Helping hand: K-P government, WFP join hands to feed the displaced

IDPs at Jalozai will get cash-for-food from PDMA.

PESHAWAR:

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) plan to give cash compensation to 12,000 families residing in Jalozai camp. These families belong to the unsafe areas of Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber agencies. Each family would be provided Rs4,750 per month.

According to a PDMA press release, cash for food items, will begin being disbursed from June 16, 2011, and will be provided to the IDPS for two months. WFP’s implementing partner, UNHCR, launched a headcount survey in March 2011 which identified 4,004 families residing in Jalozai camp for cash compensation. However, the report later verified that 3,702 families were eligible for financial support.

Cash-for-food will be provided through 22 designated branches of Standard Chartered and Muslim Commercial Bank in the Peshawar region. The branches will have online bank accounts in the IDPs names for money transfers. Arrangements have been made to facilitate the IDPs in opening these accounts and a UNHCR representative will be present at each designated branch for the purpose.

PDMA has set June 7 as the deadline for the return of all IDPs belonging to safer areas of Bajaur and Mohmand agencies. However, there are more than 2,300 such families from relatively safe areas residing in Jalozai that refuse to go back. According to sources, the provincial government has withdrawn their IDP status and will not give further cash grants.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2011.