AS Pakistan struggles to cope with the humanitarian disaster triggered by the army operation in Malakand and Fata, the financial and management challenges posed by the gigantic task at hand are coming to the fore. According to official estimates over 2.4 million have been uprooted from their homes though barely 200,000 have been accommodated in camps, the remaining being with kith and kin. This does not include the half a million displaced earlier. All these people have to be cared for if the war against the Taliban is to be won conclusively. Humanism and political compulsions demand the IDPs are not neglected otherwise the resultant feeling of alienation could undo the military victory the army hopes to achieve in Swat.

As is always the case in such emergencies, funds pose the biggest challenge. Caring for humanity that has been rendered homeless and is deprived of a livelihood requires money apart from organisational expertise. The federal and NWFP governments have been as generous as their limited resources have allowed. Public donations have also been pouring in though there are no reliable estimates of the assistance that has been generated in cash and kind. But there are some caveats the authorities should be alerted to. First of all, one cannot take it for granted that Pakistan’s financial requirements for providing relief and rehabilitation will be adequately met, notwithstanding the loud talk by foreign governments of extending a helping hand. The donors’ conference held on May 21 pledged $543.2m for IDPs. Will all of it be disbursed? Until now only 16 per cent has been delivered to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs through which international aid is being channelled. Past experience tells us that more is committed than actually given.

The government should therefore start chalking out plans for the IDPs so that the funds available for relief are used to optimum advantage. It is important to facilitate the return of the IDPs to areas which have been secured by the army and to ensure that their rehabilitation is feasible. It is felt that those who are forced to stay away from home for a longer period will need more care. It is important that shelter, food, healthcare and education for children are organised on an interim basis. Meanwhile it would help if the displaced people are associated with the planning and administration process as many of them were community leaders back home and are aware of the needs of their people.