PESHAWAR, Nov 30: Around 270 displaced families on Wednesday left for their homes in Bajaur Agency after spending around three years in Jalozai Camp, Nowshera.

These families, according to a Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), returned to Chamerqund and Nawagai tehsils after the government declared these areas safe and free of militants.

“The whole of Bajaur Agency except for Loi Sum has been declared safe, allowing displaced families belonging to these areas to repatriate,” said Adnan Khan, spokesman for PDMA.

Mr Adnan told Dawn that the returning families would be given money to rebuild completely and partially damaged houses in the agency.

“Rs400,000 each will be paid to the families, whose houses were completely destroyed by the armed conflict, while those whose houses were partially damaged would get Rs160,000 each family,” he said.

Mr Adnan said the government would also establish 'food hubs' at different places in Chamerqund and Kamun Garrah tehsils for free food ration to the returning families for three months.

He said every repatriating family was given food for one month, a gas cylinder, a winterised kit and a hygiene kit on Wednesday, adding that the authority had arranged 36 buses for free transportation of the families to home.

The spokesman for PMDA said 70 trucks arranged by the camp administration and loaded with the returnees' belongings had also been sent to Chamerqund and Kamun Garrah tehsils.

He said before Wednesday's repatriation, 1,300 displaced families from Bajaur Agency were lodged at the Jalozai camp, adding that the military offensive against militants in Bajaur Agency in 2008 had forced thousands of families to leave their homes and head to Jalozai Camp for shelter.

The spokesman for PDMA said the Wednesday return of Bajaur Agency had followed the last week's repatriation of 323 families to Mohmand Agency after the government declared their villages safe.