By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: Ahead of a possible security operation in Tirah’s Maidan area of Khyber district, dozens of displaced families are facing severe hardship at the Dwatoy check post, residents said on Wednesday. Slow registration procedures, staff shortages, and freezing temperatures have left women, children, and elderly people stranded for hours without basic facilities.
Islamdin Afridi, a resident, told this correspondent that the registration process at the Dwatoy check post has been severely hampered due to a staff shortage, resulting in long vehicle queues and prolonged delays. Displaced families, including men, women, children, and elderly persons, have been waiting in open areas for hours in freezing weather.
He said several families reportedly spent the night inside their vehicles as temperatures continued to drop, making conditions particularly harsh for women, children and senior citizens.
The biting cold has further compounded the suffering of the displaced population, many of whom left their homes with limited belongings.
General Secretary of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) Tirah, Noor Haleem Afridi, expressed grave concern over the situation while speaking to the media. He said that the number of registration staff was extremely low, forcing people to stand in queues for hours.
“Women and children are shivering in the cold, and many families were compelled to spend the entire night in their vehicles, which is against basic humanitarian principles,” he said.
He warned that the ongoing situation poses serious health risks to children and the elderly due to exposure to extreme cold. Noor Haleem Afridi urged the district administration and relevant authorities to take immediate action by increasing the number of registration staff at the Dwatoy point, expediting the registration process, and ensuring the provision of essential facilities.
He demanded the urgent supply of warm clothing, blankets and other necessities to the affected families on an emergency basis.
“These are the same people who have made sacrifices for peace in the past. It is the responsibility of the government and administration to reduce their suffering,” he said.
The displaced families have also appealed to the authorities for swift and effective arrangements so that no family is forced to spend the night in vehicles or endure severe weather conditions during the ongoing displacement.
