IDPs allege officials of being ignored

KHYBER AGENCY: After the mass displacement from volatile Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency owing to military action “Khyber 1”, the tribesmen have been accusing officials of FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) and political administration of leaving them on the mercy of Allah Almighty despite providing them all sorts of facilities like displaced persons of North Waziristan.

As per the statistics of FDMA official, around 9800 families have migrated to multiple parts of FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so far. He said that Rs 2500 to per family and transportation facility is being given to displaced persons of Bara. The facility is being given to them at various registration points in Lala Kandao Jamrud Tehsil, Peshtakhara of Peshawar and Orakzai Agency FATA, official further informed.

Replying a query, he said the displaced persons, who had been registered with FDMA few years back, had returned to their homes in Bara without announcement by administration officials. As a result of military offensive Khyber 1, those tribesmen again left their hometowns in various parts of Bara and came to Peshawar, official explained.   

While on the other side, the troubled tribesmen have been repeatedly saying that they have been residing with relatives, settled in suburbs of Peshawar district and have not been provided required facilities.

The displaced families from Tirah valley are traveling on foot with cattle through deserted and hilly areas to Hangu, Kohat and Peshawar due to shortage of vehicles, hailing from Akakhel, Sepah, Qamarkhel and Zakhakhel tribes. “The government and non-governmental organizations have not made any arrangements to provide relief to the displaced persons,” complained a tribesman, Riaz Afridi.

One of the affected persons, Omer Afridi 29, Speen Kabr Bara, came hard on officials saying the unannounced military offensive compelled them to leave their hometowns and the daily use luggages in order to protect themselves.  

“We do not know where to go and reside as it seems we are not Pakistanis” Afridi regretted. He asked and saying why we are not being treated as required despite migrating from war hit areas of Bara and living in a miserable condition. It is feared our children who used to study in the schools in Bara, would focus on resorting unlawful activities in case of migration to feed their families, he explained.

Qitab Afridi 25, Bara, who recently migrated to Peshawar, said he considers himself stranger as there is no home, shelter or IDPs camp to reside. “I was working as a laborer, meeting my daily expenses easily but the military action

deprived him of business” he mentioned. Our businesses, schools and other activities were badly suffered after the initiation of military operation Khyber 1 in Bara Tehsil, he claimed.  

It is to be mentioned here that the volunteers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Alkhidmat Foundation, Khyber Union, Shahid Afridi Foundation and others have been providing food packages to tribesmen displaced at various points in Peshtakhara Peshawar.

Keeping in view the ongoing action against militants, the displacement from war ravaged areas of Bara may increase in forthcoming days as the operation is in full swing.