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| November 17, 2005 | Thursday | Shawwal 14, 1426 |
Govt assures compensation: survivors’ return begins
ISLAMABAD, Nov 16: The quake survivors provided shelter in the federal capital have started returning to their homes after the district administration and AJK government assured them of proper compensation.
Over 1,300 refugees left the Aabpara camp. Only 350 quake survivors remain there now.
Assistant Commissioner Kotli Mirza Arshad Mehmood told Dawn that he had been persuading the refugees on the directives of the federal government to return to their villages for getting financial aid for their losses but they doubted the government would keep the promise.
They changed their mind after learning that others in their villages were really being paid financial assistance by the government.
Every departing family was given a tent, blankets, utensils and 15-day ration to facilitate its resettlement in its destroyed village.
“AJK government is happy that survivors are returning home and will use all its resources with the assistance of the federal government to accommodate the affected people in their pre-quake shelters,” he added.
“We must return to our villages to resume life in the quake- ravaged areas. We are thankful to the people of Islamabad who gave us protection and treated us like brothers in our hour of need and helplessness,” a refugee who was on his way to Bagh told this reporter on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a CDA official disclosed that the inflow of quake survivors was increasing day by day in the H-11 tented village.
He suspected refugees from other tented villages in the city were moving to the more orderly facility in H-11.
However, the official believed the refugees would soon start leaving as they have been ensured of compensation. Complete evacuation of the quake survivors from the federal capital would take time, but they would surely return.
Meanwhile, Director Relief of the Khubaib Foundation, Zobair Khan, said widows and orphans were being shifted to Hattian near Kamra Cantonment to be settled in the Wapda Colony in collaboration with Pakistan Baitul Mal.
So far, about 30 orphans and widows have been shifted to the colony.
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