Internally Displaced Persons

Sultan Wass Lashkar - 5

2009-07-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

Over the wall - Sultan Vass

2009-07-25T12:45:00.000-07:00

Sultan Wass Lashkar - 4

2009-07-25T12:33:00.000-07:00

Sultan Wass Lashkar - 3

2009-07-25T12:23:00.000-07:00

Sultan Wass Lashkar - 2

2009-07-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

Sultan Wass Lashkar - 1

2009-07-25T12:13:00.000-07:00

Sultan Wass Destruction

2009-07-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

Wall Chalking in Swat

2009-07-21T09:34:00.000-07:00

The IDPs return 03

2009-07-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

The IDPs return 02

2009-07-18T14:55:00.001-07:00

The IDPs return 01

2009-07-18T14:51:00.000-07:00

Life in Mingora Swat - 01

2009-07-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

In service of IDPs - 03

2009-07-18T14:44:00.000-07:00

In service of IDPs - 02

2009-07-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

In service of IDPs - 01

2009-07-18T14:28:00.000-07:00

The return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) was started on Monday (July-13) as planned by the government. The convoys of the IDPs are streaming in the beautiful valley amid tight security arrangements, backed by military gunship helicopters. The security is aimed at avoiding any untoward incident during the IDPs’ return.

IDPs return from July 21

2009-07-18T14:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Peshawar Government is mulling over starting the process of repatriation of IDPs in Peshawar from July 21.

DCO Peshawar Sahibzada Anis said that 823 families comprising 4,446 people are presently residing in Larma camp in Peshawar and over 39,000 families outside the camps have either taken refuge in schools or staying with their relatives.

He said there is no restriction on IDPs return from Peshawar on their own through private vehicles.

IDPs return begins - 06

2009-07-13T15:35:00.001-07:00

Only a fraction of nearly two million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Malakand Division went home from the Jalozai IDPs camp on the first day of an organised return on Monday (July-13), with many fearful about security.

Happiness remain - 03

2009-07-13T15:16:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of refugees started returning to their homes Monday (July13) in Pakistan's scenic valley of Swat with deeply ambivalent emotions - following a two month-long army offensive against the Taliban which displaced millions.

The men, women and children were happy to leave behind the sufferings they faced at the temporary refugee camps for weeks, but they were not sure whether the situation at home has really improved and whether they could rebuild their shattered lives again.

'I am going back to my home - but I don't know what I will do there,' said Ghaniur Rehman, 72, as he sat in a government-provided bus to transport the displaced from Jalozai Camp, a small city of thousands of tents which has provided a temporary home for around 150,000 people.

'My only son is dead, my house has been flattened and all my belongings destroyed,' he said as he wiped his tears with the sleeves of his white, long shirt.

'I don't know where I will live and where I will eat from. The government has given me 25,000 rupees (around 306 US dollars), how long will my family and me eat with this money?' he added. 'But home is home. I am going there and will stay there till my death.'

The decisive assault by thousands of troops forced the Taliban to lose control over much of the district and retreat to their dens in pine-clad mountains in the scenic valley, but the cost has been quite heavy.

Hundreds of houses, government buildings and bridges are destroyed. The government is still struggling to restore water, electricity and gas supply in many areas. Health services are almost collapsed.

The blossoming tourism industry, which was a major source of income for many in Swat, a land of gushing rivers and picturesque valleys, at least until 2007 when the conflict began, is now completely ruined.

In coming months or perhaps years, few local or foreign tourists would dare to travel to Swat, commonly now dubbed the 'valley of death.'

The UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said last week billions of dollars would be needed for rehabilitation and reconstruction in the first year alone.

But the world has not been so generous to the 2.1 million people displaced by the conflict in Swat and its three neighbouring districts, though the western countries hailed the offensive as a
major step in the fight against terrorism.

In response to the UN flash appeal for 452 million dollars, the international community provided merely 42 percent of it.

The refugee crisis could turn into a major humanitarian crisis if some 85 percent of the uprooted were not hosted by the relatives and locals.

Rehabilitation and reconstruction would take years, but the first major concern for the people in Swat and nearby areas is security.

With main Taliban leaders, including Maulana Fazlullah, alive and regular guerrilla attacks on security forces, many fear that Taliban might reorganize and return forcefully.

This caused many families to hesitate and stay back at Jalozai Camp, where a total 14,000 families from Swat and adjoining areas are staying. Over 7,500 more families are from tribal region along Afghan border which is also seeing fighting between Taliban and security forces.

The authorities had planned for the return of more than 2,000 families, but only 150 opted for going back from the Jalazaoi Camp. A few dozens more returned from other refugee camps.

