Foreign NGOs to stay away from IDPs over security concerns

[Naveed Yaseen]

* SSG chairman encourages philanthropists to contribute for IDPs’ welfare
* Threat of terrorists posing as IDPs cannot be ruled out

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The government is not encouraging foreign non-government organisations (NGOs) to directly partake in assisting the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of South Waziristan due to security concerns, Special Support Group (SSG) Chairman Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed said on Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference, he said 45,138 families displaced from South Waziristan had been registered so far. He said the government had not established any camps for the IDPs due to security concerns, adding that most of the displaced had migrated to Dera Ismail Khan and Tank, where they were staying with relatives, friends, host families or in rented houses.

Contribute: The chairman encouraged philanthropists to contribute for the welfare of the IDPs, adding the government had devised a strict audit mechanism to ensure the contributions were utilised in a transparent manner.

Disguise: To a question, he said the possibility that terrorists might be posing as IDPs could not be ruled out, adding the government had set up measures to catch any terrorist trying to hide among the IDPs. He said 26,606 IDP families had undergone the verification process and 18,688 families had been declared eligible, adding the rest of the cases were still being processed. Gen Ahmad said each IDP family was being provided Rs 5,000 to buy essential food items.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg1_6