PAKISTAN – Internally displaced population grows, unreachable for support
17 May 2009 10:21 pm

Thousands
of people are displaced in northwest frontier province of Pakistan,
because of fighting between Taliban militants and the Pakistan army.
Many in Lower Dir District, west of the province, began leaving their
homes last
week as a result of the conflict. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)'s report, there are 462,912 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Pakistan outside
camps in the northwest frontier province, and 93,627 at IDP camps (as of 28 April 2009).
Thousands
of people are displaced in northwest frontier province of Pakistan,
because of fighting between Taliban militants and the Pakistan army.
Many in Lower Dir District, west of the province, began leaving their
homes last
week as a result of the conflict.

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)'s report, there are 462,912 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Pakistan outside
camps in the northwest frontier province, and 93,627 at IDP camps (as of 28 April 2009). The IDP figures were constantly
changing. UNHCR office in Islamabad had registered 4,000 more displaced persons
by 5 May. It is also reported that the Pakistani authorities have urged people to
leave the Swat Valley.

The
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), a FORUM-ASIA member, called
on the government to immediately set up a special task force to
implement a crash plan for extending relief to the large number of
people
displaced in the ongoing conflict in the country's northern part. Below
is their statement, issued on 7 May.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called upon the
federal government to immediately set up a special task force to implement a
crash plan for extending relief to the large number of people displaced in the
ongoing conflict in the country's northern part. In a statement issued today,
the commission said:

"The plight of the people displaced from their homes in Swat,
Dir and Buner as a result of militants' activities and the security forces'
operations against them is getting more and more serious day by day. The number
of these IDPs may soon touch a million mark. The circumstances in which these
unfortunate people have been forced to abandon their homes have made it
impossible for them to find succour on their own. Many among them, from barbers
and musicians to teachers and lawyers, lost their means of income weeks and
months ago and are now in dire straits. Their needs for relief are both urgent
and substantial".

"HRCP believes the NWFP government's plan to set up six camps
in Swabi will not touch even a fringe of the problem. The matter is clearly
beyond the provincial government's means and capacity. The federal government
must take matters into its hands and set up a special task force manned by
people skilled in relief work. Since the number of IDPs is likely to grow it is
necessary to draw up a master plan for looking after them in the days and weeks
ahead. The civil society organisations also must rise to the occasion and
convince the innocent victims of conflict that they are not going to be
abandoned".

Asma Jahangir
Chairperson