Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions Lt Gen (R)
Abdul Qadir Baloch Tuesday said that ration or cash assistance cannot match the
sacrifices of internally displaced persons.

Speaking at a seminar organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute
(SDPI), he said that North Waziristan Agency entire political administration
has shifted to Bannu to help IDPs.

Highlighting the assistance given to the IDPs, he said that for disbursement of
subsistence allowance, Zong Mobile company has distributed 45,000 SIMs to IDPs
out of which 39,619 have been activated.

He said that out of these activated SIMs messages regarding transfer of cash
assistance have been sent on 1900 SIMs.

Declaring IDPs national heros, the minister said that government is committed
to helping them in their of trial and tribulation.

Baloch said they have made best possible facilities at camps, however majority
preferred to stay with their relatives or in rented houses. He said that UAE
government has pledged an amount 2.5 million US $ for the relief operations,
adding that 13 trucks-load food baskets have reached Bannu and distributed
among the IDPs.

The minister said that the money required for the IDPs would be released
without any delay, adding that "we are taking care of them". He observed that
the terrorism has damaged the soft image of the country.

Secretary Information Pakistan Peoples Party Qamar Zaman Kaira, MQM MNA Rasheed
Godil, PTI MNA Ayesha Gulalai, Dr. Ayesha Saddiqa, Abid Sulei SDPI and Mark
Andre Franche UNDP also spoke on the occasion.

Qamar Zaman Kaira stressed the need for coordination among all the concerned
authorities and pledged to continue relief efforts for IDPs. Ayesha Gulalai
said that provincial government has taken many initiatives to facilitate the
IDPs. Mark Andre Franche, a UNDP representative stressed the for providing
basic amenities of life including electricity, water, food and health
facilities to the IDPs.

"This is not only responsibility of Pakistan, but share responsibility of all
the nations across the world to come forward and supplement the government
efforts in relief efforts for the IDPs" he added.

Peshawar: The Government of Khyber Pakthunkhwa has transferred 18 doctors and
45 nurses to Bannu and adjoining districts to provide best medical facilities
to the displaced people of North Waziristan Agency. Dr Abdul Rehman, KP Health
Department’s Deputy Director Personnel and Human Resources, told APP on Tuesday
that a consignment of 18 specialist doctors and 45 nurses from Lady Reading
Hospital (LRH), Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) and Hayatabad Medical Complex
(HMC) Peshawar have been transferred to Bannu and adjoining districts to
provide best medical facilities to IDPs in camps, Basic Health Units (BHUs) and
hospitals. The specialist doctors including medicines, trauma, psychologists,
gyne, children specialists, psychiatrists, physicians are working day and night
by providing free medical facilities to their needy brothers including ailing
children and women.

The transferred doctors and nurses have started performing duties in different
medical camps, BHUs and hospitals of Bannu, Tank, Lakki Marwat and Karak where
huge number of IDPs had migrated due to military operation against militants
and terrorists in North Waziristan Agency, he added.

Doctors and nurses were also placed on the disposal of management of Khalifa
Gulnawaz Teaching Hospital Bannu, District Headquarters Hospitals Lakki Marwat,
DI Khan and Karak to look after the dislocated people.

Patients with serious ailments are being treated at Khalifa Gul Nawaz Teaching
Hospital Bannu where all major medical facilities are available, he
added.X-Rays, and laboratory tests of ailing patients are being conducted free
of cost while patients with major ailments are being referred to Khalifa Gul
Nawaz hospital, Peshawar and Islamabad for urgent medical treatment.

Source: http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=247308