PARACHINAR: The Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) has said that return of internally displaced persons to central tehsil of Kurram Agency was completed on Monday.

An official said a total of 13,979 displaced families (73,649 individuals) were repatriated to the area, which was cleared of militants and the government writ was established. The official said the last batch comprised 131 families, adding the displaced families belonged to Alisherzai, Mossozai and Ziamusht tribes. He said the return programme of IDPs to central tehsil of Kurram was started on April 20.

However, fate of families who got displaced due to sectarian clashes in 2007 and before still hangs in balance. These families have been residing in Kurram and other parts of the country.

According to the official, the government paid Rs25,000 cash grant and Rs10,000 as transportation cost to the each returning family. He said after completion of the return process in Kurram, the FDMA has closed the New Durrani Camp which was established for IDPs from Kurram and Orakzai in 2011.

The government has yet to start compensation to the families whose residential properties were damaged during the conflict. It had announced to pay Rs400,000 for fully damaged and Rs200,000 for partially damaged houses in Fata.

Kurram Agency Political Agent Ikramullah Khan told media persons that after completion of return of IDPs the government would focus on the rehabilitation of militancy affected families and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2016