Assistance for the Waziristan IDP's

Basil Nabi Malik
"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity."
- Martin Luther King Jr
As the South Waziristan operation progresses, both sides can be seen hurling allegations and claims of repulsing the advances of the other.
However, one thing that remains undisputed is the heart wrenching difficulties and problems that the IDPs of these areas are facing, and will further have to face until Waziristan is cleared of the militants. It has been noted by many that the humanitarian response to these IDPs has definitely not been as impressive as that of the overwhelming response given to those of Malakand. Many reasons could be attributed to the response of all concerned, including the civil society.
One of the reasons maybe that most official sources indicate that the suicide bombers are coming from Waziristan; and in addition to this, the currently precarious security situation as a result of the numerous suicide bombings has left many residents hesitant in taking in strangers, especially those with the last name 'Mehsud'. In the same vein, the administration in Bannu has claimed to have instructed the people not to rent out any vacant place to the IDPs for the sake of security. Other than that, it has been reported that the migrants from the Agency have been complaining that locals in areas such as D. I. Khan are refusing to assist them, if not showing downright hostility. The misperception is that all those arriving from those areas are involved in terrorist activities. According to reports, the local police have also been given orders to keep an eye on those arriving in the settled areas, as many are believed to be "supporters of the Taliban."