Relief activities in NWFP: security concerns prevent donor agencies to operate

Security concerns are preventing the federal government from allowing international relief and donor agencies to come to the rescue of the NWFP government people hit by floods and operation against militants in the tribal belt.
"We have been contacted by all important relief agencies for coming to the aid of the people affected by flood and operation. But security concern is creating hurdles in issuance of no objection certificate (NoC) to them to operate in the province," NWFP Relief Commissioner Jameel Amjad said while briefing media persons about relief work.
Floods from rains and operation against militants in Bajaur Agency have displaced more than 0.5 million people. The NWFP government has established about 12 relief camps for the flood affected people of Peshawar and 17 relief camps have been established for displaced people of Bajaur Agency.
Initially the province had sought Rs 1.5 billion from federal government. "The matter has been raised by Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti with Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani himself," the relief commissioner said. He said that payment of compensation to the affected people is must for enabling them to start rehabilitation.
The office of the Relief Commission, he said, had put up the case of the declaration of the affected 22 patwars of district Peshawar before the Chief Minister. On approval, he said, the affected areas would be exempted from abyiana and agricultural income tax for at least one year.
Regarding the relief operation for the influx of people from Bajaur, Regional Co-ordination Officer (RCO), and Fazal Karim Khattak said that 220,000 people have migrated from Bajaur Agency to Lower Dir. He said that although it was sudden and unexpected, but still the district administration faced the situation with bravery and established three relief camps.
The increase of the influx with the passage of time, the number of relief camps in Lower Dir had gone up to 12 where 56000 displaced people have been stationed. Another large number of the displaced people had either shifted to the houses of their relatives or taking refuge in schools and other government buildings.
The provincial government is spending Rs 0.3 million daily on provision of food to the people in relief camps and the department of health is providing medical facilities. "FATA Secretariat has reportedly purchased medicines worth Rs 2 million for Bajaur Agency people," Khattak said.
Three more camps, he said, had been established for people from Tehsil Arang Barang of Bajaur Agency--two in Dargai and one in Kot, a frontline town of Malakand Agency. More than 15000 people had entered Malakand. However, only 1100 are still residing in the camps as most of them shifted to downward districts. About the living of IDPs under open sky on roadside, he said that such people may not have reported to the relief camps.