Verification of South Waziristan's IDPs completed: UNHCR

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) registration records for internally displaced people from South Waziristan in Dera Ismail Khan and Tank have now been verified by the National Database and Registration Authority with about 275,000 people (comprising 37,787 families) confirmed as eligible.
Another 17, 546 families were deemed ineligible due to multiple registrations, issues around the validity of national ID cards, or because they are not from the affected areas though families rejected on these latter two categories in particular have the chance to appeal.
"With the conclusion of the verification process, the registration of displaced people from South Waziristan is now largely complete as there have been no new registration applications lodged over the past week," said Mengesha Kebede, UNHCR's Pakistan Representative.
"However, the registration and grievance desks at the four centres in DI Khan and Tank will remain open for the time being to ensure those people not verified, due to problems with ID cards for example, have a chance to seek redress. There may also be others affected by the conflict not yet registered."
"While verification is important to ensure assistance goes to those in need, we have to ensure that any genuinely displaced but not registered do not fall through the cracks," said Kebede. UNHCR is supporting the registration of displaced people from South Waziristan, which is being carried out by the NWFP Social Welfare Department supported by a local NGO.
A total of 54,333 families were registered in DI Khan and Tank between August and November 2009. Nadra carried out a verification process to check for duplicate registrations and against national ID data, verifying 67 percent of total applications.
Of those not verified, 20 percent were rejected due to multiple registration issues, around 11 percent for issues regarding national ID cards, and almost 2 percent were deemed not from the affected area.
Since September, UNHCR has also been distributing relief supplies like sleeping mats, quilts, and jerry cans to registered displaced families, with more than 242,000 people (comprising 33,000 families) assisted to date. Last week, UNHCR began distributing tents to families staying with host communities to alleviate overcrowding and expand living space.