The Khyber district administration has officially suspended the evacuation of families from the Tirah Valley as of Thursday. The suspension comes in response to heavy snowfall and a “prolonged registration process” that has left hundreds of displaced families stranded in freezing conditions.
A formal notice issued by the Khyber House in Peshawar has advised all families from Tirah to refrain from traveling toward Bara until at least Friday evening. Officials cited “inclement weather” as the primary cause, stating that the evacuation and registration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) will only resume once weather conditions improve.
According to local sources, Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) had previously urged a “speedy evacuation” to meet a January 25 displacement deadline. This push, combined with the turning weather, triggered widespread panic among the Tirah residents.
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“Sleepless Nights” and Extreme Delays
Displaced residents are reporting grueling journeys. Gul Mand Khan, who arrived in Bara on Wednesday, described a six-day ordeal to travel just 110 kilometers from Bagh Markaz.
Khan alleged that his family’s four-vehicle convoy faced “unnecessary delays” at multiple checkpoints, including:
- Dwa Thoye
- Sandana
- Paindi Cheena
- Mandai Kas (Bara)
“It took us three days to cover a mere 15 kilometers up to Dwa Thoye,” Khan stated, noting that his family was forced to spend multiple nights on the road without sleep.
Allegations of Token Fraud and Withheld Payments
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A significant point of contention involves the transport fare tokens promised by the administration. Khan claimed that despite being issued four stamped tokens by Bara Tehsildar Daud Khan, authorities at subsequent stops refused payment.
Upon reaching Mandai Kas, Khan was reportedly told to offload his luggage and take women, children, and the elderly to their homes, only to return the next day for payment. Ultimately, he was only paid for one vehicle, with the remaining funds withheld pending “verification” by a 24-member jirga of Tirah elders.
Qari Said Faqir, a resident of Malakdinkhel, went further, accusing the district administration of selling fake transport tokens to unauthorized individuals at the Paindi Cheena and Mandai Kas centers.
A Growing “Human Tragedy”
The humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly. Turab Ali, a social worker from the Sipah tribe, warned of a looming tragedy near the Dwa Thoye center.
- Casualties: Two children have reportedly died, and three others were injured after three vehicles skidded off the slippery mountain roads.
- Shortages: Families are facing an acute lack of food, warm clothing, and shelter while trapped in their vehicles.
- Road Closures: Heavy snowfall has completely blocked access roads, halting all registration activities.
“Displaced families are fast losing hope of receiving any immediate relief,” Ali warned, fearing more casualties if the roads are not cleared immediately.
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Criticism of Local Leadership
Local residents have expressed frustration with the government’s response. Critics allege that neither the district administration nor the two parliamentarians from Bara have taken sufficient steps to ensure the safe and smooth evacuation of the thousands of families currently fleeing the Tirah Valley.
