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The ongoing militancy in Swat and the operation against the militants in the area has resulted in
insurmountable hardships for a huge population of the area. The Islamic militants have imposed
their own version of Islamic rules and regulations. But in reality they are the usurpers. They have
occupied their houses, property and other places of public. The Army has come for their rescue. But
after the lapse of two long years the strongest military in the Muslim world has yet to show the
results. Frustrations and disappointments compelled the population of the area to move to the safer
places of NWFP.
After the collapse of the peace deal once again the region was caught in the crossfire. The
controversial peace deal gave an opportunity to the militants reorganize and regroup. They expand
their influence to District Buner, Shangla, Dir upper and Dir lower. They openly challenged
the writ of the government and started militant activities in these areas. The recent counter
insurgency stance of the government was welcomed by the liberals and opinion makers of the
society.
The newly launched military operation resulted in huge migration of masses to down districts of the
province and other parts of the country. One million displacements have been taken place. Majority
of the people have shifted to district Mardan, Nawshera, Peshawar, Charsada and Swabi.
 For those people who migrated during the previous military operations the
government established 11 camps in various part of the province while for the current crisis
the government has established 8 more camps. It is very difficult for the displaced persons to
locate the camps. There is no proper arrangements to take these IDPs to the camps .Some
efforts are being made in this direction. Disastrous Response Network a consortium of five
organizations has published a pamphlet carrying the information regarding the camps and
registration points. There are international and national humanitarian agencies providing
early relief to the IDPs but the support mechanism developed by government is weaker and
irresponsive.
The government has established a crisis cell in the provincial headquarters but the responsible
persons are still unknown. The provincial relief commissioner has 06 staff members in his office
while 92 key positions are still lying vacant. Thus activities in the camps are slow and need
immediate attention. The camps are over burdened. Water and sanitation facilities are not
available. Readymade food is provided to the IDPs is less in quantity. Children are under trauma
and need special attention but there is no special arrangement for them. The people of Swat, Buner
and Dir are habitual of pleasant weather and cannot bear the hot season while the camps have been
established in hot areas of the province. Males and females are standing in one line to get
registered and receive relief goods which is against the culture and sentiments of the displaced
people.
 Members of Aryana Institute for regional Research and Advocacy visited
the IDPs camp at Jalala Mardan. They have contacted the government officials, people'
s representatives and other concerned organizations and stressed upon them to take immediate
actions. It was observed that the females are too much vulnerable to sexual abuse as there is no
social protection mechanism. No proper security measures have been taken by the government.
Electricity is not available in camp and the people are using unhygienic waters. The Latrines
established in the camps are unhygienic and near to the tents. Many government and nongovernmental
organizations are providing relief to the IDPs in the camps. UNHCR has executed tents in the camps,
UNCEF is providing cooked food, mates and some plastic tools etc , Umma Foundation is serving the
IDPs in different ways, Al-Khidmat Foundation is also busy in some activities, Al-Khair Foundation
is providing food commodities. A stall of Salik Foundation was also visible in the camp. TMA Mardan
staff was registering the IDPs in sample register. Security was too much weak.
No coordination mechanism is in place. Every NGO and GO is working in their own style. The staff
provided by the district government was few in numbers and were unable to control the situation. It
was observed that there are 1266 families in the camp but the relief commissioner NWFP has reported
only 400 in its official statement. More families have arrived in the camp but there is no more
space for them. There was no body to guide the new comers about other camps established for IDPs.
 The inputs provided by the UNICEF were not according to the needs of the
families. The waters are providing in tanks and tube well is under construction which is not
sufficient for huge number of families residing in the camp. The unplanned distribution system
has created social and managerial problems for IDPS and camp management as well.
"I don'
t want to go to camp as I have very bad experience of life inside the camp during my first
migration from Swat"
Zia Ul Haq an IDP from Swat told. High level discrimination by the government officials was
observed during the distribution of non food items. The people were complaining that two lines for
distribution of goods have been organized but the government officials are proving good to some
selected people recommended by their friends or relatives. "
Yesterday at 2:00 Pm I was told by the officials that the time is out and we cannot work more.
Today I have come at 1 O, clock to distribution point and now this 6:00 PM but still I am waiting
for my turn, while some people who have come later than me have received to good by using some
special means"
told Ms. Bakht Pari Zada.
The following tables show the details of old and new camps and IDPs residing over
there.
