Kurram, January 18, 2025: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Kurram has ordered the establishment of camps for Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) in Lower Kurram tehsil, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in anticipation of a counterterrorism operation. This move was revealed on Saturday following heightened tensions in the region.
The decision follows two attacks on aid convoys heading to Parachinar, which has been facing severe shortages of food and medicine due to ongoing road blockades. These attacks occurred after a peace deal was signed between warring tribes on January 1. Previous violence, including a November 21 attack on a convoy in the Bagan area that killed 50 people, has exacerbated tensions, with clashes stemming from long-standing land disputes resulting in at least 130 more fatalities.
The order, issued on January 17, was directed by Kurram DC Javedullah Mehsud to the relief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Rehabilitation and Settlement Department. Titled “Establishment of Camp for TDPs of District Kurram,” the letter stated that law enforcement agencies (LEAs) are planning an operation in various areas of Lower Kurram to counter terrorism.
According to the details outlined in the letter, the operation will lead to the relocation of over 1,000 families. The families to be relocated include 866 from Baggan (9,685 individuals), 466 from Mandori/Uchat/Charkhel (5,245 individuals), and 547 from Chapri Paraw and Chapri (2,494 individuals).
To accommodate the displaced population, the DC has proposed four sites in Thall for the TDP camps, aiming to ensure safety and support during the anticipated military operation. These sites include Government Boys Degree College (with 25 rooms and two halls), Government Technical College (with 15 rooms and one hall), an under-construction Rescue 1122 compound (with 10 rooms and two halls), and an under-construction judicial building (with 15 rooms and two halls).
Additionally, a coordination committee has already been established under the supervision of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (R&HR) of Kurram to manage the relocation process.