PESHAWAR, Oct 15: Federal government has yet to fulfil its commitment about releasing funds for relief activities in the province as the NWFP Relief Commission is finding it hard to cope with the internally displaced people, officials say.

An official told Dawn that the federal government had pledged in August last to release Rs100 million for the IDPs but the commission did not receive a single penny so far. He said that federal government had repeatedly been reminded to fulfil its promise but in vain.

“We never put a demand before the federal government but it announced to provide Rs100 million for relief activities,” the source said, adding that centre had donated only 50 trucks loaded with relief items before announcing Rs100 million.

Separately, officials said, NWFP government had sought Rs2 billion from the centre for the rehabilitation of flood affected people in Peshawar but that request had not been accepted.

Flashflood had wrecked havoc on the outskirts of the provincial capital on August 4 and some 200,000 people became homeless.

The resource-strapped Frontier province, which had been accommodating about two million Afghans, was now receiving influx of the IDPs from Fata, which officials said would further over burdened its infrastructure and resources.

Sources in NWFP Relief Commission said that number of IDPs was increasing and people from the conflict-hit areas of the tribal region were seeking shelter in relief camps in the province. “Taking care of Fata people is not the provincial government’s domain. Centre should take responsibility and cater to the needs of the tribesmen,” sources said.

According to the relief commission 97,263 IDPs had been registered only from Bajaur tribal region and fresh exodus was continued. Officials said that 29,497 IDPs had been provided shelter in relief camps in different parts of the province while 67,766 individuals had taken shelter with relatives and friends.

Statistics about displaced people from others areas of Fata like Kurram, Orakzai, Mohmand, Darra Adamkhel, South Waziristan and other areas have not been compiled. Fresh exodus from Mehsud areas of the South Waziristan has been reported and IDPs are heading towards Sindh province.

Relief commission has established 10 camps for the IDPs in Lower Dir, Nowshera, Kohat, and Peshawar districts. United Nations’ partners, International Committee of the Red Cross, Pakistan Red Crescent Society and national societies from Muslim and European countries are providing food and shelter to IDPs in these camps.

“Ironically, response from the federal government and general public isn’t encouraging and the commission is only relying on UN and foreign relief bodies,” remarked an official.

“Federal government should not only provide funds but also launch aggressive campaign to mobilise general masses and international community to acquire more funds and donations for the IDPs,” he said.

With conflict intensifying in Fata and Swat district officials foresee more dislocation in the coming days.