Woes of IDPs

Published February 28, 2014

THE federal cabinet has decided to conduct targeted operations against the terrorists in North Waziristan Agency; the process of negotiations will continue simultaneously…. The government has also taken some decisions for the … rehabilitation of IDPs. The decisions were taken at a time when the fire of terrorism has engulfed almost all the main cities and Fata…. Attempts at negotiations with the TTP also seem futile…. As a result, there has been [bombing in the militants’ area]. The government claims to have killed many terrorists … in parts of North Waziristan and destroyed a centre where teenagers were trained for suicide bombings.

The bombardment has also forced the local people to migrate from their villages to safer places... . About 40,000 families have so far shifted from Mir Ali, Miramshah and other areas…. The people have been complaining of non-availability of food and other items of urgent use including ... drinking water. The people are in search of shelter and many have been put up with relatives and friends but [they] too will be unable to continue support to the IDPs … due to their limited resources. ...[T]he government has formed a committee … to supervise the process of IDP welfare. This is the right decision at the right time…. … — (Feb 27)

Selected and translated by Ali Hazrat Bacha.

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