'People are afraid. But we hope as soon as the first convoy safely reaches Swat, the other people in the [Jalozai] camp will be encouraged,' Tahir Orakzai, a government official looking after the
operations at the Jalozai Camp, which is in Nowshera district of North Western Frontier Province.

But army Colonel Nadeem Ahmed, who lead the troops guarding the camp, said that Taliban could even target the motor caravans of refugees as they move into Swat region, signalling that the fighting in the former popular tourist destination is far from over.

'I do not want to go home. There are Taliban. They first behead people and then, because of them, the military carries out bombardment at our homes,' Asia Yousafzai, 9, said as she looked up at a helicopter gunship flying over the camp.

'I studied in class three but Taliban blew up our school. I will go back when all Taliban are dead,' added Asia.

Happiness remain - 02

2009-07-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

Happiness remain - 01

2009-07-13T15:12:00.000-07:00

Iqra Qambar Swat

2009-07-13T15:11:00.000-07:00

Vincent at work - 02

2009-07-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

Vincent at work - 01

2009-07-13T15:08:00.000-07:00

IDPs return begins - 05

2009-07-13T15:06:00.000-07:00

IDPs return begins - 04

2009-07-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

IDPs return begins - 03

2009-07-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

IDPs return begins - 02

2009-07-13T15:02:00.000-07:00

IDPs return begins - 01

2009-07-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

The three-phased returning process of the Internally Displaced Families of Malakand Division begun on Monday (July-13, 2009) with several people started the return journey to their homes from Jalozai IDPs camp.

The process of return of the IDPs will be completed in three phases.

The first caravan of IDPs consisting two hundred seventy two buses and twenty two trucks left Charsadda for their homes in Malakand division on Monday (July-13). Other caravans will go from Sheikh Yasin and Sheikh Shahzad camps in Mardan and Swabi on Tuesday (July-14).

A special ceremony in connection with the return of the affectees was held at Aiwan-e-Sadar Islamabad on Monday in recognition of the services rendered by the National and International organizations, NGOs and civil society to support the displaced persons.

Dawn @ Jalozai - 09

2009-07-12T11:51:00.000-07:00

Dawn @ Jalozai - 08

2009-07-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

Dawn @ Jalozai - 07

2009-07-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

Dawn @ Jalozai - 06

2009-07-12T09:53:00.001-07:00

Dawn @ Jalozai - 05

2009-07-12T09:43:00.000-07:00

Dawn @ Jalozai - 04

2009-07-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

Dawn @ Jalozai - 03

2009-07-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

Dawn @ Jalozai - 02

2009-07-12T09:34:00.001-07:00

Dawn @ Jalozai - 01

2009-07-12T09:32:00.001-07:00

Vincent - Dawn of Jalozai

2009-07-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

Miliband in Camp

2009-07-12T08:59:00.001-07:00

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Tuesday (July-09) called for long-term investment to allow two million displaced Pakistanis to return home after an offensive against the Taliban.

"In addition to humanitarian support there needs to be long-term investment so you can go back to your communities and live there in security," Miliband told displaced families at the Yar Hussein camp in northwest Pakistan.

He went straight to the camp after arriving on a fifth visit to the country, and listened to displaced people talking about their difficulties, as he swiped away flies and wiped the back of his neck in scorching heat.

Hope is out there

2009-07-03T06:05:00.000-07:00

As long as I'm standing, there's hope!

Distribution Point Jalozai

2009-07-03T06:02:00.000-07:00

Army Field Hospital

2009-07-03T05:53:00.000-07:00

Kids at camp 03

2009-07-03T05:52:00.000-07:00

Kids at camp 02

2009-07-03T05:49:00.000-07:00

Kids at camp 01

2009-07-03T05:07:00.000-07:00

Vincent @ work - 03

2009-07-03T04:48:00.000-07:00

Vincent @ work - 02

2009-07-03T04:46:00.000-07:00

Vincent @ work - 01

2009-07-03T04:39:00.000-07:00

Ganjey IDPs Camp

2009-06-27T13:04:00.001-07:00

Girl at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Ganjey area of Takhat Bhai village of Mardan district on June 27, 2009.

DHQ Mardan Hospital-04

2009-06-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

DHQ Mardan Hospital-03

2009-06-27T12:51:00.000-07:00

DHQ Mardan Hospital-02

2009-06-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

DHQ Mardan Hospital-01

2009-06-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

Jalala IDPs - 03

2009-06-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

Jalala IDPs - 02

2009-06-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

Jalala IDPs - 01

2009-06-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

Without Respect distribution!

2009-06-25T13:10:00.000-07:00

The internally displaced persons are following Pakistan Army truck load with ration at the yard of Mardan Railway Station, Mardan.

