Collateral damage: Bannu IDPs asked to prepare for repatriation

According to Khan, they had also proposed a plan to repatriate the IDP to the provincial govt.

BANNU:

The displaced population in Bannu should be prepared to be repatriated at any time.

This was said by camp commander Brigadier Mukhtiar Khan during a ceremony on Tuesday in Bannu district where dish antennas, LED screens and receivers were distributed among the displaced population.

According to Khan, they had also proposed a plan to repatriate the internally displaced population (IDP) to the provincial government.

“The Pakistan Army has started preparations for the return of IDPs to their native villages,” he said. Khan added that the army will repatriate the displaced population in phases after a unanimous decision is reached by the army chief, government and political administration.

“The internally displaced population (IDP) will be repatriated with minimum losses,” he said. Once the final decision is made, the displaced population will be repatriated on a 24-hour notice.

According to Khan, a camp will be established at Bannu Airport area to repatriate the IDPs. They will be provided medical and financial assistance along with food and transport facilities before their departure.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2014.