The situation could worsen. We continue to hear of an impending military operation in North Waziristan, an agency with a population of around 400,000. This would invariably mean more displacements. The number is hard to predict as yet but any further movement and displacements would result in more people being rendered homeless and dependent on outside help. This is not a welcome situation, especially as we have not been able to look after those already in need. Resource constraints add to the problems and the issue has, of course, vanished from the public gaze. Few even remember that we still have a huge IDP population. To complicate matters, those who have returned have received little help in rebuilding their lives.
In North Waziristan, there is already talk of possible displacement. People wonder where they will go and what they will do should full-fledged conflict break out in an area which is now seen as a key militant safe haven. This dimension of the problem needs to be given attention and plans need to be put in place to deal with any fresh wave of displacements. At the same time, those still living away from home need help so that we can find solutions to a problem that has persisted now for years, with wave after wave of people forced out of homes in the north.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2012.
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It is so awkward that not a single reader did a comment on this editorial and probably where few people may have completed its full reading. This is Pathetic.