Key meetings: K-P begins preparations for possible IDP influx

Officials discuss issues of resources, location of camps in case tribesmen start pouring into settled areas.

PESHAWAR:

The provincial government held multiple meetings on Friday to discuss challenges posed by the potential influx of internally displaced persons (IDP) from North Waziristan Agency (NWA).

The meetings followed Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s visit to the city on Thursday wherein he reportedly discussed the possible movement of IDPs, shared an official at the Civil Secretariat.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Governor Shaukatullah Khan, IGP Nasir Khan Durrani, Chief Secretary Shahzad Arbab and other senior officials had met the interior minister on Thursday to discuss various scenarios related to NWA, the official informed. After meeting the interior minister, Khattak had expressed satisfaction with efforts and initiatives taken by the federal government regarding peace efforts and countering terrorism, assuring the centre that K-P will fully support any step for sustainable peace.

“Being at the receiving end for hosting most IDPs in case of an escalation in military operations, K-P must be ready for any situation,” said the official, adding Friday’s meetings were part of preparations so that the province is prepared to cope with all related matters.

The first meeting was led by the chief secretary at the Civil Secretariat and discussed “arrangements for displaced persons of Fata,” an official informed. Home Secretary Akhtar Ali Shah, Fata administration officials, representatives of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Federal Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) among other officials including those from the finance department along with administrative officials from Bannu attended the meeting.

Arbab reportedly asked participants to focus on the potential displacement of people and highlighted the need for a prompt and professional response, minutes of the meeting, available with The Express Tribune, stated.

“Different aspects of the issue, such as where and how many camps to establish, availability of funds with PDMA/FDMA and registration of IDPs, came under consideration,” stated the minutes.

Participants decided that the home secretary along with law secretary and order Fata should visit Bannu – where a number of IDPs have been seeking refuge recently – within two days to take a holistic view of the ground situation and submit a comprehensive report.

It was further decided that some relief equipment should immediately be dispatched to Bannu to meet emerging needs of IDPs, along with sensitising the district administration for making preparatory measures to cope with all requirements.

The participants also maintained that the FATA Secretariat should earmark funds on a priority basis and leave the selection of sites for IDP camps to the district administration.

PDMA was asked to play the lead role in tackling the situation by using its own resources as well as those of FDMA.

The second meeting of the day was held among PDMA Relief and Rehabilitation Secretary Aurangzeb Khan, Peshawar Commissioner Munir Azam, Kohat Commissioner Syed Jamaluddin Shah and an official of security forces. The administrations of the southern districts of the province were directed to point out localities for setting up IDP camps in the wake of potential migration from NWA, it was learnt.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2014.