The Mardan - 01

2009-06-25T12:27:00.000-07:00

The Jalozai - 005

2009-06-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

The Jalozai - 004

2009-06-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

The Jalozai - 003

2009-06-25T11:55:00.000-07:00

The Jalozai - 002

2009-06-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

The Jalozai - 001

2009-06-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

Life @ Jalozai-03

2009-06-22T11:14:00.001-07:00

Life @ Jalozai-02

2009-06-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

Life @ Jalozai-01

2009-06-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

Elders at Jalozai - 1

2009-06-17T16:15:00.001-07:00

Kids at Jalozai - 2

2009-06-17T16:13:00.000-07:00

Kids at Jalozai - 1

2009-06-17T16:10:00.000-07:00

Emilio & Marta

2009-06-17T16:09:00.000-07:00

Jalozai Pics - 03

2009-06-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

Jalozai Pics - 02

2009-06-08T17:56:00.000-07:00

Jalozai Pics - 01

2009-06-08T17:54:00.001-07:00

Marta @ work

2009-06-08T17:43:00.000-07:00

Emilio @ Jalozai

2009-06-08T17:38:00.001-07:00

Marta & Emilio

2009-06-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

Life @ Jalozai - 07

2009-06-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

Life @ Jalozai - 06

2009-06-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

Life @ Jalozai - 05

2009-06-06T17:14:00.000-07:00

Life @ Jalozai - 04

2009-06-06T17:06:00.000-07:00

Life @ Jalozai - 03

2009-06-06T16:53:00.000-07:00

Life @ Jalozai - 02

2009-06-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

Life @ Jalozai - 01

2009-06-06T16:40:00.001-07:00

Marta at Jalozai

2009-06-06T16:29:00.000-07:00

Emilio at Jalozai - 03

2009-06-06T16:26:00.000-07:00

Emilio at Jalozai - 02

2009-06-06T16:25:00.000-07:00

Emilio at Jalozai - 01

2009-06-06T16:23:00.000-07:00

WFP Distribution - 03

2009-06-02T13:31:00.000-07:00

WFP Distribution - 02

2009-06-02T13:30:00.000-07:00

WFP Distribution - 01

2009-06-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

Destruaction @ large

2009-05-28T15:01:00.000-07:00

The Holy Book - 02

2009-05-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

The Holy Book - 01

2009-05-28T13:49:00.000-07:00

Mosque Destruction

2009-05-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

Central mosque of the Sultan Vas village destroyed by an air-strike.

Back to Home

2009-05-27T16:48:00.000-07:00

The residents of 'Sultan Vas' village on their way back to their destroyed village in Buner district of NWFP.

Pir Baba 1 KM

2009-05-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

Pir Baba 1 km - last check post of Pakistan Army.

Walls of Buner

2009-05-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

Walls of the Sultan Vas village of Buner district of NWFP.

Emilio @ Work

2009-05-27T16:15:00.000-07:00

Emilio is working in 'Sultan-Vas' village in Buner district of NWFP, Wednesday May 27th, 2009.

The dilemma!

2009-05-26T16:36:00.000-07:00

The dilemma of internally displaced persons

Wed, 2009-05-27 - By Asif Haroon Raja

In the aftermath of Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979, Pakistan had to bear the burden of over 3.5 million Afghan refugees; 1.7 millions have still not returned. Besides the economic burden, they have inflicted huge damage to the social fabric of the society particularly where their influx has been the maximum. Large percentage of Afghan refugees who had not been confined to the camps is living in all parts of the country. They are being cultivated by foreign agencies based in Kabul to serve their sinister designs.

Pakistan is now caught up with another similar situation in the wake of military operations in Lower Dir, Buner and Swat as a result of which over 2.5 million internally displaced people (IDPs) have posed a new kind of challenge to the government. The idea was to battle the militants head on, eliminate and flush them out of the valley and adjoining areas. What has actually happened is that peaceful residents have been unwittingly flushed out in massive numbers. The massive outflow was not anticipated either by NWFP or federal governments and hence was caught with their pants down.

Only 20% of the IDPs are residing in 26 camps in six districts of NWFP while 80% are living under own arrangements either in unused school buildings, under construction colonies or with relatives and friends. They came in their personal clothing with small bags and no cash since the banks had become non-operative. Coming from hill stations, the sweltering heat under thin tents with no electricity is a real test of their forbearance. Although hectic efforts are underway to provide basic amenities to the IDPs living in camps, so far the situation has not been controlled due to gigantic challenges. The NWFP government was neither prepared for such a large influx, nor equipped to deal with it. The federal government was slow in its response and did not take up the matter in real earnest.

