Pakistan: World Must Not Forget IDPs

There will be no exaggeration to state here that internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Malakand Division and tribal areas have given sacrifice for saving the entire world so now this is the responsibility of the whole world to provide some suppport to them. The government of Pakistan has formed the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) headed by NWFP Relief Commissioner Muhammad Azam Khan with the sole objective to provide some relief to the IDPs, who have been living in the tents in this scorching heat. But at the moment the main problem is the funding. The recent bombing in the only  five star hotel of Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province has affected the relief operation badly as most of the representatives of donor agencies including the United Nations have left Peshawar in a haste.

Muhammad Azam Khan has been using all his energies for making the relief operation more effective and transparent, but he cannot do this alone. He will certainly be needing the support of the whole world in his effort for the IDPs. Actually the people of Malakand Division and tribal areas are the victims of war on terrorism, which is being fought by the whole world with the United States in the driving seat, therefore, now it is obiligatory on the whole world to cater to the need of the IDPs. According to observers, if immediate help has not been provided to the IDPs then there is possibility of a bloody revolution in Pakistan, which will affect the whole world. US President Barack Obama will be aware of the crisis as he had sent his envoy to Pakistan recently. The Obama's envoy during his visit to IDPs camp promised that the United States would provide more fund for the relief and rehabilitation of victims of war on terrorism.

According to observers, the world should provide direct funds to the Emergency Response Unit as it is the only authority having the responsibility of providing relief to the IDPs. The ERU has so far showed good performance as it has provided relief kits to each IDPs families besides holding sport festival for the IDPs children. But still a lot to be done. At the moment IDPs have been passing through a trauma.

"A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Horizon, which works in the mental health sector, has noted with concern that majority of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are suffering from anxiety, depression and trauma.

The organisation noted the observations during a free medical camp that it arranged in collaboration with another partner organisation, ANAM, in Mardan to provide free medical and mental health facilities to over 500 IDPs.

Professor Khalid Mufti, former principal of the Khyber Medical College and director of Horizon, headed the two-member team of psychiatrists and three volunteers at the Government High School Toru, Mardan.

It was observed that 85 per cent of the IDPs examined at the camp were suffering from anxiety, depression and trauma affected-symptoms with partially fulfilled unmet needs of housing, clean water, congestion and privacy. Panic reactions for missing family persons were also seen.

Maladjusted, weary and fearful children presented the psychosomatic symptoms and behavior problems. Surprisingly, nine out of 120 children suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms for the first time. Only three severely disturbed mentally ill were identified as Borderline Personality Disorder and schizophrenia.

These IDPs were given first aid counseling and antidepressant medication. One highly disturbed patient was referred and admitted to Ibadat hospital Peshawar. Electric fans, toys and summer cotton clothes to women were distributed. Soap, toothpastes, hairbrushes and talcum powder distribution were readily received as a preferred need."

Source: thenews.com.pk