Time lapse: Residents of Spin village still await compensation

Say floods in 2006 damaged houses, infrastructure but no help came from government

DI KHAN: Nine years on, residents of Spin village in Wana are still waiting for the government to compensate them for damage caused by floods in 2006. Speaking to The Express Tribune, they urged the government to ensure their demands do not go unnoticed.

According to residents, the floods had damaged houses and infrastructure in the village. “Electric poles, wires and tube wells were damaged,” said Saeedullah Wazir, a resident of Spin. “Our livestock was also affected by the floods.”

Need of the hour

Saeedullah said the government had allegedly made “tall claims” about assisting them in their hour of need. “However, nothing was done in practice. Most villagers have yet to receive any form of aid.”

Din Muhammad Wazir, another resident, said a team of political administration officials had visited the affected regions after the flood. “Nothing tangible came out of this visit,” he said. “Subsequently, we tried to remind the political administration of its responsibilities.”

According to Wazir, officials have repeatedly insisted funds are pouring into Waziristan.

“If this is so, I want to know where these funds are going,” he said. “The government should have used the money to build walls to protect Spin from flooding in future.”

Wazir said if these demands are not met, residents would resort to other means to have their voices heard.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2015.