IDPs: Challenge for PAkistan

[kamran akber]

IDPs: Challenge for Pakistan
By: KAMRAN AKBER SOOMRO

Soon after the decision of Pakistan government to initiate military operation in Northern areas of Swat and adjacent tribal areas Buner and Lower Dir, a large number of local people started leaving their homes and migrating to other parts of the country being afraid of the militants and their operations.
These Internally Displace Persons “IDPs”, which have been reported to be more than five million in number have scattered to the hook and corner of the country. The emergence of this issue created abundance of enigmas in the atmosphere of uncertainty and complexity. The People already were scared of the recurrent suicide bombings and other terrorist activities, now they had to face this new problem. Government itself encountered the questions of proper settlement and arrangement of this large number of immigrants, who had left everything back and were to be given shelter, food and other basic necessities of life. But the most critical issue was that of improper management and registration of the displaced.

These IDPs have and will have a greater impact on the overall situation of the country, state of the Human Rights, interprovincial relations and above all the Economic condition of the country. Some of the major challenges that are posed by these internally displaced persons are shortly described below:

> Proper Management of the migrants
It is the most important thing to consider when dealing with a large number of people of different ages, with different languages and cultures who are being displaced due to the terrorist activities in their native areas. The administration and the concerned authority are liable and responsible to carefully manage the influx of migrants. They must arrange proper settlement and travel facility for them and must help them reach safe places for their stay.

> Proper Registration and statistical record
Once these IDPs are settled in any part of the country, they must be cautiously registered for the accurate and correct statistical record. It will help in knowing the exact number of persons who have been shifted to a particular area of the country. The accurate record will also help plan for the enough accommodation and provision.


> Militants disguised as common men
It is a big problem to distinguish the militants amongst the uncountable migrants. This fear was also expressed by many political leaders and ruling buddies that it is a hard job to find out whether all the people being shifted are innocents… the only way to believe and that may also delude is that they are unequipped. It is possible that the militants may blend with the effected persons and may carry out terrorist activities throughout the country on large scale…

> Opposition From the other provinces
On the other side, almost all the provinces and their people opposed the influx of IDPs in their areas. Especially in Sindh, many Nationalist parties expressed grieve concern over this matter and they called for heavy strikes and boycotts throughout the provinces and were successful due to the cooperation of common men who also retained similar stand for the IDPs. Influx of people in huge number created agitation among the natives on the ground that they would badly impact on their economy by grabbing their resources and seizing employment opportunities which are already scarce and not enough even for the local people. Thus they took the displacement as the attack on their economy. Furthermore, this decision also initiated inter-provincial conflicts on the issue of accepting and embracing the victims of the war on terror.

> Dilemma of Identity
Another most critical and burning issue attached with the displacement of the people was that of the identity crisis due to jumbling of variety of people coming from diverse backgrounds with diverse thinking and living styles. It is a threat to the identity and originality of the local cultures, nations, tribes and the provinces. No any province is ready to lose its historic identity which is reflected and preserved by their common men. Once the external people merge with the local ones, they will influence upon the local language, culture and lifestyle. Moreover, this is also same when the situation is seen reversed, mean the IDPs also have to face the threat of losing their identity as they are scattered throughout the country and are disunited.

> Availability of basic necessities of life
Once the IDPs are settled down in the camps, they are to be provided with all the basic necessities of life from shelter, food, water to education and health. Millions of the people are waiting for the provision of these facilities but it looks a hard nut to crack for the government to manage all the people. It requires a large number of human capital and huge amount of funds to carry out the programs of welfare. Moreover, all these displaced are located in camps made of cloth, which are insecure and unsuitable for the season. Furthermore, even these camps are not enough to shelter the all immigrants and many of them are living under sky. These IDPs include a great fraction of women, children and the senior citizens; most of them need health facilities. But there are not enough medical doctors, medicine and other medical facility to deal such a large number of patients. The children in IDPs have been deprived of their education which is a serious concern. Their study has been disturbed and it will take time for them to reconstruct themselves until they are admitted in better educational institutions

