500 CHILDREN ARE SEPARATED FROM FAMILIES EVERY WEEK

The number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) due to conflict, earthquake and floods in Bajaur, Swat Valley, Balochistan and Sindh is as high as .8 million with over .4 million children and these are modest figures while the number quoted is as high as 600,000 only for Swat valley, living in the camps or host families, said a Press release issued by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) in Islamabad on Thursday.

Speaking at the National Conference organized by SPARC on the Impact of Displacement on Children at the Best Western Hotel on November 13, SPARC 's Executive Director Mr Qindeel Shujaat said  the issue of impact of displacement on children has been neglected. Conflict in NWFP, earthquake in Balochistan  and flood in Sindh is not new.

Children have unique needs that need special attention, strategies and mechanisms. Their issues of schooling, protection, repatriation etc should be taken up by the government. He stressed that when children in emergencies are displaced their rights should be protected.

Chief guest Mr S. M. Zafar from Human Rights Affairs and Parliamentary Activism said in his keynote statement that unfortunately the number of IDPs is constantly increasing and it is happening when economic crisis has hit the nation But what is important is the motivation to work for betterment of people. IDPS face numerous problems and start
to live an uncertain life losing the comfort of their own space. This is itself a great crisis. He promised to support SPARC and UNICEF and work on the recommendations that were generated on this platform.

Mr Irfan  Raza of SPARC said that for the last many years SPARC has been taking up new and emerging issues relating to children such as, militancy and children, corporal punishment and now the impact of displacement on children in the various areas of Pakistan due to conflict, and natural catastrophes,

In his keynote presentation on child protection issues for children during displacement, Mr Rafiq Khan of SPARC disclosed that "every week at least 500 children are separated from their families and there is no strategy to reunify these young ones with their families. Another major setback is the extremely limited role of National Disaster
Management Authority in alleviating the problems faced by the people and particularly by the children."

The life in the camps for these already disturbed children is not enviable. They suffer from various health issues such as communicable diseases, malnourishment, lack of education and most importantly lack of security and safety. According to a report 13 children were
kidnapped from Swat Valley during the last four weeks. Almost 69 percent children in four IDP camps (Kacha Gully, Sheikh Yaseen, Benazir Complex and Palosa ) suffer from malnourishment of various types. And this is a story of only four camps. One can only wonder what is happening to the children in other camps and host families.

Underscoring the need for legislation for displaced people with particular reference to children SPARC's Mr Iqbal Detho said"disregard for the minimum rights of IDPs is another dimension of their plight. The responsibility for the protection of IDPs rests
first and foremost with local and national authorities. It is also equally incumbent upon international community to contribute to enhance the protection of IDPs in conflict and crisis situations. Normative framework for IDPs needs to be designed in such a way that
it incorporates humanitarian assistance for the promotion and protection of target group particularly children and women."

Dr Mohammad Danish from Seher Balochistan said according to the UN estimates 84,000 people were displaced in conflict in 2006 in Dera Bugti and Kohlu. Because the roads were closed thousands of people died of starvation and hunger. The people were ignored and yet there is no authority who has taken responsibility for the welfare of the
displaced people. In the recent earthquake of October 29 more than 50%
are children from among the 84,000 victims.

The state of children is worse as they are traumatized due to the high number of aftershocks. There are four factors that relate to children; 4,000 children many of them Afghan refugees are on the streets and many are in sexual exploitation, conflict, cyclone and earthquake. Starvation is one of the main issues, shelters are not winterized
despite the chilling cold, health problems such chest infection and provision of medicines etc., and sanitation and hygiene and child labor.  It is sad that the relief and rehabilitation is not in place in Balochistan.

Mr Anwar ul Haq UN Advisor in his speech reflected on the working of OCHA (office of Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs) and said that there are 25-30 million IDPs around the world. It puts great emphasis on the assessment of the needs of the displaced people and they also make arrangement for the resources required to provide relief to the
victims. They work with the like minded organizations and provide them with training and building capacity for strengthening protection issues for the IDPS. Pakistan is the only country where humanitarian reforms are not coordinated therefore cluster system was introduced here.

Mr Greg Shulze Country Representative Solidarity Center talking about trade Unions said that they are effective and legitimate. I am now working with the trade union PWF (Pakistan Workers Federation). They are the most democratic and representative civil society organization. I visited the coal mines and I did not find child labor here nor
discrimination against women. The NGO and INGOs should understand the importance of trade unions in the country. In Balochistan trade union collected money and provided some help to the earthquake victim. The PWF with ILO and ITC started an employment program in October 2005 and now they are working in Balochistan. He said if we have strong trade unions it will help provide good job opportunities to the people and
also for women.

Ms Khaleda Mansoor member National Assembly said that we all talk about the importance of children but SPARC says that children are our present and future. The biggest problems for IDPS are water and sanitation especially for the women and children. A national assembly committee was formed that gave money for the IDPs and the same was done in Balochistan. One can see small children who need our help and
the committee will now provide money and warm clothes etc to the victims. We will also try and get more money from the Chambers of Commerce so that help can be provided to the children and women in these difficult times.

Ms Riffat Sardar of UNICEF said that IDPs are people who are forced to move from their homes within the country. Almost 300,000 children are effected by humanitarian crisis and disasters. A majority of the displaced are women and children. They suffer serious

They are faced with sexual abuse and other violence and many are forced to join the militants. Unicef  used mules to send life saving medicines and food to these people.
944 separated children were identified in eight camps Unicef is running a helpline in Mardan so that children can be reunified with their parents. Unicef has identified separated children and is trying to trace their parents in the camps. It has also created child friendly spaced for children.

However, here we have come together to discuss the problems faced by children in this situation. Let me say here that in Pakistan parents take great care of their children and love them but only of their own. We never think of other peoples children and treat them with serious discrimination.

Mr Ahsan Sadiq Assistant Inspector Punjab Police  said that internal displacement has to be seen in the light of poverty as well. We have seen that when displacement of people happens in poor countries the problems are magnified mainly because of the poor governance, corruption and weak employment opportunities. Dealing with IDPs are
ndot a part of the police syallabi neither any guidelines are provided in this context. He demanded an open discussion regarding strategy on training police on IDP issues.

Senator Kulsoom Parveen said that the issue of children is important and it is necessary to work on it. SPARC has turned a non issue into a issue and it is commendable. There are incidents where the already victimized children especially girls were sold away after the October 2005 earthquake. She said that we are facing all these problems
because we have moved away from our religion and good practices. I must add here that there is no legislation on children. I ask you to come to us with recommendations and issues on which we can legislate and improve the lot of the children. She said we are ready to work with SPARC to make the world a better place for children in Pakistan.

Mr Anees Jillani, board member SPARC gave the details of the number of IDPs in different parts of Pakistan and said that the government has not given any figures of the IDPs. He added the IDPs in Swat are highest in number in Asia and the estimates are that almost 400,000 to 900,000 people have moved from their homes. In FATA the prime minister said that they will repeal the Frontier Crimes Regulations but now
they are only discussing it. In 2002, the first displacement started from FATA after the military action under General Musharraf. In Mirali a large chunk of the population has moved out from their homes. However, it is not easy for NGOs to go to these areas and provide help besides the government has enough resources to help these people
without looking outside the country for financial aid for these victims of displacement.

At the end of the conference the best SPARC Child Rights Committees were awarded for their work during the year for the well being of children in their respective districts.