A report released by a think tank has drawn attention to the plight of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan Agency.
The 22-page report issued by Zalan Communications was launched on Tuesday at an event attended by tribal leaders, civil society representatives and aid organisations. It draws attention to some of the major issues and challenges the displaced population is facing.
As part of the research, Zalan Communications had established a call centre in collaboration with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) aimed at helping with coordinating relief efforts. Therefore, the findings of this report are based on insights received from over 10,000 IDPs who contacted the organisation.
According to the report, the political standoff between the government, the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has led politicians to ignore the plight of the displaced population. It added that in the absence of a specified time period for the conclusion of Operation Zarb e-Azb it is unlikely that any long-term strategy can be introduced to address the problems of displaced people.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, North Waziristan IDPs Qaumi Committee Chairman Nisar Ali Khan Dawar said the people of North Waziristan have been forced to vacate their homes and are facing numerous problems.
He urged the government to adopt a serious attitude towards the IDPs and provide them with food and shelter – particularly during the winter. Furthermore, he asked the government to provide proper education facilities to the children of the IDPs. Pakistan Muslim League-
Nawaz MNA Marvi Memon said that a total of Rs 2.7 billion has been distributed among IDPs from the agency. While the federal government is playing its part, law and order, education and health come under the provincial government, she added.
She asked the provincial government to devote funds from the 1% of federal divisible pool for the province for the welfare of IDPs.
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