PESHAWAR: A media watchdog, Freedom Network (FN), has appealed to the federal and provincial governments and military authorities to extend all possible assistance to over 30 journalists from North Waziristan tribal region who have been displaced from their homes in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) following the launch of military operation.

“We are worried for the safety and wellbeing of these journalists and call upon the civilian and military authorities to help mitigate the sufferings of these tribal journalists,” FN, Pakistan’s first media watchdog monitoring freedom of press and freedom of expression, said in a statement here on Sunday.

The federal government has announced special relief package for the nearly half a million internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had to leave North Waziristan Agency to avoid casualties. However, no specific relief has been announced for the journalists.

FN said that all journalists – 32 registered members of North Waziristan Agency chapter of Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ) – left the tribal agency after authorities “advised” them to leave as their security “is not guaranteed” following the operation announced by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on June 15, 2014.

“Both the civilian and military authorities should announce relief package for families of these journalists who are still working in Bannu district to inform the nation of the ground situation inside North Waziristan,” adds the FN statement.

“The battle against extremism cannot be won without media and as facilitators of access to information the region’s displaced media practitioners deserve special attention of the authorities and should be urgently helped.”

Noor Behram, president of TUJ’s North Waziristan chapter, told FN that no assistance had come so far from any side for his colleagues living outside North Waziristan as IDPs. “No help has arrived nor has been pledged so far,” he said by phone from Bannu.

“We need financial help to pay rent, buy kitchen items and get clothes for children and women who have left everything in their homes as local authorities forced a swift evacuation on security grounds towards safer places,” Mr Behram said.

FN has also expressed concern at the inadequate arrangements to facilitate tribal and other journalists stationed in Bannu and doing public service under difficult circumstances by covering the military operations from outside North Waziristan.

“No media centre has been set up in Bannu where the national and international media is working in dismal conditions to report one of the biggest military operations against the Taliban and al-Qaeda militants,” Mr Behram said.

FN has also appealed to the employers and media houses to announce special relief package for their staff from North Waziristan Agency and their families who, as IDPs themselves, have been facing difficult economic challenges. It said that the relief could be in the shape of rent and ration cover for at least three months as well as salaries paid in time for at least this duration.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2014