By From the Newspaper
LAHORE: Expressing concern at reports of hardships
still being faced by the people displaced as a result of the military
operation in North Waziristan, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
(HRCP) has called for more efficient arrangements for looking after
these internally displaced people (IDPs) and meaningful cooperation
between the authorities and civil society organisations.
In a statement issued on Friday, the HRCP welcomed prime minister’s decision to visit the Bannu camp for the North Waziristan IDPs and hoped that the instructions issued by him will significantly reduce the hardships these unfortunate people are facing.
“The HRCP is seriously concerned at the reports that IDPs are not satisfied with the scale of help that is being offered to them,” the statement reads.
Read more: Nawaz visits IDPs: 'Govt, army will work together for rehabilitation'
“It is said that a large number of the IDPs have been obliged to look for private accommodation in Bannu and other cities. Many of them have sought shelter in Peshawar. If the displaced families’ reluctance to enter officially set-up camps is due to lack of reasonable facilities and an environment of friendly care, these shortcomings must expeditiously be removed. Past experience shows that women and children among IDPs suffer more than others. They must be treated with special care. Instead of waiting for them to queue up at the designated points the officials should go to them and help them without compromising their dignity.
“Since the whole world has taken alarm at the high incidence of polio cases in North Waziristan Agency, authorities in any way involved with matters relating to IDPs must make extra efforts to ensure that the task of administering anti-polio drops to all of them is being diligently pursued. The need to create an inspection team to monitor this campaign is manifest.
“While the government has done well to appeal to the country’s entire population to join the effort to meet the needs of IDPs, the complaints that the media and civil society organisations are being denied access to the camp must be removed forthwith. These restrictions are totally unacceptable. Instead of preventing civil society from extending succor to IDPs and the media from keeping the people informed the authorities should create a workable mechanism for government – civil society collaboration in the best interests of the affected people.”
Published in Dawn, June 28th , 2014
In a statement issued on Friday, the HRCP welcomed prime minister’s decision to visit the Bannu camp for the North Waziristan IDPs and hoped that the instructions issued by him will significantly reduce the hardships these unfortunate people are facing.
“The HRCP is seriously concerned at the reports that IDPs are not satisfied with the scale of help that is being offered to them,” the statement reads.
Read more: Nawaz visits IDPs: 'Govt, army will work together for rehabilitation'
“It is said that a large number of the IDPs have been obliged to look for private accommodation in Bannu and other cities. Many of them have sought shelter in Peshawar. If the displaced families’ reluctance to enter officially set-up camps is due to lack of reasonable facilities and an environment of friendly care, these shortcomings must expeditiously be removed. Past experience shows that women and children among IDPs suffer more than others. They must be treated with special care. Instead of waiting for them to queue up at the designated points the officials should go to them and help them without compromising their dignity.
“Since the whole world has taken alarm at the high incidence of polio cases in North Waziristan Agency, authorities in any way involved with matters relating to IDPs must make extra efforts to ensure that the task of administering anti-polio drops to all of them is being diligently pursued. The need to create an inspection team to monitor this campaign is manifest.
“While the government has done well to appeal to the country’s entire population to join the effort to meet the needs of IDPs, the complaints that the media and civil society organisations are being denied access to the camp must be removed forthwith. These restrictions are totally unacceptable. Instead of preventing civil society from extending succor to IDPs and the media from keeping the people informed the authorities should create a workable mechanism for government – civil society collaboration in the best interests of the affected people.”
Published in Dawn, June 28th , 2014
A woman, fleeing from North Waziristan tribal region, arrives with her donkey in Bannu district. — Photo by AFP
Pakistan children whose families fled North Waziristan tribal region pose for a photograph in Bannu. — Photo by AFP 
Internally displaced Pakistanis gather to receive food aid at a distribution centre in Bannu on June 23, 2014. — Photo by AFP
Children fleeing North Waziristan, eat their meal while taking refuge
with their family in a school building in Bannu, located in Pakistan's
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. — Photo by Reuters 
Internally displaced persons demonstrate against the delays in receiving
food aid at a distribution centre in Bannu. — Photo by AFP
Internally displaced persons protest outside a World Food Programme
(WFP) food distribution point in Bannu on June 24, 2014. — Photo by AFP
Pakistan Army personnel try to break up a protest by internally
displaced presons from the North Waziristan tribal region outside a
World Food Programme (WFP) food distribution point in Bannu on June 24,
2014. — Photo by AFP 
Internally displaced persons, fleeing North Waziristan tribal agency,
wait in line outside a World Food Programme aid distribution centre in
Bannu on June 25, 2014.— Photo by AFPInternally displaced Pakistanis protest food shortage
Internally displaced people threw stones and burned
branches on Tuesday during a food and money distribution at a sports
complex in the city of Bannu, in Pakistan. Duration: 00:49
Date: 24/6/14
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