ReliefWeb

63,000 families – almost half a million people – are estimated to have been recently displaced from Khyber Agency. However, the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) states that only 47,860 families (208,971 people) have registered as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Jalozai camp, out of which 10% are residing in the camp while the remaining are living with host communities in Peshawar and surrounding areas.
The recently displaced families join hundreds of thousands of IDPs from previous conflicts in the area which have been ongoing since 2009. The most recent displacement is due to escalating military operations against militant groups in the area. Save the Children estimates that over 600,000 in total will be displaced if military operations continue – among which over 300,000 are expected to be children.

Aid organizations have set up operations inside Jalozai camp, where they distribute food and shelter supplies and offer health and educational services to displaced persons. However, only 10% of the registered IDPs from Bara live in Jalozai camp. Most IDPs opt to live off-camp for reasons linked to tradition, culture, and concerns about privacy for women. Most must rent cramped, unhygienic accommodations they cannot afford, placing additional strain on already tight finances for families who have experienced a sudden loss of income. For many, a trip to Jalozai means missing out on daily wages and paying high transportation costs, making it virtually impossible.

According to local media, fighting is ongoing in Khyber and other agencies of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). In Kurram Agency, at least 11 people were killed while in North Waziristan an attack on a military convoy killed nine soldiers. Intense fighting also took place in various areas of Orakzai Agency.

According to UNICEF, 50% of the IDP population are children. 12% of the displaced are younger than 2 while 28% are younger than 5.

Humanitarian agencies need additional funding to provide relief to IDPs both within Jalozai and especially in the surrounding off-camp areas where the vast majority is residing.