Tirah displaced families report aid delays as protest enters 65th day

PESHAWAR: Thousands of families displaced from Tirah Valley in Khyber District are still facing serious difficulties, as delays in financial assistance and uncertainty over their return continue to add to their problems.

The affected families, along with tribal elders, traders and protest leaders, have raised concerns over the handling of the situation and called for immediate steps to address their issues.

Kamaluddin Afridi, chairman of the 24-member Tirah Valley Affected Persons Committee, said the displaced people were living in difficult conditions as internally displaced persons. He said those affected were encountering several problems in receiving assistance, but added that the committee was trying to resolve the issues as soon as possible.

He said the committee remained in constant contact with the district administration and was also holding jirgas to address the matter. According to him, a major jirga on the return of Tirah Valley’s displaced families will be held soon, where important decisions are expected.

Registration and verification process

According to the Khyber District Administration, the registration of nearly 34,000 displaced families from Tirah Valley has been completed. Of these, 15,000 families have been verified, while 14,200 families have already been paid Rs240,000 each. Officials said the remaining around 800 families would receive the amount shortly.

District officials said the verification process had been made more transparent by adding certification from local tribal elders to the earlier use of polio data. Under the revised procedure, confirmation from four credible elders of the relevant tribe is now required for each family’s registration. After that, assistance is released through smart cards or cheques.

Protest continues outside Bara Press Club

Meanwhile, Sohbat Khan Afridi, spokesperson for the Tirah Affected Movement, said the protest sit-in outside Bara Press Club had entered its 65th day. He said the demonstration would continue until all demands of the affected people were accepted.

He said no senior government or political figure had so far held formal talks with the protesters, though some local politicians had expressed sympathy with them.

Listing the protesters’ demands, Sohbat Khan Afridi called for the agreement signed with the 24-member committee at the time of evacuation to be made public. He said the displacement was not voluntary but had been forced by circumstances, and therefore all commitments made to the people should be honoured.

He also demanded effective security for homes, markets and other properties, and called for strict legal action against those involved in looting or causing damage.

The issue of delayed aid and uncertainty over return has remained central to the concerns of the displaced families, while local representatives and protest leaders continue to press the administration for implementation of commitments made during the evacuation process.