Homebound: Over 200 displaced families head back to South Waziristan

Twelfth phase of repatriation begins; 5,000 families to return via Tank in two weeks.

BANNU/ DI KHAN:

After being away from their homes for nearly six years, over 200 families displaced from South Waziristan Agency in 2009’s Operation Rah-e-Nejat made their way back home on Monday.  

As the 12th phase of repatriation began, hundreds of families assembled at Kur Qila Camp in the south of Tank city, eager to go back to their native villages. Around 206 displaced families, comprising 1,300 individuals made the journey home. In this phase, a total of 5,000 families comprising 41,000 individuals will be sent back to start their lives anew. Strict security will be provided to them by the army as they head back. In previous phases 11,924 displaced families have been repatriated.

At the departure point, the families were given Rs10,000 each via SIM cards to cover transport costs, a hygiene kit, a tent and ration for a period of six months. They have been promised Rs25,000 as cash grant as well. Assistant Political Agent Nawab Safi says the process will continue for 15 days, and families will be sent back to 14 villages of Sararogha and Sarwakai areas.

“These localities have been equipped with basic facilities such as educational institutes, electricity, paved roads and potable drinking water,” said Safi.

Before the families departed, gifts sent over by the Punjab government were distributed among them, which included clothes for women and toys for children. The repatriation is being jointly conducted and managed by the political administration of South Waziristan, FATA Disaster Management Authority and Pakistan Army.

The bittersweet farewell

“After nearly six years, I’m going back to my home,” said 40-year-old Yaseen Khan who is among the people leaving for the agency. Khan, a resident of Diba village in Sarwakai, settled in neighbouring Tank district after security forces launched an offensive against militants in South Waziristan.

“I don’t know if my house is still standing or has been destroyed in the war, but I am going back with the hope of returning to my normal life,” he said. “It is a happy day for me.”

Although families are happy to be going back, the possibility of not having a house looms large on them. Journalist Shehreyar Mehsud who belongs to South Waziristan told The Express Tribune most displaced families are fearful that their house might be damaged or even destroyed. “This needs urgent attention from the government. Tribemen’s mud houses in mountainous areas are hard to rebuild,” he said.

According to Mehsud, the government has promised Rs400,000 as compensation to rebuild destroyed houses. “Not even a single wall can be built in this amount,” he claimed.

Date set

Meanwhile, the government on Monday announced the first repatriation date for families displaced from North Waziristan due to Operation Zarb-e-Azb. March 31 has been set as the date to send back families from Shahmiri, Speen Wam and Mir Ali areas. People of the Shishi Khel Bobli tribes have been asked to get themselves registered at the political agent’s camp office in Bannu by March 18. Others will be repatriated in subsequent phases.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2015.