The IDPs in our conflict-ridden tribal areas have been largely forgotten and badly neglected. This became even more obvious last week as clashes broke out between police and the IDPs at a food distribution point in Bannu. Most of the IDPs in Bannu have been forced to move there because of the military operation in their home areas of North Waziristan, a territory from which around one million have been displaced since Operation Zarb-e-Azb began in June this year. Their situation since then has deteriorated and the incidents seen at the sports centre in Bannu, where trucks carrying food were looted, demonstrates the extent of their desperation. There have been previous reports that the IDPs are not receiving sufficient assistance and stand in queues for many hours to obtain meagre rations of food or other aid. Fourteen policemen and 13 IDPs were injured at Bannu when police began a baton charge to try and disperse IDPs as the situation around the food trucks became more and more unruly.
The issue of the IDPs has been taken up strongly by the ANP, the chief opposition party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The party has accused both the federal government and the PTI-led provincial government of failing to do enough for displaced persons who have nowhere to turn to for help. Asfandyar Wali Khan, the head of the ANP, has stated that it was clear no one cared about the lives the IDPs were living and that their problems needed to be addressed by Imran Khan and his government. The ANP has also pointed out that this concern has not been taken up at any point during the PTI’s prolonged sit ins. It is quite obvious that the IDPs need more help. Reports from international humanitarian agencies state there is a severe shortage of funds to provide them the aid that they need. It is also especially worrying that these people remain away from their homes, sheltering in many cases in inadequate housing at camps or with host families, even as winter approaches. The bitter climate of the north in these months will add to their misery and also create more hardship for their hosts. The state in which we have allowed the IDPs to live in is a reflection on our performance as a society. More organisations need to be brought in to assist them at this time. It is after all not the fault of these men, women and children that they have been forced to vacate their homes. Most do not know when they will be able to return to them or what condition they will find them in. The problem of IDPs has continued for far too long; it is time we directed more attention towards them.
- See more at: http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-8-284769-Forgotten-people#sthash.W9wXg66m.dpuf
Monday, November 17, 2014
Pakistan: The IDPs - Forgotten people
The IDPs in our conflict-ridden tribal areas have been largely forgotten and badly neglected. This became even more obvious last week as clashes broke out between police and the IDPs at a food distribution point in Bannu. Most of the IDPs in Bannu have been forced to move there because of the military operation in their home areas of North Waziristan, a territory from which around one million have been displaced since Operation Zarb-e-Azb began in June this year. Their situation since then has deteriorated and the incidents seen at the sports centre in Bannu, where trucks carrying food were looted, demonstrates the extent of their desperation. There have been previous reports that the IDPs are not receiving sufficient assistance and stand in queues for many hours to obtain meagre rations of food or other aid. Fourteen policemen and 13 IDPs were injured at Bannu when police began a baton charge to try and disperse IDPs as the situation around the food trucks became more and more unruly.
The issue of the IDPs has been taken up strongly by the ANP, the chief opposition party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The party has accused both the federal government and the PTI-led provincial government of failing to do enough for displaced persons who have nowhere to turn to for help. Asfandyar Wali Khan, the head of the ANP, has stated that it was clear no one cared about the lives the IDPs were living and that their problems needed to be addressed by Imran Khan and his government. The ANP has also pointed out that this concern has not been taken up at any point during the PTI’s prolonged sit ins. It is quite obvious that the IDPs need more help. Reports from international humanitarian agencies state there is a severe shortage of funds to provide them the aid that they need. It is also especially worrying that these people remain away from their homes, sheltering in many cases in inadequate housing at camps or with host families, even as winter approaches. The bitter climate of the north in these months will add to their misery and also create more hardship for their hosts. The state in which we have allowed the IDPs to live in is a reflection on our performance as a society. More organisations need to be brought in to assist them at this time. It is after all not the fault of these men, women and children that they have been forced to vacate their homes. Most do not know when they will be able to return to them or what condition they will find them in. The problem of IDPs has continued for far too long; it is time we directed more attention towards them.
- See more at: http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-8-284769-Forgotten-people#sthash.W9wXg66m.dpuf
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