Final resting ground: NWA political agent to request burial of deceased IDPs in native towns

Displaced people having trouble finding grave sites in Bannu and Lakki Marwat.

PESHAWAR:

Bereaved families of deceased IDPs hope that their loved ones will find in death what they couldn’t during their lifetime—a place where they can rest in peace without being antagonized.

A meeting of the Grievance Redressal Committee at the FATA Secretariat decided on Wednesday to send a request from the political agent to law-enforcement agencies to allow 10 family members of deceased internally displaced people (IDP) from North Waziristan to accompany the body for burial in their native agency.



An official told The Express Tribune the decision to transport the bodies to the agency was taken after IDPs faced problems burying loved ones in other areas. A recent report highlighted the difficulties faced by IDPs in finding grave sites in Bannu, Lakki Marwat and other settled areas due to certain tribal traditions.

The official explained the burials would now take place in their own graveyards and in accordance with tribal customs.

He added the release of relief funds through Zong was also discussed in the meeting. The official said the cellular service provider was running the biometric system for IDPs. He said a text message would be sent within 24 hours of the payment being transferred to an account. Zong authorities would also send an update report within a week of the funds being released if they were not transferred onwards and show reasons for non-payment.

The official highlighted more food distribution points would be set up. He added a request would be forwarded to World Food Programme (WFP) officials, asking them to extend the schedule of the food cycle. He mentioned distribution points had been established in Lakki Marwat.



Another official present in the meeting said issues surrounding ration points would be solved, saying that Lakki Marwat was adjacent to Bannu and housed the second largest number of IDPs. He said more distribution points would be established before December 15 and urged uniform assistance at the existing ones.

The officials explained the smooth distribution of cash was necessary for the displaced people. It was also decided that the biometric condition through a cellular service provider should be waived off. They added the FDMA would take up the matter with WFP, PDMA and the local administration.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20^th, 2014.