The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has released Rs180 million in grants to support about 15,000 families who were affected during the counter-terrorism operation “Zarb-i-Azb” in North Waziristan.
In a statement, the PDMA spokesperson stated that the amount was delivered on Thursday and will be distributed among the affected families within three days. He further explained that only the families who did not return to their native areas in North Waziristan would be eligible to receive the cash grant.
He further added that the total number of verified displaced families was around 15,000 who will be notified via SMS (short messaging service) about the aid fund.
“PDMA is regularly providing, every month, food rations and other essential items to families who had yet to return to their homes,” the spokesperson said in his statement.
Back in June 2014, over 1 million families had moved out to settled areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when the Pak army launched the infamous operation “Zarb-e-Azb” in North Waziristan. Led by General Raheel Sharif, the Operation Zarb-e-Azb was a joint military offensive conducted by the Pakistan Armed Forces against various militant groups. This includes TTP, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, al-Qaeda, and the Haqqani network among many others.
After peace was brought to the area, more than 90 percent of families repatriated to their homes back in Waziristan while the displaced families are still settled in the Bakkakhel camp near Bannu. Many affected families of North Waziristan are even residing in Afghanistan and are yet to return back home.
