Reported by Zar Ali Khan Afridi
27th June, 2014
North Waziristan is one of the
seven Agencies of Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan FATA. Basically
Waziristan has been administratively divided into two parts one is called South
Waziristan and other is known as North Waziristan. North and South Waziristan
agencies were formed in 1896 by The English then rulers of undivided India. This
is a mountainous region and bordering with Afghanistan which covers an area of
11,585 square kilometers. Miramshah is the head quarters of North Waziristan
where political Administration and its offices are present. Total distance between Bannu a settled
district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and North Waziristan is not more than 30
kilometers. It is just one hour drive from Bannu to Miramshah in peace time
while in present situations it takes days and nights to reach Bannu. In North
Waziristan two main Pashtun tribes are residing. They
are Wazir and Dawar.
Waziristan became very famous
after 2001 when foreign forces came to Afghanistan to flush out terrorists from
there. It is believed that thousands of foreign ethnic and local Taliban took
refuge in Waziristan. Here this should be clarified that the terrorists were
not invited rather they came themselves and made people of Waziristan as
hostage. May be few people might have sided with them for their material gain
etc. but the rest were against advent of terrorists to Waziristan. For the last
10 years Pakistan military is present in Waziristan and several operations
against terrorists have been launched but none has shown any good result. This
time Government has taken a decision to wipe out all terrorists from Waziristan
and clear the area from terrorism. Pakistan Army launched an operation in
recent days on June 15, 2014 in Waziristan called Zarb-i-Azb. This operation
has also sparked humanitarian crisis. According to an estimate by Afghanistan
government over 60,000 people have fled to Afghanistan to take refuge there.
The number of people displaced
from North Waziristan has increased to over 455000 people with over 74 percent
of those displaced, women and children.
Only on June 23, 2014 after
operation launched on 15th of June, 2014 total families were
displaced from North Waziristan two sub division Mir Ali and Miram shah. The
break up is as given.
Total families registered: 36392
Number of Male: 118753
Female: 142113
Children: 0.3 million
Total individuals: 450681
Out of which only 20 families
opted to stay in a camp set up by Government for IDPs at Bakakhel an area of
FR-Bannue which is a tribal territory.
When IDPs at a camp were asked
about situations of children in present day crisis, their problems and needs
they replied like it.
A center at Madrassa Haqqania has
been established for children where they are provided shelter, food and lodging.
As for as 120 children are missing. Only 20 of them have been recovered so for
and the rest are not known as where they have gone to. It means 100 children
are reported to have gone missing. More
than 100 children died during travelling. Now a day there is summer and weather
is very harsh. Sun is scorching children. Dehydration issues erupted and many
children were perished without being noticed. No one cares for children. In
wars and conflicts women and children are prone. They are targeted. Same is case
with us and our children who are very much vulnerable, Said one of the IDPs without disclosing his
name due to fear of both military and militants and political administration
who have directed orders to them not to come closer with people who ask you
questions. So most of the participants
avoided interacting with us to talk clearly because Damocles sword seemed
hanging over their heads. One of the participants said that a tractor trolley
was taking three families which over turned during its journey from North
Waziristan to Bannu. On way it overturned and immediately 4 children died and
16 other are still lying in Hospital. Name of Hospital is Khalifa Gul Nawaz
which is a famous hospital of Bannu. In Bannu there is no electricity and load
shedding is very frequent so health condition of children is worst. Due to
harsh summer weather many children died. Thousand suffer from diarrhea,
dehydration, scabies, and many more diseases. Children are wearing chappals
which are also harmful for children. Children also lack food as food is not
sufficient for families and in package children have been neglected. Their
priority needs include protection, food, shelter, health, water, sanitation,
fans, solar system, hygiene kits etc.
Due to restrictions on National
and International NGOs and donor agencies situations of children can not be
improved so government should be requested to allow donor organizations to
extend assistance to IDPs in general and children of IDPs in particular.
