Dilemmas of documentation: Thousands of IDPs await promised govt assistance

‘Delay caused because their CNICs remain blocked’

PESHAWAR: Thousands of Khyber Agency’s internally displaced persons (IDP) have appealed to the government to release their grant money as promised by the FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA).

While speaking on behalf of IDPs, one of them said they registered complaints with the FDMA and the International Rescue Committee at Jalozai camp, and provided the officials with their CNIC numbers. “NGOs have tried to help us but we are still waiting on the special grant from the government,” said Muhammad Zahid, an IDP belonging to Qambarkhel in Bara,  Khyber Agency.



Zahid who is currently living in the city told The Express Tribune FDMA officials issued SIM cards to IDPs. He received a message from FDMA on the same SIM, saying a certain amount has been deposited into the bank accounts of the IDPs. However, when he checked his bank balance, his account had not been credited.

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When he asked the camp in charge why that was so, Zahid was told he was not registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at the time of moving, which is why he has not received the funds yet.

Blocked CNICs

FDMA focal person Asif Khan told The Express Tribune the FDMA provides grant to IDPs under the standard operating procedure (SOP), which has been signed in collaboration with UNHCR and NADRA.“However, sometimes, we find the IDPs are not registered with UNHCR or their addresses do not match the ones on their CNICs, which hinders the verification process,” he said.

Read: Details whittled down to facilitate IDP repatriation

Asif added the grant is for every displaced person whether they live in Jalozai camp or with host communities. “More than 5,000 CNICs of IDPs have been blocked,” said Asif. He said the IDPS were deprived of compensation from the federal government because their CNICs are blocked. The federal government had announced in March 2015 that it will provide each IDP family with a transport grant worth Rs10,000 as well as a repatriation cash grant worth Rs25,000 through ATM cards in two installments. However, the IDPs are still waiting for the monetary assistance.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2015.