PESHAWAR: The Grievance Redressal Committee at the Civil Secretariat Fata has directed the Fata Disaster Management Authority to avoid discriminating against the internally displaced persons of North Waziristan Agency and ensure uniform distribution of cash assistance to them at all designated points.

The directives were issued during a GRC meeting chaired by Fata additional chief secretary Azam Khan and attended by the FDMA officials, relevant political agent and North Waziristan elders, said an official statement issued on Wednesday.

The committee was set up to remove grievances of IDPs of the troubled tribal agency.

Fata Secretariat asks FDMA to set up additional food distribution point in Lakki

The statement said the FDMA was directed to set up an additional food distribution point in Lakki Marwat with the collaboration of the World Food Programme, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and local administration.

The directives were issued in the wake of the last week’s clash between IDPs and the police at a food distribution point set up at the Sports Complex, Bannu.

Nine IDPs and 14 policemen were injured in the clash. The police used force to disperse protesters.

The provincial government had ordered inquiry into the incident. Ninety-two IDPs arrested in the incident were freed from the Central Jail, Bannu on Saturday.

Over half million tribesmen have displaced from North Waziristan Agency in the wake of the Zarb-i-Azb military operation since last June.

The statement said the FDMA should contact the WFP to activate new food distribution hub in Lakki Marwat before December 5.

The FDMA was also asked to ensure that the WFP begin food cycle on time and extend schedule for the convenience of beneficiaries.

The UN agency is distributing around 5,000 metric tons of food items among IDPs every month.

“In order to facilitate smooth distribution of cash assistance, the meeting also decided that the FDMA would issue a letter to a cellular phone company to waive off biometric condition presently adopted by the company.”

The government had awarded contract to the cellular phone company for disbursement of cash assistance to IDPs through SIM cards.

The federal government is paying Rs12,000 cash assistance to every displaced family of North Waziristan.

IDPs from other tribal agencies have not been entitled to cash assistance.

The statement said the cellular phone company was directed to ensure the sending of SMS to the assistance beneficiaries within 24 hours of receiving funds.

It said the committee also decided that the IDPs secretariat would be contacted to request law-enforcement agencies to allow 10 relatives to accompany a deceased to native areas in North Waziristan Agency for burial.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2014