Journey back home begins

People displaced by fighting in Swat began returning to their homes on Monday under a government repatriation programme.

About 195 families left the Jalozai camp by buses escorted by police. NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti went to Charsadda where he saw off 26 displaced families.

The Emergency Response Unit (ERU) had made arrangements for over 2,000 families to leave the camp on Monday, but a large number of them did not leave.

They cited security concerns and complained about non-payment of Rs25,000 grant promised by the government for each family. About 10,000 displaced families from Swat have been living in the Jalozai camp for about two months.

ERU spokesman Adnan Khan said that the government would not force anyone to leave camps.

The conflict in Swat, Lower Dir and Buner districts forced more than two million people to flee their homes and move to relief camps.

The government has announced that the IDPs would be going back in phases. ‘It is definitely a joyful day for us. But we are worried about reports of continued presence and movement of the Taliban in our area,’ said Hassan Khan of Barikot.

Several other people also said that security continued to be their main concern and it was difficult to believe that militancy had been eliminated from their areas.

Omar Zareen, who belongs to Tahna, said the number of returning IDPs would have been much higher had their representatives and influential people of their areas accompanied them.

‘The absence of elders gives an impression that the situation is still not under control,’ he said.

Razia Bibi said: ‘My family waited for this day when we would be able to leave this dusty camp. I need nothing, I just want to go back to Swat.’

Each returning family was given a food package – 80kgs of flour, 8kgs of pulses, 5 litres of cooking oil, 1kg of salt, 1kg of high-energy biscuits, 4kgs of sugar and 300 grams of tea – by the World Food Programme.

Agencies add: ‘Everybody is so happy. They are crying tears of joy,’ Sakhawat Shah, a 25-year-old English student, told a reporter by telephone after reaching Landakai.

'My room was destroyed in the shelling. My computer and books were also damaged but I’m not worried because if I’m alive I can buy more books.’

The government says it has worked hard to restore electricity and running water in main towns since the fighting but analysts warn that much needs to be done to sustain the returnees.

‘They will start living a normal life if the environment is secure and their fundamental needs are addressed. Secure environment means army, police and civil administration,’ said independent analysts.

Shamsher Ali, a 55-year-old shopkeeper, said he was worried because previous military operations had failed to crush the Taliban.

‘The army promised us twice before that they cleared the area but then Taliban came again and again to Swat. Perhaps this time the Taliban will come again to Swat,’ he said.

‘Thank God we’re going back,’ said farmer Qaiser Khan.