The continuing crises in Khyber Agency’s Bara is multiplying the miseries of the local tribesmen as most of them are abandoning homes and shifting to safer places. According to the UNHCR official so far 101,160 individuals have been registered as internally displaced persons (IDP’s) from Khyber Agency. Majority of them included women and children and they abandoned homes in Bara plain and also in Upper Bara, commonly known as Tirrah Valley. The government initiated military action against militants in Bara region on January 20. The action is still continuing.
Local tribesmen claim that militants are now chasing them till Peshawar city whereas almost of the abandoned homes become dins and torture cells. The UNHCR spokesperson said everyday 2,000 people approaching the registration centre at Jalozai for registration. She said 80 percent of the registered people prefers stay in Peshawar with relatives, friends and even in rented homes. Only those wants to stay in Jalozai camp who lacking relatives. Adnan Khan, spokesman for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and UNHCR spokesperson have termed the situation very tense as influx of IDP’s from Khyber Agency is in progress. Adnan said that UN affiliated agencies extending maximum cooperation in settlement of these IDP’s. The UNHCR is providing tents, World Programme is providing edible items whereas the World Health Organisation is providing health services. However, the local volunteers and IDP elders said that now their problems are increasing day by day as almost of them belong to cold areas and it is hard for them to stay in tents. Likewise they said that they facing due facilities in camps. Besides Khyber Agency, a large number of tribesmen from South Waziristan, Kurram and Orakzai are also living as IDP’s in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjoining tribal regions. Situation is now normal in Mehsud dominated areas of South Waziristan but the authorities yet to take steps for their repatriation.
