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IDP Resettlement Watch | Updates & Discussions

All IDP need to be documented properly..... No disrespect to them, but for security and health reason its must....
 
Government says no to foreign help for N. Waziristan IDPs
ZULFIQAR ALI
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Pakistani civilians, fleeing from a military operation in North Waziristan tribal agency, arrive in Bannu district on June 18, 2014. — Photo by AFP
Updated 2014-06-19 10:27:40
PESHAWAR: As Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is bracing itself for the influx of people from North Waziristan after the launch of military offensive against militants there, the federal government is understood to have decided not to ask the United Nations and other foreign relief agencies for help and support for the internally displaced persons.

An official dealing with the ongoing relief activities told Dawn on Wednesday that the federal government had stopped the relevant agencies from receiving assistance from foreign relief bodies, including the UN.

“We (the federal government) have issued clear directives to all concerned not to ask the UN or any other bodies for relief assistance,” he said.

CM rules out army deployment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Also in the day, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak insisted the government didn’t need relief assistance from any donor agency and could help and support the North Waziristan IDPs on its own.

During a news conference here, he said there was a war-like situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the army began an operation in North Waziristan, but that was the government’s responsibility to cater to the needs of displaced population.

“There is no need to request UN and other humanitarian organisations for help. The federal and provincial governments have sufficient resources to fulfil the needs of affected people,” he said when asked if the government will seek the UN help for IDPs.

The chief minister said the provincial government had released Rs350 million for the new IDPs, the federal government Rs500 million and the Civil Secretariat, Fata Rs100 million.

He said the Fata Disaster Management Authority had set up a camp in the Frontier Region, while the Provincial Disaster Management Authority had made arrangements for IDPs in Kasho area of Bannu district.

Pervez Khattak said 70,000 fresh IDPs had been registered in the province so far and more were expected to follow.

He said all basic facilities were available at the IDPs camps but many displaced persons had opted to take shelter with relatives.

About security situation, the chief minister said the record of every displaced family was being properly maintained and that the security-related matters would be discussed during a high-level meeting today (Thursday).

He said the government had provided free transport for evacuating stranded people from Waziristan.

Pervez Khattak said the record of the displaced families, which wanted to move to other districts in the province, was also being maintained.

He said the province was the frontline province in the war on terrorism but unlike other provinces, his government won’t request the army for security.

“We trust our police and will not ask for the deployment of military troops in the province,” he said.

About relief assistance for IDPs, the chief minister said every dislocated family would get Rs7,000 per month, while the onetime Rs5,000 cash would be in addition to it for purchase of non-food items.

He said besides, free treatment would also be provided to IDPs in hospitals.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan and federal states and frontier regions minister Lt-Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch jointly reviewed arrangements for the relief and shelter of IDPs from North Waziristan during a high-level meeting here on Wednesday.

A handout issued here said the commissioner of Bannu division had been appointed the focal person for such arrangements. It said the Bannu commissioner would directly oversee arrangements for lodging IDPs, facilitating them and alleviating their difficulties.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2014
 
This is gonna be tough task for federal govt and especially KP govt. Every single IDP must be properly and strictly documented this time and their complete record should be kept for future. I hope federal and KP govt along with army will work together for this.
 
'At least 113,000 people have fled N Waziristan since initial air strikes in May'
By AFP
Published: June 19, 2014
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A family with all their belongings packed in the back of mini-truck seen in Bannu fleeing the military operation in North Waziristan tribal agency. PHOTO: AFP

BANNU: Civilians are streaming out of North Waziristan in a two-pronged exodus ahead of an expected ground assault against militants, officials said Thursday, with many crossing the border into Afghanistan.

The military is waging a long-awaited offensive against insurgents holed up in North Waziristan and began pounding targets with air raids and artillery fire on June 15.

Tanks and troops have been mobilised and are expected to begin a new, more intense phase of the operation after a three-day window to allow civilians to leave the area, due to end on June 20.

Officials say that at least 113,000 people have fled North Waziristan since initial air strikes began in May.

That represents more than a fifth of North Waziristan’s estimated total population but the true size of the exodus is likely to be even larger, as official figures only count people who register with the authorities.

Most of those escaping have gone to the town of Bannu, which neighbours North Waziristan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Arshad Khan, director general of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) Disaster Management Authority, told AFP that 51,000 people had arrived in Bannu since June 18, when a shoot-on-sight curfew was eased to allow civilians to get out.

But significant numbers have also flowed over the porous frontier into eastern Afghanistan.

“So far, an estimated 4,000 families have crossed into eastern Afghan provinces and the displacement is increasing,” an official responsible for monitoring the displacement on the Afghan border told AFP.

“Afghan authorities have yet to prepare a final report but up to now they have provided assistance to 818 Pakistani families.”

Authorities in the eastern Afghan province of Khost have set up a camp to provide displaced people with food and other essentials, the official said.

