BANNU: On the repeated demands of the internally displaced persons (IDPs), the Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) has finally started the second phase of their return to the native towns.

A total of 99 families of Eidak tribe on Wednesday left for North Waziristan Agency. Of them, 24 families were residing in Bakkakhel camp and 75 families outside the camp in different areas of Bannu. Over 4,000 families currently residing in the camp or different areas of Bannu would go to their hometowns in the second phase, officials in FDMA told this correspondent.

The government provides Rs25, 000 in cash and Rs10, 000 for transportation charges and food package to each family, according to officials in political administration of North Waziristan. In the first phase of repatriation, 1,800 families of Speen and Shaywa areas had already gone to their homes.

In the second phase, the officials said that around 100 families would leave the camp daily for native towns. They said that the registration and all necessary documentation of the IDPs had already been completed.

Over 100,000 families displaced from North Waziristan due to Zarb-i-Azb have been registered with the Nadra. The first phase of the repatriation had started on March 31, 2015.

The officials said that all the IDPs would return to their homes in different phases and efforts would be made to send maximum of them before Eidul Fitr.

Talking to Dawn, an elder of Eidak tribe, Qadeer Khan Dawar, appreciated the hospitality of the people of Bannu. He said that the residents of Bannu helped them a lot inside and outside the camp whenever they faced problems.

“We are excited that we will celebrate the coming Eidul Fitr with our own people in our own areas,” he said. Former MNA Pir Aqil Shah hoped that the IDPs would be soon in their homes.

He said that the residents of Dawar tribe were very happy with the launch of second phase of the IDPs’ return.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2015

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