PESHAWAR, Feb 26: The process of relocating the displaced people from relief camps to their ancestral areas in the districts of the NWFP affected by the October 8 earthquake is likely to start on March 10, officials said.

“The survivors will start leaving relief camps as soon as snow starts melting in the high-altitude areas,” said an official.

He said that the government did not plan to close the camps immediately. The camps would be closed gradually and there would be no forced eviction or relocation, he said, adding that majority of the displaced people would go back to their areas by the end of March.

“Only vulnerable people, including widows and orphans, will be looked after in camps for one year and the federal government has prepared a programme for them,” he said.

People belonging to areas prone to landslides would stay in the camps, he said, adding that United Nations agencies would assist vulnerable groups.

Sources said army and other agencies had chalked out a plan for relocation of 175,000 people living in 370 camps.

The army in collaboration with UN and other relief agencies is running 124 camps in Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, Shangla and Kohistan districts, while the rest of the camps are managed by other organisations.

According to the relocation plan, each affected family will get one-month food ration and the tent in its possession in the camp. The government will provide free transport to those moving back to their areas.

The relocated survivors will get free health and education facilities in their villages.

Army teams have started registration of inhabitants in the camps.

Officials said a proposal was under consideration to provide seeds and cash assistance to the affected people to help them initiate income generating activities in their areas.

Officials said the Federal Relief Commission held in reserve 2,800 tons of food items which would be provided to the affected people before their departure from the camps.