Relief Commissioner Muhammad Azam Khan Is Really Making The Difference
Muhammad Khurshid
May 29, 2009
The NWFP government has chosen a honest and dedicated officer Muhammad Azam Khan to head the Emergency Response Unit created for monitoring and controlling the relief operation for the internally displaced persons of Malakand Division and tribal areas. The IDPs figure is in millions. According to the UN report, some 2.4 million people have been forced to leave their homes as Pakistan army has been conducting operation against terrorists. The figure is increasing with each passing.
Relief Commissioner Muhammad Azam Khan, who has been given the charge of ERU, is using all his energies for providing relief to IDPs. The ERU has been coordinating and controlling the relief operation.
President of Awami National Party Asfandyar Wali Khan, whose party is ruling NWFP said that enormous amount of donations were coming from inside and outside the country that will be utilised through the ERU to provide relief to the internally displaced persons and subsequently measures will be taken to rehabilitate them. He lauded the establishment of ERU and its staff and urged them to work with more zeal and devotion.
Muhammad Azam Khan has expressed his determination that every effort will be made to make the process of distribution of relief goods among the IDPs of Malakand division and tribal areas transparent.
"We have made all our accounts available online through ERU website www.helpidp.org and anyone can check it anytime," said the ERU Incharge while talking to a private TV channel at the ERU office.
He said the food items were distributed to the IDPs through the WFP while non-food through the UNHCR to ensure credibility in its distribution.
He said that the government had made various arrangements for instance provision of food items and other facilities for the uprooted people living at various camps in Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera and Peshawar.
To ensure relief against the heat, Azam Khan said 20 transformers and as many generators had been provided to the camps while efforts were underway to ensure provision of electricity fans and erect separate sheds for men and women where they could sit together in the day hours.
He informed that all the government departments and donor agencies have been involved in relief operation. "The ERU office remains open round the clock to facilitate the IDPs and getting them registered in proper way, he said adding, "ERU has been set up to identify problems of IDPs, to find their solution and implement them.
Replying to question the ERU Incharge said that provision of milk for children would also be ensured soon as the WFP consignment would arrive shortly, he added. About security of the camps, the relief commissioner said barbed wire would be erected around the settlements to deny entry at all points. He admitted that establishment of a proper disaster management authority was needed in the province as the existing department was under-funded and understaffed.
Relief Commissioner Muhammad Azam Khan, who has been given the charge of ERU, is using all his energies for providing relief to IDPs. The ERU has been coordinating and controlling the relief operation.
President of Awami National Party Asfandyar Wali Khan, whose party is ruling NWFP said that enormous amount of donations were coming from inside and outside the country that will be utilised through the ERU to provide relief to the internally displaced persons and subsequently measures will be taken to rehabilitate them. He lauded the establishment of ERU and its staff and urged them to work with more zeal and devotion.
Muhammad Azam Khan has expressed his determination that every effort will be made to make the process of distribution of relief goods among the IDPs of Malakand division and tribal areas transparent.
"We have made all our accounts available online through ERU website www.helpidp.org and anyone can check it anytime," said the ERU Incharge while talking to a private TV channel at the ERU office.
He said the food items were distributed to the IDPs through the WFP while non-food through the UNHCR to ensure credibility in its distribution.
He said that the government had made various arrangements for instance provision of food items and other facilities for the uprooted people living at various camps in Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera and Peshawar.
To ensure relief against the heat, Azam Khan said 20 transformers and as many generators had been provided to the camps while efforts were underway to ensure provision of electricity fans and erect separate sheds for men and women where they could sit together in the day hours.
He informed that all the government departments and donor agencies have been involved in relief operation. "The ERU office remains open round the clock to facilitate the IDPs and getting them registered in proper way, he said adding, "ERU has been set up to identify problems of IDPs, to find their solution and implement them.
Replying to question the ERU Incharge said that provision of milk for children would also be ensured soon as the WFP consignment would arrive shortly, he added. About security of the camps, the relief commissioner said barbed wire would be erected around the settlements to deny entry at all points. He admitted that establishment of a proper disaster management authority was needed in the province as the existing department was under-funded and understaffed.
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