About 4000 displaced persons, mostly children, women and old men tried to enter Sindh to find shelter with their kin and acquaintances but were stopped at Kashmore by Sindh government under pressure from Sindh nationalist parties led by JSQM and MQM. Uprooted from their homes, leaving behind their cattle, standing crop, cash in banks and entire household items, caught in the crossfire of the militants and the security forces, they have been turned into refugees within their homeland and some political leaders are trying to equate them with Afghan refugees while others are expressing fears that Taliban in the guise of IDPs might enter Sindh to disturb law and order. Strikes were observed in Sindh to protest their entry and to force the government to either return them or get each individual registered and confined to camps only.

Such vile elements must know that there is a large percentage of well-to-do among them who had to abandon their homes to save their lives. Even a poverty stricken Pakhtun has an ego, self-respect and pride and doesn’t like to be treated as a beggar. Unless the IDPs are handled with extreme care, they can become another security hazard in the future over which the state will have no control.

Every third person will become a non-state actor and an easy prey for the Taliban to make him a member of Tehrik-e-Taliban. It would give an excuse to US drones to freely choose targets and launch strikes in all nooks and corners of the country. While the elites would still be residing in safer environments of Red and Green Zones, security guards and bullet proof cars, the have-nots will be at the mercy of miscreants, Taliban and the drones.

It will be the deracinated, dispersed, dispossessed, disempowered and demoralized lot of IDPs that would decide the victory or defeat of Malakand battle. They are a momentous vulnerability and with each passing day this issue would get more and more complex and grave. Its tremors are felt in each and every nook and corner of the country.. Sindh in particular is getting restive on the issue of IDPs. The ANP-MQM collision and Pakhtun-Mohajir ethnic clash seems imminent. The IDPs are there to be won over by the rulers and the elites or lost to the detractors of Pakistan. This window of opportunity will remain open for a short period. Time is running out for the government and not for the Taliban and foreign agencies that are in no hurry. In fact they want prolongation of war and multiplication of discomforts of the IDPs. Longer the period of trial and tribulation for the IDPs, greater will be their sufferings leading to despair and hopelessness. It would open up greater opportunities for the vested groups to exploit and poison their minds and alienate them and turn them into suicide bombers. They would have achieved a great deal if they manage to cultivate few thousands from within 2.5 million whose patience is fast wearing thin.

Lots of funds are pouring in from international donors while local philanthropists are contributing handsomely towards various funds opened for welfare of IDPs. These are in addition to regular flow of assistance in kind from people belonging to all classes.. What is required is efficient and speedy distribution to the needy. While the public got energized at its own in no time to reach out to the IDPs in distress to ease their pains, the government response was sluggish. President Zardari remained out of the country for almost a month and so were ANP leader Asfandwali and some other political leaders during this critical juncture. The gravity of the situation demanded declaration of emergency to cope with extraordinary human tragedy of gigantic proportions. Punjab government as well as PML-N leader Nawaz responded with greater alacrity and took practical measures to provide speedy relief to the affected people and opened the gates of Punjab for IDPs. However, the tendency of point scoring to earn political mileage is again in display as was seen during the 2005 earthquake. Practice of showoff and boastful claims of sending so many truckloads of relief goods on media to gain popularity is against the spirit of Islam.

I recall the earthquake that struck Swat in 1975 causing extensive destruction, in the wake of which huge aid poured in from international community. The then populous leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto visited Swat and during his emotional speech to the grief stricken people he vowed to convert the devastated valley into a paradise with the help of external assistance received. His promise remained unfulfilled and the people as well as the valley remained as backward as ever except for the tourism industry picking up n 1990s. Had the amount received been honestly utilized for the uplift of Swat and its people, the phenomenon of Talibanisation would never have crept into this neglected region.

Each time that aid has flowed in from outside after natural or manmade calamities, it is frittered away by the corrupt and inefficient managers leaving behind tales of bungling and corruption. There is lot of cribbing among the people of Azad Kashmir where a mammoth earthquake had occurred in October 2005.

They say that only a fraction from the colossal amount donated by internal and external donors has been spent on reconstruction and rehabilitation. Given the poor track record, it is wished the incumbent regime makes amends and shows better results. It should shed away its traditional lackluster approach and for a change put its best foot in front to undertake relief works in real earnest. Provision of relief to IDPs is first phase only. The crucial and most difficult phase will be their rehabilitation and reactivation of people friendly civil administration for which comprehensive plans must be chalked out now.

Asif Haroon Raja is Rawalpindi based freelance defence and political analyst.

NWFP & Talibanization

2009-05-26T16:23:00.001-07:00