Pakistan: IDPs At Risk

The United Nations Refugee Agency has expressed concerns over the possible outbreak of diseases among the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) currently residing in Bannu and other parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The sudden influx of over 500,000 people in Bannu alone within two weeks has been overwhelming for responsible authorities and ministries, to say the least. Very few people are staying at the camps set up by the government. Most are either living with relatives, renting houses, or staying in schools which are temporarily available due to summer vacations. Due to the absence of proper medical services, sanitation facilities, portable water, and unhealthy living conditions, the IDPs are facing serious risks.

Time is of the essence. There is plenty that is required and it has to be delivered as soon as possible. Accommodation is just one aspect of the larger problem. The IDPs need a consistent supply of basic necessities such as food, household items, medicine and clothes. Currently, 1,209 schools are occupied by them. Where will they go once the next session begins in a few months? Those currently staying with relatives are definitely not in a sustainable position either. Alternatives need to be developed fast. A weak local infrastructure and limited government resources cannot be expected to cope with the situation.

The government needs all the help it can get. This is certainly no time for chest beating and making false claims of being self-sufficient. A visit to Bannu makes it quite clear that things are neither well nor are they heading in the right direction. Perhaps while the government mobilises local resources, it should also facilitate NGOs and international aid organisations in playing their part. This crisis will not end in a day or two. That is not to suggest that they be given a free hand to do as they see fit. Instead, a mechanism should be evolved to enable co-operation between the government and NGOs. Even if we miraculously tackle the immediate challenges all by ourselves, there are many phases that lie ahead such as the rehabilitation of people once they return to the piles of debris they once called home.