Tall claims: 134 mobile schools for Pakistani IDPs in Afghanistan
Afghan officials say 93 more schools planned for 45,000 families living in camps
ISLAMABAD:
Afghan officials claimed on Sunday that they have established 134 mobile schools for children of displaced tribesmen who have migrated to Afghanistan following military operations in Waziristan tribal regions.
Thousands of families from North and South Waziristan agencies have crossed into eastern Afghanistan and most of them now live in parts of Khost and Paktika provinces. Most of the tribesmen fled North Waziristan after the security forces launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb against local and foreign militants in mid-June.
Muhammad Kabir Haqmal, the spokesman for Afghanistan’s Education Ministry, told The Express Tribune by the phone from Kabul that 54 schools started functioning in Paktika this week which accommodate 3,500 Pakistani children, while 2,000 children study in schools in Khost province. “We have recruited 54 teachers from the Pakistani refugees,” he added.
The UN Children Fund Unicef and the Norwegian Refugee Council have helped the Afghan government in the establishment of these schools. Haqmal said 93 more mobile schools will be set up in the next few days. He claimed that there were nearly 25,000 Pakistani families in Khost and 21,000 in Paktika.
Afghan officials earlier put the number of displaced Pakistani tribesmen at 100,000 – a claim disputed by Pakistani officials who say that many of those who had crossed into Afghanistan are now returning to the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2014.
Afghan officials claimed on Sunday that they have established 134 mobile schools for children of displaced tribesmen who have migrated to Afghanistan following military operations in Waziristan tribal regions.
Thousands of families from North and South Waziristan agencies have crossed into eastern Afghanistan and most of them now live in parts of Khost and Paktika provinces. Most of the tribesmen fled North Waziristan after the security forces launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb against local and foreign militants in mid-June.
Muhammad Kabir Haqmal, the spokesman for Afghanistan’s Education Ministry, told The Express Tribune by the phone from Kabul that 54 schools started functioning in Paktika this week which accommodate 3,500 Pakistani children, while 2,000 children study in schools in Khost province. “We have recruited 54 teachers from the Pakistani refugees,” he added.
The UN Children Fund Unicef and the Norwegian Refugee Council have helped the Afghan government in the establishment of these schools. Haqmal said 93 more mobile schools will be set up in the next few days. He claimed that there were nearly 25,000 Pakistani families in Khost and 21,000 in Paktika.
Afghan officials earlier put the number of displaced Pakistani tribesmen at 100,000 – a claim disputed by Pakistani officials who say that many of those who had crossed into Afghanistan are now returning to the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2014.