Old Camps (before peace deal)
|
S No
|
Name/Location of Camp
|
No of IDPs Families
|
Male
|
Females
|
Children
|
Total
|
|
1
|
Samar Bagh Stadium, Lower Dir
|
521
|
1190
|
1587
|
1189
|
3966
|
|
2
|
Govt. Degree College Timargara, Dir Lower
|
362
|
1191
|
1140
|
519
|
2850
|
|
3
|
Khunji camp, Lower Dir
|
1007
|
1192
|
2676
|
2823
|
6691
|
|
4
|
DGC Jandool Sadbar Kallay, Lower Dir
|
556
|
1193
|
1256
|
692
|
3141
|
|
5
|
Munda Camp Lower Dir
|
445
|
1194
|
1138
|
514
|
2846
|
|
6
|
Govt. Teachers Training Schools Palosa, Charsada
|
449
|
1195
|
1098
|
451
|
2744
|
|
7
|
Binazir Welfare Complex Nawshera
|
400
|
1196
|
998
|
301
|
2495
|
|
8
|
Kacha Ghari, Peshawar
|
1519
|
1197
|
3552
|
4131
|
8880
|
|
9
|
Kacha Ghari II, Peshawar
|
1084
|
1198
|
2586
|
2682
|
6466
|
|
10
|
Jalozai, Nawshera
|
7787
|
1199
|
19095
|
27444
|
47738
|
|
11
|
Sakha Kot Malakand Dargai
|
540
|
1200
|
1280
|
720
|
3200
|
|
Total
|
14670
|
13145
|
36406
|
41466
|
91017
|
The Ministry of Community Development (former Social Welfare Department) has conducted off camp
registration in various areas. According to their record 77516 families of 462528 persons were
living in rented houses or with their relatives in 11 districts of the province. But after the
peace deal most of the IDPs went back to their home lands.
New camps (after peace dale)
|
S No
|
Name/Location of Camp
|
No of IDPs Families
|
Male
|
Females
|
Children
|
Total
|
|
1
|
Commerce Collge Wali Kandaw Dir Lower
|
996
|
661
|
826
|
578
|
2065
|
|
2
|
Govt. Degree College Timargara, Dir Lower
|
189
|
433
|
542
|
379
|
1354
|
|
3
|
GHSS Samar Bagh, Dir Lower
|
140
|
318
|
398
|
280
|
996
|
|
4
|
Shekh Sehzad, Mardan
|
435
|
768
|
960
|
671
|
2399
|
|
5
|
Jalala, Mardan
|
320
|
598
|
748
|
524
|
1870
|
|
6
|
Yar Hussain, Sawabi
|
279
|
595
|
744
|
521
|
1860
|
|
7
|
Dargai, Malakand Agency
|
590
|
2019
|
2524
|
1768
|
6310
|
|
8
|
Palai, malakand Agency
|
1432
|
1681
|
2101
|
1470
|
5252
|
|
Total
|
4381
|
7073
|
8843
|
6191
|
22106
|
Apart from the above camps thousands of families are residing outside the camps. They are living
with their relatives or have rented houses in various cities. The following table shows number of
families living outside camps.
|
S. No
|
Location
|
No of Families
|
No of Person
|
|
1
|
Shekh Sehzad Mardan
|
6481
|
47373
|
|
2
|
District Swabi
|
6395
|
38240
|
|
Total
|
12876
|
85613
|
The government has established registration camps mostly in the district headquarters which are
situated very far from the camps. Thus the people are unable to register themselves and the
government has no accurate data. No body was found in the registration camp. Following are the
details of IDPs registration camps established by the government in various parts of the
province.
|
S No
|
Name/Location of Camp
|
Name of contact person
|
Contact No
|
|
1
|
District Nowshera
|
1. Shams-ur-Rehman District Officer
2. Mueed Shah Assistant Coordinator
3. Tilawat Shah Store keeper
|
03348699416
03459336042
03319137337
|
|
2
|
District Charsada
|
1. Muhammad Tahir District Officer
2. Rasheed Assistantt Coordinator
3. Imran Store Keeper
|
03469039388
03469151464
03029506463
|
|
3
|
District Mardan
|
1. Iftikhar District Officer
2. Office
|
03459366379
09379230290
|
|
4
|
District Swabi
|
1. Polil Khan District Officer
2. Sahib Gul Assistant Coordinator
3. Office
|
03009052210
|
|
5
|
District Peshawar
|
1. Basir Khan District Officer
2. Ms. Tahira Assistant Coordinator
3. Office
|
03139588200
03139035321
091-9211700
|
|
6
|
District Dir Lower
|
1. Sultan Room Badshah Distt: Officer
2. Muhammad Usman
Asstt Coordinator
3. Office
|
03018573699
03445002955
09929260306
|
|
7
|
District Dir Upper
|
1. Sher Nawaz Khan District
Officer
2. Taqweem-ul-Haq
Assistant Coordinator
3. Office
|
03038793665
0944880585
|
During the visit it was observed that due to the shortage of human resources with government as
well as nongovernmental organizations working in the camps, they are over burden and remain
aggressive. Thus they are violating the social protection policies of UN. The IDPs told that the
government officials use rubbish and immoral language. It was easy to have a sleep in the sound of
bomb shells than sleeping here in the camps. 'Out of the frying pan into the fire' would describe
better the situation of hapless people called the Internally Displaced people of the miserable and
innocent people of conflict affected areas.
|
Omar Asghar Khan was born on July 3,1953. He led
an event full life. In his school days he was well-known for his exceptional sporting
talents. Read More
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