NCHD to Extend All-Out Support to IDPs

The News
Wednesday, May 20, 2009

ISLAMABAD: Special Committee on National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) Chairperson Faryal Talpur has directed the NCHD to extend all out support to internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Malakand Division.

A high-ranking NCHD official, Qamar Goreja, told ‘The News’ that in this regard a NCHD delegation headed by NCHD Chief Operating Officer Zulfiqar Ahmad met District Coordination Officer (Mardan) Adil Khan.

Goreja said that the DCO Mardan apprised the NCHD delegation in detail about the relief operation. The DCO Mardan said that a large number of internally displaced persons were lodged in 83 government schools in 35 union councils of the district and asked NCHD to provide mobile medical support to IDPs, lodged in these government schools.

The DCO Mardan was apprised by NCHD Chief Operating Officer Zulfiqar Ahmad that the NCHD has initiated various activities on war footing in the fields of health, education and other relief work. “In Health, we are conducting mobile medical camps and covering the IDPs sheltered in various schools all over the district. The minimum number of Mobile Medical camps held on a daily basis is twelve. Our target is to cover more than 400 IDPs camps established in schools. The district government has closed all schools and the school buildings are also being used, as IDPs camps. During the past days, thousands of IDPs have been provided medical support through NCHD Mobile Medical Camps. We intend continuing these camps on daily basis and have already chalked out a three months programme for conducting these medical camps. In addition, a fully equipped ambulance is available at our base camp for transporting emergency cases to the two-referral points in the city.”

Zulfiqar Ahmad said that another area in which NCHD has intervened is the establishment of IDP camp schools in various tent villages. “So far, NCHD has opened 8 tent schools in 4 tent villages in coordination with the District Education Department-Mardan. Number of children in these schools is more than 1,000. In these schools, besides providing formal education, our aim is to engage the children in recreational activities so as to get them out of the trauma they are undergoing at present. Similarly, we intend conducting various sports activities for these children.”