PESHAWAR, March 22: Staff at Takhtabaig repatriation centre, Khyber Agency, and mobile teams throughout the NWFP have so far registered over 80,000 Afghan refugees— during 14 working days since the start of assisted return of the displaced persons early this month— willing to return to their homes.

This unexpectedly high turn-out of the refugees caused traffic jams, water shortage and security problems at the centre, which was set up to deal only with 1,000 families daily.

At any given day, since the start of the voluntary repatriation process, more than 1,000 trucks waited in front of the centre, causing traffic jams, water shortage and security problems.  

The world refugee body has doubled the registration staff to over 50 to cope with the rush of returnees, while the officials singled out 130 DPs from 500 “recycled refugees”, attracted by the repatriation aid.

After March 26, the Takhtabaig repatriation centre will be operational six days a week, says a UNHCR press release.—Bureau Report