Akbar Zadran, a senior government official in Khost told AFP by telephone that 1,000 Pakistani families had been registered by Thursday while thousands more had taken shelter with the local population.

There have been fears that militants could use the cover of the civilian evacuation to slip out of North Waziristan.

Soldiers searched vehicles leaving the area on Thursday leading to long queues of vehicles waiting to get out of Miramshah, the main town of North Waziristan.

Vehicles are in short supply and owners are cashing in on the sudden demand.

“A vehicle which used to be available for 4,000 rupees now costs 40,000 rupees and even at this fare it is almost impossible to find one,” a resident waiting to move out his family told AFP in Miramshah.

A sombre atmosphere prevailed in the town as people packed up their belongings and loaded them on whatever vehicle they could find. Some were reduced to attempting the 60-kilometre journey to Bannu on foot.

The Pakistani military launched the offensive – a longstanding demand of the United States – on June 15, a week after an attack on Karachi airport killed dozens and marked the end of a troubled peace process.
 
Balochistan to prevent arrival of IDPs
By The Newspaper's Staff Correspondent
Published about 14 hours ago
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Chief Minister Dr Malik Baloch. — File photo

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has deployed more Frontier Corps troops in the area connecting the province with South Waziristan to check the influx of people fleeing North Waziristan where the military has launched an operation against militants.

A meeting held here on Wednesday and presided over by Chief Minister Dr Malik Baloch discussed the possibility of terrorist attacks in the province and measures to cope with the threat.

It revised a security plan for the provincial capital and other towns in the province.

Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad briefed the meeting on security measures adopted so far. He said security had been beefed up at all airports in the province, governor’s and chief minister’s houses, Balochistan Assembly, High Court, Civil Secretariat, railways stations and vital installations.

“Heavy contingents of security forces have been deployed at all important offices and buildings,” he said.

The meeting decided to disallow parking of vehicles, including those of ministers and MPAs, on the premises of the Balochistan Assembly. Alternative arrangements have been be made for parking.

The entry of authorised vehicles to the Civil Secretariat and parking of vehicles in Red Zone was banned.

The meeting also decided that security guards hired by ministers and MPAs must don their uniform, instead of wearing civilian clothes while on duty, and get themselves registered with the home department.

People coming to the Chief Minister Secretariat with ministers, advisers and MPAs will have to prove their identity.

The meeting was attended by Balochistan Assembly Speaker Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali, Senior Minister Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, Information Minister Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, Home Secretary Akbar Hussain and IG Mohammad Amlesh.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2014
 
Check points set up to provide administrative support to IDPs: ISPR

June 20, 2014, 2:42 pm
MIRANSHAH- The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) says check points have been established at various places to provide administrative support to internally Displaced Persons (IDP), evacuating from Miranshah and Ghulam Khan.

They are being supplied food items and medical facilities by the security forces. Meanwhile, the number of registration points has been enhanced at Saidgai post to twenty, ten each for males and females for speedy and organized evacuation. An IDP camp has also been established at Bannu.
 
Battling polio: IDPs turned back at Pak-Afghan border for refusing vaccine
By Sehrish Wasif
Published: June 20, 2014
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Polio drops are administered to a child coming from North Waziristan at q camp in Bannu. PHOTO: INP

ISLAMABAD:
Nearly 40 trucks carrying internally displaced persons (IDPs) from North Waziristan en route to Afghanistan were turned back by the Pakistan army at the Pak-Afghan border on Thursday.


Speaking with The Express Tribune, an official said the families had refused to have their children vaccinated against polio. “They have demanded that the government should first provide them with proper food and shelter before they have their children vaccinated,” the official said on the condition of anonymity. The trucks were diverted to a camp in Bannu.

The official said that it is now the provincial government’s responsibility to ensure that all IDPs entering the province are vaccinated against polio. Military officials told The Express Tribune that they hope Operation Zarb-e-Azb will enable access to children who have not received the vaccine since 2012. Vaccinations will be carried out at check posts and 20 registration centres – with ten each for men and women – have been set up, military sources said.

On the other hand, according to the Prime Minister’s Polio Cell, nearly 40,000 children have been vaccinated during the two-day Emirates Polio Campaign in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) under the UAE-Pakistan Assistance Programme (UPAP). “The target was 37,000 children and it is a positive sign that 3000 more children were also vaccinated,” said an official.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, EPI National Manger Dr Ejaz Khan said there are currently 61,000 IDPs in the Bannu camp, of which 2,930 are children. In Dera Ismail Khan, there are 740 children who have been vaccinated. Dr Khan said there are ample amounts of the polio vaccine and the federal EPI has additional stock. Two mobile medical teams have been deputed to vaccinate children against polio in the area. Dr Khan said the movement of IDPs from North Waziristan is a good sign as it is providing an opportunity to vaccinate all those children who have never been vaccinated.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2014.
 

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