Safety concerns: New security plan outlined for Jalozai camp

UN team visits the facility along with DPO to assess measures already in place.


Noorwali Shah March 25, 2013
IDPs wait for Eid packages to be distributed by the UNHCR in this picture dated September 17, 2009. On March 22, the UNHCR postponed the registration of IDPs from Tirah Valley at Jalozai camp. PHOTO: FILE



The Jalozai refugee camp administration has chalked out a new security plan with the help of the district police officer (DPO) for the safety of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The plan includes setting up three security barriers and deploying more police personnel.


The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) postponed the registration of IDPs from Tirah Valley at the camp on March 22 following a deadly blast that killed at least 17 people, including a female social worker, and injured 28 others.

Refuting reports of refusing to register IDPs, UNHCR’s spokesperson in Pakistan Dunya Aslam Khan said it has only been postponed until proper security is provided.

“We have stopped our activities for some time, as have other non-governmental organisations, and [they] will be resumed after security clearance is given by the government,” she said. “The UNHCR is currently negotiating with the government, and if they provide aid workers with security, we will start our operations.”



Spokesperson for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Adnan Khan said UN officials and the DPO visited the camp and inspected the situation. “They (UN officials) were told all except official vehicles would be banned from entering and more policemen would be deployed. Metal detectors will also be installed at registration and distribution points inside the camp,” said Khan. “A proper meeting regarding this will be conducted in a week’s time.”

Camp in-charge, Noor Akbar, confirmed the DPO has promised to provide additional staff to maintain security. They will be accompanied by local staff whose salaries will be requested from the UNHCR. “They will provide duty on both entry and exit gates of the camp,” he said.

Noor added that except for food distribution, all other activities including health promotion and education have been resumed. Food distribution will restart once the officials are satisfied with the new security plan, he added.

UN World Food Programme Spokesperson Amjad Jamal said: “Our officials in Peshawar and Islamabad are analysing the security plan with consultations from local administrations to form a decisive strategy for lasting peace.”

Jamal said around 11,700 families were provided food this month, while the remaining families will be accommodated once supply resumes.

In response to a question about provision of food to IDPs from Tirah Valley, Jamal said there was no shortage of resources and they were just waiting for all the displaced to get registered with UNHCR to begin distribution.

Tiray Valley fell into the hands of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on March 19 following two months of fierce fighting between Lashkar-e-Islam, Ansarul Islam and the TTP, which led to large-scale displacement.


Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2013.

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