PESHAWAR: Provincial Relief Commissioner and Incharge of Emergency Response Unit (ERU) Muhammad Azam Friday suggested that the government should divert all its financial resources to help and rehabilitate IDPs of Malakand Division and tribal areas where the army has been conducting a big operation against the miscreants.

“If immediate help is not provided to the IDPs then there is possibility of another great human tragedy,” said ERU Incharge Muhammad Azam Khan while talking to a private TV channel. He said that the people of Malakand division have paid great sacrifices for the state as they have vacated their homes to make army operation against miscreants possible and more effective so now this is the responsibility of the state to provide them all-out help. “The Federal government should show speed in releasing fund for providing relief to the IDPs,” he added.

Muhammad Azam said the quantum of IDP’s influx required massive resources, therefore, the Federal government should release appropriate funds to handle the process urgently.

Muhammad Azam Khan said the uplift of IDPs would not only enable them to make a positive contribution to the development of the country, but also help in ensuring that the militants do not exploit the vulnerability of the displaced population.

“We have to win the hearts and minds of the people. We need to do something concrete and visible on priority basis for the people of area,” he said.

According to him, the recent military operation against miscreants by the army in Swat, Dir, Buner and adjacent locations to uproot the terrorists from the region has had a telling effect on the innocent people, who are suffering and are actually being displaced out of their homes and since the start of the operation have been migrating to safer regions like Mardan, Charsadda and Peshawar.

He said that in the wake of army operation against miscreants, the Federal government and international community seemingly do not fully comprehend the gravity of the humanitarian situation of over three million IDPs.

According to him, the ERU established by the NWFP government for monitoring and controlling the relief operation is working around the clock to meet the needs of IDPs.

He said that the loss of civilian property as a result of the army operation is severe and will hinder the return of IDPs to their homes.