Return journey

The chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan has suggested that arrangements may soon be put in place for some 13,000 people to return home, displaced by the dangers of flooding from a lake in the Hunza River. It is unclear on what basis this announcement has been made. Though the widespread flooding that had been feared, as water spilled over from the lake created after a landslide in January, has not occurred experts warn that dangers are not yet over. Landslides continue to occur in Attabad where the lake stands and a number of villages have been submerged.

It is suspected the chief minister’s suggestion is linked to the increased disquiet reported in some camps set up for IDPs from Hunza. Soaring temperature are a factor for those who have been moved to areas at lower altitudes in Gilgit. There are complaints of grossly inadequate facilities at schools and erratic food supplies whilst some volunteers report sectarian tensions. This has led to increasingly unhappy IDPs making demands that they be sent home.

It is easy to understand their frustration and anger. Displacement puts huge strains on people. In this case the perception may also be that the dangers that had been forecast have not occurred. It is important to avoid a situation in which people are put at risk. A full assessment of the situation in Upper Hunza should be made and people returned to their homes only when it is safe for them to live there. Authorities must also keep in mind they need help to rebuild damaged homes and resume interrupted lives.

Until this can happen the priority must be to improve conditions in camps. Move them if necessary to cooler areas, examine reasons for growing unrest at some locations where a number of IDPs have been housed together and ensure that the essential needs of these people forced out of their homes are met until they can return to villages threatened by the unusual disaster.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2010.