Over 200 IDPs trickle back into N Waziristan

BANNU: On the opening day of the repatriation process, some 219 internally displaced people (IDPs), banded together in 62 families, returned to their homes in North Waziristan Agency from various parts of Bannu on Tuesday.

Carrying ATM cards entitling them to Rs10,000 for transportation and Rs25,000 for repatriation costs, the families boarded 40 buses and trucks along with their belongings. All the IDPs belonged to the Shameeri area of North Waziristan.

Brisk arrangements on the part of civil and military administration were made for ensuring safe repatriation. A medical camp was established with Dr Hamidur Rahman as its chief whereas children below five years were given polio drops and some tribesmen were provided other medicines.

Accompanied by Bannu Commissioner Asmatullah Khan Gandhapur, General Officer Commanding Jamil Akhtar Rao and Political Agent Atifur Rahman, the first convoy of the IDPs was received a warm welcome upon entering North Waziristan Agency at Kajhoori check post.

12th phase of homecoming

The 12th phase of repatriation of IDPs to South Waziristan was completed on Tuesday. At least 630 families were sent back home in the final leg. Between March 16 and March 31, a total of 4,800 families were repatriated.

The families have returned to 14 villages of Sarwakai and Sararogha tehsil of South Waziristan. Kur Qila, the security forces check post where IDPs return from, was under strict monitoring by the law enforcement agencies. Political and military officials were also present on the occasion.

For the present 12th phase, 4,937 families were registered at the Tank political compound. Via SIM cards, the IDPs are provided by the government with Rs10,000 for transport and a Rs25,000 repatriation fund after their homecoming.

The South Waziristan health department has set up a facility at Kur Qila where doctors conduct check-ups for people and provide them with free medicines before departure.

The Mehsud repatriation began in December 2004, so far the 12th phases have been undertaken in which approximately 12,000 families have been sent back to different areas of South Waziristan.

In the wake of Operation Rah-e-Nejat in 2009, South Waziristan’s Mehsud tribe was displaced and consequently settled in Tank, DI Khan and other parts of the country.

According to Fata Disaster Management Authority reports, 11,885 families of IDPs belonging to Bara (Aka Khel tribe) of Khyber Agency and South Waziristan were repatriated on March 29 and 30.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2015.