tehsils of the agency, enabling the locals to get themselves registered at the specified points and their shifting to safer places. The curfew would be relaxed for Ghulam Khan and Miranshah tehsils on June 19 (Thursday) to enable local tribesmen to shift to government relief camps and registration.

Similarly on June 20, the local tribesmen of tehsil Datakhel and rehsil Boya will be allowed to move towards relief camps and others safer places during relaxation of curfew. So far, over 8000 families comprising over 70,0000 individuals have moved out of North Waziristan agency to the relief camps.

Some of the IDPs preferred to stay in mosques and hujras of local influential people. The officials said most of the IDPs have opted to hire houses on rent and a such the rent of the houses in Bannu district have jumped to Rs 30,000 from Rs 5000. Due to lack of transport facilities in the curfew-hit areas, the tribesmen are moving towards safer places by foot.