Over 750,000 N Waziristan IDPs registered by govt

Final figures will be available after the verification from NADRA.

ISLAMABAD: The government has so far registered around 751,986 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have moved out of North Waziristan Agency due to the ongoing military operation against terrorists.  

The final figures will be available after verification from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), to cut any duplication and avoid depriving deserving IDPs of their plight.

Besides Bannu, IDPs from North Waziristan Agency have moved to DI Khan, Lakki Marwat, Karak and Hangu, while seven per cent out of the total number of IDPs have moved to other areas all over the country.

Nadra had established four registration points and have provided four mobile vans to facilitate the IDPs. Two distribution points have also been established in DI Khan and Lakki Marwat.

The federal government has sanctioned Rs1 million to date for the relief operation, which has been transferred to the Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA), and Rs300 million onward to Bannu.

Another summary has been moved for the prime minister's approval for a sanction of Rs3,490 million for the relief operation, and a release of Rs1,000 million out of this amount on immediate basis.

The prime minister approved the release of another Rs500 million to FDMA and the amount has been handed over. The government is likely to release another Rs500million for IDPs soon.

For the disbursement of cash, mobile company Zong has distributed 17,846 SIMs to the IDPs -- of which 15,716 have been activated.

Fifty relief collection points have been established all over the country by the army. Distribution of food packages by the army commenced on June 25, and till date, 16,406 food baskets have been distributed.

Around 11 tonnes of fodder for cattle have been purchased by the army and animals are also being vaccinated in camps.

Healthcare of IDPs is being coordinated by the health department of K-P, while the FDMA has deployed mobile hospitals, along with male and female doctors. Furthermore, 85,000 children have been administered polio vaccines.

On request, the Norwegian Refugees Council has allocated 2,000 Non-food item (NFI) kits and have placed orders for another 10,000. To date 13,078 kits have been distributed.