Pakistan's Strategy to defeat militants: Treat IDPS like Piece of Trash

[raju]

IN contrast to the aid made available for the Swat IDPs, the state appears to have forgotten about the internally displaced from Bajaur Agency. Accommodated in Kacha Garhi camps 1 and 2, established in September last year, thousands of people seem virtually abandoned. The camp administrations requests to the relevant authorities in terms of requisitioning new tents, since those distributed 14 months ago are now unusable, have gone unheeded, as have pleas for adequate water and sanitation facilities. Camp residents complain that the food aid provided to large families has been slashed by half, and monies promised under the Benazir Income Support Programme were only disbursed once during the past nine months. Further, they oppose the proposed shifting of the camps to Jalozai, which they say has far fewer facilities.

This shameful situation begs the question of whether the IDPs of Bajaur are somehow less than equal citizens of the country. The lack of response from the private and public sectors could be attributed to the onset of crisis-fatigue in a country battered by militancy and terrorism; if so, this only makes the Bajaur IDPs situation more grievous. With winter setting in, all possible aid must be provided to these families. Secondly, it is time to realise that the country is in for the long haul in terms of the battle against terrorism. Recent reports have indicated that the tentacles of the militants have spread far wider than previously thought, and the theatre of war too may widen. There is therefore a possibility that people may be displaced from other areas such as North Waziristan and southern Punjab. It may be useful to create a humanitarian agency tasked specifically with aiding the countrys internally displaced. It is time to stop dealing with the IDP issue on a case-to-case basis.

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect...provinces/11-have-they-been-forgotten--il--04

 

[raju]

Katcha Garhi IDPs oppose relocation to Jalozai camp



Monday, November 16, 2009
Bureau report

PESHAWAR: Inmates of Katcha Garhi camp for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Bajaur Agency and a member of the National Assembly from the agency have opposed a proposed move to close down the facility and shift them to Jalozai camp in Nowshera.

The makeshift Katcha Garhi camp was set up after the first military operation in Bajaur tribal region in August 2008. Presently more than 2,000 families are residing in the camp.Sources at the Afghan Commissionerate told The News that a meeting of the camp authorities, political agents of the tribal agencies concerned and provincial government officials a few days back decided to close down the camp at Katcha Garhi and shift its inmates to Jalozai.

Member of the National Assembly from Bajaur Agency and parliamentary secretary for telecommunication authority Shaukatullah expressed his reservation over the proposed decision and said the move would add to the miseries of the tribal people who have already suffered badly due to the long spell of militancy and successive military operations.

Talking to The News, Shaukatullah said the tribesmen from Bajaur had suffered a lot but the government paid little attention to them. “It was due to the indifferent attitude of the government that all the elected representatives and ministers from the tribal areas tendered resignations a few months back,” Shaukatullah said.

He was of the view that displaced from their native areas — the victims of the prevailing unrest in Bajaur — had hardly accommodated themselves with the alien environment and hard situation at the makeshift camp in Katcha Ghari.

“Now that Eidul Azha is drawing near and winter season has just set in, the decision to shift the displaced families from Katcha Garhi to Jalozai would add to their miseries,” he added.Shaukatullah said it was almost impossible for the affected people to accept the decision. He urged the government to review the decision keeping in view the difficulties of the IDPs.

The dwellers of the camp have also expressed concern over the proposed decision, demanding of the government to avoid creating more problems for them. Mir Alam Khan, a resident of the camp, said they had become familiar with things in and around the camp, while at Jalozai they would have to start “another life” in refuge.

He said it was unjust to force the tribal people to shift from one place to another. He said they should be allowed to spend the winter season in the camp. Kamaluddin said the government, instead of creating more problems for them, should focus attention on bringing normality to their region so that they could return to their homes instead of moving from one camp to another.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=208794

 

[raju]

Bajaur IDPs torch tents in protest



Tuesday, June 29, 2010
By Mushtaq Paracha

NOWSHERA: The internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Bajaur Agency here on Monday torched nine tents in protest against the unfair distribution of relief goods among the affected people residing in the Jalozai camp.

Sources said scores of the IDPs from Bajaur staged the protest inside the Jalozai camp against what they said the unfair distribution of relief items and depriving the IDPs of assistance.

The sources added that the protesters chanted slogans against the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Pak Community Development Programme (CDP) and the CRD.

The protesting IDPs said the CDP and the CRD had prepared fake lists in Phase-9 in the Jalozai camp and relief items were being given to the undeserving people. The enraged protesters later set ablaze nine tents and asked the government to order probe against the camp in-charge and other staff for their involvement in nepotism and malpractices.

Talking to reporters, the camp in-charge, Arbab Arshad, said stern action would be taken against all those involved in preparation of bogus lists and their job contract would be cancelled as well.

http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=247887

 

[furry87]

haha well said raju ...there can be no escape from this , and dare i say it the consequences of this will be catastrophic ... watch the drama unfold

 

[Islamabadi1]

With winter setting in, all possible aid must be provided to these families

What kind of non sense is this? We are in June? Where the hell is "Winter setting in " ? Does WInter set in June in Bajaur? At least have the decency to look at what you are writing....