ISLAMABAD: With the onset of winter, the fate of around 0.8 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) hangs in balance, who are still without warm clothes, blankets and other necessities of life.
Despite the fact that the weather is turning colder everyday, no efforts are being made to equip the IDPS to help them cope with coming harsh winter days. According to an official of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), around 818,065 people are still living at flood relief camps with meager resources.
Since most of the IDPs belong to Sindh where the climate is still warmer during days though the nights are getting colder, the authorities have time to provide them with amenities for sustainable living during winter. The official said that in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in southern Punjab, the weather conditions is making it hard for the IDPs who are already facing recurring outbreaks of a host of diseases due to poor hygiene and food shortage.
The official warned that if the immediate steps were not taken the children and the old could become victim of cold. He said so far 2,460,716 IDPs have returned to their homes. “In Punjab 2,262 people are living in seven camps, In Sindh, 785,474 people are being housed in 2,836 camps. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, only 1,000 people are living in two camps whereas in Balochistan 29,201 people are still living in 51 camps.
In Azad Jammu Kashmir, all the IDPS have returned to their homes. In Gilgit Baltistan, only 128 persons are living in one camp,” said the NDMA official. Despite repeated attempts, the official NDMA spokesperson was not available to comment.
