IDPs struggle amid chaotic registration

Thousands flee Tirah's insecurity as displaced families face cold nights, registration hurdles

KHYBER:

The ongoing displacement from Tirah Valley's Maidan area has entered a critical phase, with thousands of families fleeing insecurity while facing severe hardships during registration, officials and affected residents said.

According to the Khyber district administration, the exodus from Tirah Maidan continues, and registration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is under way at Paienda Cheena. Over the past four days, around 2,400 families have been registered so far. The process includes biometric verification, opening of bank accounts and issuance of SIM cards.

Officials said data collected from union council chairmen and polio teams showed that nearly 19,100 families were residing in Tirah Maidan before the displacement. However, they acknowledged that people from areas outside Tirah, including Peshawar, Zakhakhel Bazaar and Bara, were also arriving at the registration point, causing overcrowding and raising concerns over the deprivation of genuine IDPs. The administration urged nominated tribal elders to help ensure that only bona fide displaced families receive assistance.

Residents, however, painted a grim picture. Sher Ali Afridi from Tirah's Bar Qambar Khel tribe told The Express Tribune that people from Tirah Maidan were in dire distress. He alleged that at Paienda Cheena, priority was being given to non-local individuals rather than actual residents of Tirah Maidan. "Many IDP families have spent three nights here, but their registration has still not been completed," he said.

Another affected resident, Asif Afridi, said authorities had promised to pay vehicle fares at Bara Alam Gudar, but the payment had yet to be made. He also claimed that non-locals and Peshawar residents were being registered ahead of Tirah IDPs due to favoritism and influence, demanding immediate registration of displaced Tirah families to prevent further suffering.

Displacement from Tirah Maidan began informally in early November last year due to rising insecurity. After repeated jirgas and negotiations with tribal elders, the government agreed to formally begin evacuation and registration from January 10. However, locals had already started leaving on January 5, while registration could not begin on the first day due to lack of internet and other facilities.

Even on the fifth day, the process remained sluggish due to technical issues in the NADRA system. Frustrated IDPs reportedly forced their way into the centre, but the absence of clear information desks and guidance further added to chaos. Long queues of vehicles loaded with household belongings, women, children and livestock lined the main Tirah road, about 60 kilometres west of Bara Bazaar. Many families said they had spent freezing nights on the roadside without food, shelter or heating arrangements.

District officials admitted that technical problems and address discrepancies on identity cards were causing delays.