1.3 million IDPs return home

ISLAMABAD: About 1.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled a military offensive against the Taliban in Malakand Division earlier this year have returned home, a United Nations official said on Wednesday.

The push against the Taliban forced 1.9 million civilians from their homes, most seeking refuge with relatives and the rest packing into refugee camps, creating a humanitarian crisis for impoverished Pakistan.

"The best estimate that we can make now is that approximately 1.3 million displaced people have returned home," Pakistan's UN Humanitarian Coordinator Martin Mogwanja told reporters in Islamabad.

Pakistan launched the military operation in the districts of Buner, Lower Dir and Swat after armed Taliban advanced to within 100 kilometres of Islamabad last April in defiance of a peace deal.

Pakistan Army says it has now cleared the three districts of insurgents, and officials have urged the displaced people to return.

"While many of the IDPs are returning to Buner and Swat, the military operation is still going on in some parts of Swat and Lower Dir," Mogwanja said.

He said the UN had so far announced no individual awards for outstanding performance of any individual or any one organisation, outfit or entity.

He, however, announced an award for the media for outstanding reporting of the calamity and the problems of the IDPs.

Mogwanja said relief for the IDPs was an enormous challenge but the conduct of the government, the NGOs and the CBOs and above all the local community who opened their arms, hearts and even houses for the IDPs, was laudable and appreciable.

He also quoted a couple of examples where locals not only handed over their houses to IDPs and moved to relatives’ houses, but a widow even sold her jewellery to help the IDPs. He spoke highly of President Asif Zardari and the government for commendable efforts to provide relief to IDPs and announcement of the Award for them by Zardari on the Independence Day. agencies
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