Special delegation visits Bannu to meet IDPs

A special delegation comprising Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Dr Mehr Taj, Chairperson Provincial Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) Neelum Toru, Amna Durrani Co-ordination Officer, KP PCSW and Director Relief Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) visited Bannu to meet IDPs.
The delegation was received by the divisional and district authorities in Karak and Bannu. The meetings were held with the affected families to understand their problems especially of women and children during displacement and in the relief phase. Chairperson PCSW on this occasion stressed the need for establishing a facilitation centre for women and children with medical facilities and a helpline to redress issues immediately.
The Social Welfare department will also set up a safe home or transit shelter in the district to cater to protection needs of women and children and requested the support of the district management to materialise these measures. The delegation also stressed that those persons and especially women left out of the registration process should be registered and NIC issued on priority basis. The delegates also called for issuance of special permit for availing food distribution facilities for IDPs without identity cards.
During the visit the Special Assistant to Chief Minister presided over a meeting of humanitarian organisations and the government departments to ensure co-ordinated intervention. On this occasion a District Co-ordination Working Group was announced having inclusion of Department of Social Welfare, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), and the Provincial Commission on the Status of Women, the Child Protection and Welfare Commission and others from the civil society.
This working group will work and co-ordinate with Gender and Child Cell and PDMA to plan all necessary interventions for women and children, identify and prioritise protection issues, strengthen co-ordination and response among districts, line department and relevant stakeholders.