Pakistan’s IDP Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities

Pakistan’s IDP Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities

Unless relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) are urgently improved, the army’s offensive against the Taliban risks leaving the extremists the ultimate winners. The army’s use of heavy force in Malakand Division, failure to address the full cost to civilians and refusal to allow effective humanitarian access to conflict zones has already been counterproductive in terms of public and political support for action against the Taliban. The government should create mechanisms to make aid distribution accountable to communities of internally displaced persons (IDPs), demand greater civilian oversight and humanitarian access, and prohibit banned jihadi groups from participating in relief efforts.