Total number of children of IDPs are
exceeding 0.2 million so for said Irfan
Durrani an ex MPA of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and nephew of Akram Khan
Durrani former Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Children suffer most. We know there are
problems of every thing and government has imposed restriction on NGOs which
speaks apathy on part of government. He said children need dry milk, nets to be
protected from mosquitoes, food, biscuits, garments, shoes, schools, drinking
water, solar system and protection houses in case of orphans or missing. Most of children who are orphans they neither
have families nor are having CNICs. So they are not registered. Their
registration is needed. Those IDPs who
have come on straight road from North Waziristan to Bannu and other parts of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa they have been formally registered but there are thousand
and thousand who have come through mountains or other ways and roads they have
not been registered. They need registration. Their children who are thousand in
numbers should also be registered immediately as they need food, cash and
protection. Missing and orphan children issue is alarming because in such like
situations children traffickers also become active. They catch such children
especially girls children and use them for their nefarious designs and vested
interest. Government needs mechanism for it because it is a serious issue and
up till now no action has been taken so for and no seriousness has been shown
in this regard to tackle this important problem confronting children.
A special distribution point is
needed to be opened for children. Pediatricians
and psychologists are also needed for children to bring them out of trauma.
Many children are still afraid of military personnel when they look at them
plying on roads. Special hospitals for
children and women are needed to be opened immediately. UNICEF should be
allowed to work for children welfare in camps and other places where IDPs
children are living with their families. Many children are stuck up along with
their families in North Waziristan who could not find way to come out or many
are living in mountainous areas who did not understand situations. They are in
their homes. Government is not allowing them to come out of their homes. They
have nothing to eat. Their children are suffering from food shortage,
medicines, disease, etc. There are males who have gone to North Waziristan from
Bannu to bring the left over members of the families the government has clamped
curfew for indefinite time and they are stuck up there. The children are
suffering here in Bannu and male members are confined to their homes in North
Waziristan who can not come out of their houses. No there is neither food with
them nor other edible so there is a humanitarian crisis. This needs to be
resolved immediately.
Officials of one of the aid
agencies working there on condition of not disclosing their names as they are
not authorized to talk to media or other who work for welfare of children at
camp said, that they have treated only 450 children between 0-15 years so for.
He said respiratory tract infections are common due to long travelling and dust
in area. Diarrhea, scabies, and other skin related diseases are common. Provision of ORL in case of dehydration is
very important. Besides, trauma centers
should also be established, milk, food items and many such things which are
related to children are needed to be provided to children. Toys are also very
precious things for children which should also be provided.
Issues and recommendation regarding children of IDPs
1.
They need food, drinking water, nets to be
protected from mosquitoes and dry milk.
2.
They need hospitals and doctors to be treated as
most of the children are suffering from diarrhea, dehydration and skin diseases
3.
They need pediatricians and psychologists
4.
Trauma centers are needed to be set up.
5.
Unregistered children especially orphans who are
having no family should be registered and all needs and facilities should be
provided to them.
6.
Children need protection as most of families are
unprotected because they have nothing to protect themselves.
7.
Most of
children are missing. Special centers are needed to be set up to help them
recover and meet them with dears and nears.
8.
Sports
equipments and toys should be provided to them.
9.
Children also need to be protected sexually,
emotionally and physically.
10.
Schools are needed to be established and books,
copies, bags and stationery etc should be provided.
11.
ORS is also needed as most of children are
leading their days and nights under open sky in scorching heat in summer.
12.
Solar fans and solar energy system is one of the
foremost needs of children as load shedding has bewildered children.
13.
Child Rights related NGOs and donor agencies
including UNICEF should be allowed to work there for welfare and protection of
children of IDPs.
Regards
Zar Ali Khan Afridi
Executive Director
Society for Rights and
Development
Chairman
Tribal NGOs Consortium
Coordinator
Child Rights Movement FATA
+92-301596333
