Orakzai Agency: Repatriation of 2,800 families begins

0.2m IDPs gathered at Hangu; process to be completed by May 9

HANGU/ PARACHINAR: Repatriation of 2,800 families to Upper Orakzai Agency started on Saturday and will continue till May 9. Around 0.2 million IDPs, including women and children, from Peshawar, Kohat, and Hangu in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Fateh Jang in Attock, Punjab gathered at Shahu Khel checkpoint in Hangu for security clearance.

While speaking to journalists on Saturday, Brigadier Imran Shirazi and Orakzai Political Agent Muhammad Zubair Khan stated that on the directives of the army chief, 2,800 displaced families of Upper Orakzai will be repatriated to their native land under full security.

They pointed out that with the assistance of Fata Development Authority, each displaced family will be given Rs10,000 for transport fare and Rs25,000 for food. However, the brigadier and PA said unregistered families will only be given money for the rehabilitation of infrastructure.

They stated it was necessary for the tribal elders and representatives to support and cooperate with the displaced families in order to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Meanwhile, repatriation of displaced families from Kohat and other regions to Kurram Agency will be completed by May 9. This was announced by FATA Disaster Management Authority Coordinator Mujahid Ali Turi.

He confirmed the closing of Durrani Camp from where around 54,000 individuals from 10,000 families were repatriated to their homes in Central Kurram Agency. He added, “Return of these displaced families became possible with return of peace and writ of the government in the region.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2016.