Many fear for safety as Pakistanis begin repatriation to Swat Valley
Updated
Hundreds of displaced Pakistani families have started returning to their homes in the now former Taliban stronghold of the Swat Valley. The government initiated repatriation comes after its claims to have defeated Taliban militants, who were getting dangerously close to the capital Islamabad and had already launched terrorist attacks there. About 2 million civilians fled the fighting. But now, while many are happy to return, others remain concerned for their safety.
Presenter: Girish Sawlani
Speakers: Alam Khan, refugee originally from Barikot; Helen Caux, spokeswoman, United Nations refugee agency, Pakistan; Merraj Uddin, refugee, Jalozai camp; Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistani president
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SAWLANI: It's been described as one of the biggest human migrations in recent history. The exodus of about two million Pakistanis - who fled from the Swat Valley in Pakistan's northwest - began in April, as government forces launched their offensive against the Taliban militants.
Two months later - and the military says it's pushed the militants out of their former stronghold.
And having spent those two months in refugee camps across northern Pakistan thousands of internally displaced persons, or IDPs, are on their way home.
Alam Khan, who's been living at the Charsadda camp, says he's relieved to be returning to his home town of Barikot.
KHAN: I spent some two months in Charsadda. The weather was very hot there, our condition was very miserable. We are used to living in a colder climate here. I am very happy and thankful to God to come back. It's my prayer that God will bring peace here in our land.
SAWLANI: But the initial phase of repatriation has not been smooth. Several IDPs have refused to return.
Each family is entitled to $US300 in financial aid, and they want that money first.
Helen Caux is the Pakistan spokesperson for the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR.
CAUX: What you have to remember is that we're talking about two million people. So, of course, you have some people who have fallen through the gaps, who haven't received what they're suppose to receive. And it's going to take time before all these people are satisfied with what they're supposed to have.
SAWLANI: Even for those who have returned, some still fear for their safety despite the government assurances that the region has been cleared of Taliban militants.
Merraj Uddin is a refugee who's spent two months at a camp in Jalozai.
UDDIN: The security situation is still bad over there. If we go there and something happens, what will our options be?
SAWLANI: UNHCR spokesperson Helen Caux acknowledges that many IDPs are also concerned about having to be displaced again in the future.
CAUX: One of their fears is, of course, that the conflict is not over. Many people have been displaced several times in the course of the past month, not only since the end of April or the beginning of May, when the major conflict started. It's been for the past five to six months. So, these people are really worried that if they going back now, will they have to move again from their houses? So, these people, for the moment, are still waiting to see if the conflict between the militants and governmental forces is really over.
SAWLANI: With aid resources pushed to breaking point, Islamabad is keen to send back as many IDPs as soon as possible.
And because of the enormity of the task the Pakistani president, Asif Ali Zardari, is asking for continued international assistance.
ZARDARI: This is a universal cancer which we are fighting here and this human disaster happens to be one of the effects. Look at us, help us, and stem it now, otherwise it could spread to any part of the world.
SAWLANI: While the government is keen to repatriate all of the IDPs in a matter of weeks, Helen Caux of the United nations refugee agency, expects the process to take much longer.
CAUX: We're talking about one of the major displacements in the past ten to twenty years. It is in my view a long term process. The government has indicated that they want to bring back everybody within five to six weeks. While it seems feasible, not everybody might want to come back before six weeks. So, in that case, you know, people will remain in camps, people will remain with host families, or in school buildings. And we will continue to assist them.
SAWLANI: This is the inititial stage of the repatriation process. The second phase will include people who have been staying with relatives as opposed living in IDP camps. Until now, no one, apart from the government, has been prepared to say that the region is safe.
