Living like a refugee: Remaining IDPs of Tirah claim administration delaying repatriation

Say they have not been registered and are thus unable to avail relief packages.

PESHAWAR:

Internally displaced persons (IDP) from Tirah Valley on Monday protested against the FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) and political administration (PA) for using “delaying tactics” in their repatriation.

Demonstrating opposite the Cantonment Railway Station in the city, protesters held placards and chanted slogans against FDMA for failing to register them with other IDPs in time for repatriation. They demanded the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) governor ensure their registration as soon as possible so they are able to avail relief packages and begin their trek back home.



“Efforts are required on an emergency basis to re-settle the IDPs,” said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Agency President Iqbal Afridi, who was leading the protesters. “The FDMA and PA are delaying the return of IDPs by not registering them on time.”

The authorities recently announced peace has been restored in Tirah Valley and all the IDPs residing in different camps across K-P would soon be repatriated. A relief package of Rs25,000 along with transport fee and packets of non-food items were promised for each family. The IDPs were also assured they will be provided ration for six months upon their return.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Afridi said they are not from any particular camp but live in rented houses. “More than 0.2 million people left the valley due to the operation,” he said, adding they then settled in various parts of the province. The FDMA, however, estimated 13,900 families were left homeless.

“We are not used to scorching heat; our children are now suffering from various diseases at the camps,” Afridi complained, adding thousands of people go to Jarma camp for registration every day, but return back as the authorities are unable to manage the huge number of displaced people and provide them compensation.

The long route home

On March 16, 2013, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants from Swat district, Mohmand, Bajaur, Khyber, Orakzai and South Waziristan agencies infiltrated the strategic Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency and drove away the local populace.

After several days of bloody clashes, the valley fell to the Taliban on March 21, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of people subsequently left the valley and were accommodated in Jarma Camp, Durrani Camp in Kurram Agency and Jalozai Camp in Nowshera.

In August, security forces launched an operation against the TTP and on September 4, 2013 claimed to have regained control from the militants. Following this, displaced tribesmen living in camps began demanding the government to repatriate them. However, the decision remained in limbo due to lack of funds.

Where the heart is

The first phase of the repatriation process took place in October last year, when 6,200 families were repatriated to their respective areas.

In early March this year, the federal government released Rs100 million to be distributed among 12,000 registered displaced families from Tirah to expedite the repatriation process. In the second phase, which ended on May 31, 1,110 families from Jarma camp and 3,580 families from Durrani camp, Kurram Agency, were sent back. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2014.