On the edge of Pak killing fields

Bannu: Pakistan army’s military operation “Zarb-e-Azb” in North Waziristan has displaced some 7,50,000 people while locals claim over 8,50,000 have fled the region.

The Internally Displaced People at camps in Bannu, a district with over 2 million people, have had a long hard fight to reach the first safe haven. The displaced faced long 35 kilometer jams from Miranshah to Bannu, stretching an hour’s drive to over 25 hours; while those who walked took 3 days to reach.

Many died due to the blistering heat, and the lack of a single drop of water. Locals of Bannu were forced to stay away from Miranshah – the roads manned by armed forces and their registration centers at entry points to keep record of the IDPs entering from Pakistan’s disowned territory to an owned town.

Contrary to the army’s claims of full competency to house IDPs by establishing camps, facilitation centers and relief work; the condition on ground witnessed the opposite.

The IDPs, who, on average comprise of at least 15 persons per family, refused to stay in the small camps, made in an open ground. They were instead obliged by the welcoming locals of Bannu who gave them a place in their homes to take shelter.

“We welcomed them because we know their way of living. We share the same land. That is why we are comfortable having them with us.” said Mian Masood, an elder of Bozakhel village, housing at least 2500 IDPs attached to Bannu city.

But as days pass, the hope for comfort for the IDPs in Bannu have started to fade. Thousands of IDPs stand in long queues from 8 in the morning, waiting for their turn to get relief aid in form of food package for the month and an initial Rs.12,000/- ($121) in financial aid.

The queue that starts from morning looks exactly the same, even at 2am the following day, as IDPs keep pouring in to wait for relief aid. Unfortunately, the aid process has been running at snail’s pace, with thousands yet to be catered to with both food and financial aid.

The federal government which announced an increase of financial aid from Rs.12,000 per family to Rs.20,000 has declared an additional Rs.40,000 per family as special Ramadan package. But on ground, none of the IDPs has been given a single rupee extra over Rs.12,000 while thousands still await the minimum.

 

Fenced by terror

Bannu has been an area surrounded by troubled lands hit by terrorism. North Waziristan, known to be the main hub and safe haven to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), is the area of targeted bombings by US’ unmanned drone attacks.

On the other hand, Bannu is attached to Karak and Darra Adam Khel, leading to Kohat. Karak route has been used for NATO supplies, many of which have been torched by the TTP militants, while Darra Adam Khel is known to be house of ammunition, bomb making workshops and bullet bags.

On the other hand is Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan, both areas have been hit by terror attacks in the past.

Bannu itself has been a victim of terrorism for years as locals have been giving ransoms to TTP militants, living under threat of deadly attacks.

In 2012 Bannu saw the deadliest show of power by the TTP as over 400 militants entered into the city, broke through the Bannu Central Jail and fled away releasing dozens of their militants.

 

Minorities from North Waziristan

Amongst the thousands of IDPs relocated to different IDP camps in Pakistan, a big number of minorities have also moved. Christian, Hindu and Shia minorities have been relocated to three camps in Bannu, two of which are government school buildings while one is a Hindu temple.

Jamila, a 59-year-old elderly woman, along with her family of over 16 members, travelled 35 hours on a bus from her hometown Miranshah to Bannu. She expressed her gratitude over the treatment meted out to her and her family.

“We have no problems here. The people of Bannu have been generous to us all. They have given us shelter, food and water. They don’t treat us as minority. We are humans and are treated like one. I have no complain against them. This place is not like home, but at least it is sheltering me and my family.”

On being asked is they were discriminated in receiving relief, she replied, “So what we are Hindus? We have been living in North Waziristan for over 4 generations. For all of you, those areas might be terror hit region, but for us they are home. We have not suffered any problems being Hindus there.”

“We teach in schools and have small grocery shops there too. We don’t have to hide ourselves from anyone. So when we came here, we left our homes just like everyone else. We are in the same pain as any other IDP would be. We suffer the same problems that they suffer each day here. When the problem is on one person, it seems a big one, but when it is for all, then it doesn’t feel that big.”

It seems that misery has become a unifier in Pakistan even though in the recent past the country hogged headlines for violence against minorities.