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KHYBER:
Thousands of families remain displaced from Tirah Valley in Khyber district as the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government oversees their resettlement amid increasing security and heavy snowfall.
According to the provincial disaster management authority, the evacuation began on January 10. So far, 11,400 families have been registered, and more than 10,000 have been relocated to safer areas, including Bara and Peshawar.
On Wednesday alone, 1,719 families were registered in five centers in Bara. Each family receives between 22,000 and 44,000 rupees for transportation, as well as a monthly housing allowance of 50,000 rupees.
Three days ago, heavy snow trapped hundreds of families in trucks, triggering large-scale rescue operations. Authorities said at least 2,200 people had been rescued so far.
Mohammad Khan, a resident of Maidan in Tirah, said he was moving to Peshawar after receiving help. “I was given a token and Rs 22,000 for transport. I am moving to Zang Gully in Peshawar. The security situation was bad because of the Taliban and we came here for peace. Our demands are for a good package and assistance for the people,” he told The Express PK Press Club.
Another displaced resident said: “We moved due to the deteriorating security situation and are now in Bara. »
Kamal-ud-Din, head of a 24-member Tirah negotiating committee, told a private news channel that the provincial government had accepted 31 demands put forward by residents. He said the resettlement would be completed by the end of January, with each family receiving Rs 250,000 in advance and a monthly stipend of Rs 50,000.
He added that families whose houses were destroyed in the operation will receive Rs 3 million in compensation, while those whose houses were partially damaged will receive Rs 1 million. He said the military operation was expected to end within two months, after which residents would be allowed to return.
