No additional aid for IDPs in Ramazan
24 August, 2009
PESHAWAR: Contrary to their expectations, the uprooted families from Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies, particularly living in camps, did not get extra ration for Ramazan. Living at the makeshift Katcha Garhi camp in Peshawar, the IDPs from Bajaur demanded of the government, the UN and other relief agencies for special package for the month of fasting. The IDPs said they were assured of help for Ramazan but nothing had been done so far. During a visit to the Katcha Garhi Camp housing over 2,000 displaced families, an official told our sources the UNHCR had collected data from the camp residents to find out their demand for extra food during the month. No additional aid was, however, coming in despite the beginning of the month on Saturday, he added. The official said the IDPs direly needed additional food, squashes and fruit, the items usually used during Iftar in normal conditions. A similar situation was reported from Jalozai. Although, some teams of aid agencies registered the families about a week before the start of the holy month, dwellers of the makeshift camps complained they were getting nothing. Ghuncha Gul, inmate of the Jalozai settlement, said no fresh assistance was distributed to them and the camp officials had told them that cooked food would be distributed for Iftar, but nothing was there. According to camp officials, nearly 4,500 families were living at the Jalozai camp. They said all the Swat families had left the settlement. The officials said registration of the IDPs was completed before Ramazan, but aid was likely to be distributed in a day or so. End.
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