Another exodus: Register people fleeing Tirah fighting, says PA

BARA:

Political Agent (PA) of Khyber Agency Mutahir Zeb on Monday asked the law and order secretary at Fata Secretariat to register internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Tirah and provide them food and shelter.

Several local tribesmen were forced to evacuate their houses in Takhtaki, Sanda Pal and Maidan following a series of deadly clashes between Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Ansarul Islam (AI), Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) and the pro-government militia of Kamar Khel on January 25.

Over 100 TTP militants, 40 AI militants, 23 LI militants and 16 militia members were killed while several tribesmen also lost their lives in the fighting. However, not all the people wanting to flee the area were allowed to leave and only a few made it through.

Zeb informed the Fata Secretariat in writing that many families were forced to live without food and shelter in freezing temperatures. He maintained the Fata Disaster Management Authority should register IDPs at Jalozai Camp and ask NGOs to also extend support.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2013.