> Heavy cost of bearing IDPs
Obviously it requires huge budget for dealing with heavy influx of the people and to meet their expenses. Programs initiated on mass scale need enough amount of money to carry out successfully. A big fraction of Federal Budget worth Rs. 50 Billion has been allocated for the rehabilitation, relief, reconstruction and security of the internally displaced persons. Moreover, President of Pakistan announced Relief package of Rs. 8 Billion for the IDPs on May 20. 2009. Moreover, many international organizations are working together with the government to manage and handle these IDPs by providing them basic necessities of life like UNDP, UNCHR, USAID, UNWFP, etc. Recently President of Pakistan went for foreign tour to generate funds for the rehabilitation of IDPS along with fighting terrorism in Pakistan.

> Security and safeguard of Human Rights
Another more critical challenge posed by the displaced people is the security and safeguard of millions of the humans who have been affected in the war against terror in Pakistan. It is a big responsibility and duty of the Government to preserve and provide the all human rights enjoyed by a common man. Albeit the authorities are concerned with this great dilemma, yet it looks a tough job to manage millions of the displaced and take care of their basic rights. It is observable how miserable life goes in tents and camps where families live like animals devoid of the real worth of a Human being! Even a large number of people do not have an access to enough food for two times a day, potable water and other necessities inside the camps!




> Question of quick and safe return of IDPs
Finally, it is to see when and how the IDPs are rehabilitated and returned to their own houses. Because, such a large number of people require big steps to be taken like building houses (mostly destroyed during the war on terror), creating safe and peaceful environment in the affected areas and providing opportunities to the common men for earning their livelihood. It is also suspected that majority of the displace people have been missed in the process of registration who live in other provinces in their rented houses or with their relatives, not settled in the official camps, cannot be ready to return to their areas where they feel insecure and find no benefit or reason any more to live in danger and affected environment. Rather, they may feel better and safer, both economically and psychologically to stay in other parts of the country! Thus creating trouble for the local people and causing fusion of cultures! Again the Government will have to spend a lot of money to reestablish the victims and will demand more foreign funds for successfully accomplishing the job. So it may take long time and enough budgets along with enough human resource to send the IDPs back to their areas.

> Conclusion
The decision of Military operation against the Militants was necessary as the need of hour, but this decision has cost a lot to Pakistan, IDPs being the one major end product. Now Pakistan Government has to carefully and cautiously move ahead to resolve this big dilemma and face this big Challenge boldly. Government must listen seriously and clarify the misconceptions, fears and dilemmas regarding the IDPs in the minds of Nationalist parties, people and the provinces in order to ensure their cooperation in dealing with the tragedy and get all along in the war against terrorism. Because no any war can be won without the support of the people!

[sumaira85]

Very good effort. i must appreciate. its simple and easy to understand...

[Asad ullah]

hi,
very good effort kamran.you ve got the power of creativity.
However,let me add.U can divide the topic in three parts:one,causes;two,impacts;three,remedy or solution.
firstly,the issue of IDPs is directly linked with the military operations in Malakand and Swat.
secondly,when u talk about the impacts ,then do mention the psychlogical disorder that is likely to disturb the future generatiion of the operational areas.For this,govt.deputed psychologists in the IDP camps to look after sensitive and psychlogically more vulnerable refugees.
thirdly,it is very pertinent to mention the economic problems faced by the govt. of Pak. and the claimed but unfulfilled pledges by the world community.Friends of Democratic Pakistan made tall claims that cuold never materialize and only a fraction of the announced aid could reach Pakistn.A huge resposibiltiy lies on the world community to come forward with much needed economic assistance that Pakistan legitimately deserves.

Keep it up dear and best of luck
With regards and best wishes
ASAD

[kamran akber]

thank you very much @ sumera, @ asad , sajid, sameen
@ asad, dear so kind of you to add ur comments, i do appreciate you...