Three IDPs hurt after ration depot scuffle

Financial compensation to be issued via SIMs from Sunday: FDMA.

BANNU:

Three internally displaced persons (IDPs) were injured on Thursday when policemen and security officials baton charged them in a bid to stop them from scuffling with each other.

The scuffle broke out when thousands of IDPs from North Waziristan Agency rushed to the Commerce College in Bannu township – the site of an additional ration distribution depot. A security official said the distribution point was set up after the authorities could no longer cater to the needs of all internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Ziyad Akram Khan Durrani Sports Complex alone.

Scores of people were attempting to jump the queue and enter the college premises.

The official said security forces were unable to calm the IDPs and began a baton charge, in which three persons were injured. They were taken to a nearby private clinic for treatment and the scuffle was quelled.

Mobile management

The Fata Disaster Manage­ment Authority (FDMA) said on Thursday that IDPs will receive compensatory funds from the government through the use of mobile SIMs, after July 6 (Sunday). FDMA Additional Director Haseeb Khan said registered IDPs will receive amounts through SIMs distributed free of charge at counters set up by Zong at each registration camp.

Haseeb Khan said more than 20,000 SIMs have been distributed to date and 16,500 of them activated. IDPs can receive payments through authorised mobile franchises, retailers and banks.

Haseeb Khan said unregistered IDPs can register themselves from Thursday at Govt Commerce College Bannu, Centennial Model School Bannu Govt High School No 4 and Bannu Sugar Mills registration centres.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2014.