Peshawar: The return plan prepared by the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) for settling IDPs of Malakand Division in their places of origin is progressing well so far as at least 104,455 IDP families of Swat and Buner districts have reached their homes.

According to a handout issued by the ERU media cell here on Monday, 104,455 IDP families including 10,707 of Buner, 186 of Dir and 93,562 of Swat have reached their homes safely. The ERU had arranged transportation for the IDPs living in camps, who wanted to return to their homes voluntarily.

The ERU had prepared a return transportation plan with the name of “Naway Sahar” (Dawn of new beginning) which has been executed by the officials with dedication and great speed. Several IDP camps in Mardan, Charsadda and Peshawar districts have been closed down after the return of IDPs. Presently, the ERU is working on return plan of IDPs living in schools and with host families.

The ERU has been doing its best to facilitate the IDPs in this critical hour and the provincial government with the help federal government and national and international donor agencies has taken steps to help them alleviate their sufferings.

Provincial Relief Commissioner and ERU Incharge Muhammad Azam Khan while expressing his satisfaction over the return of IDPs said that the IDPs would be provided all-out support in their registration and relief in terms of procuring food and non – food items at their places of origin. He has already issued instructions to the NADRA and Social Welfare Departments officials to speed up their efforts in this regard.

The rehabilitation and settlement of the IDPs at their places of origin is now the main focus for the government. It may be mentioned here that several thousand IDPs have left for Swat and Buner districts on their own as well. The ERU is compiling the data of all those IDPs who have returned to their homes using government transport or on their own.

According to a rough estimate more than 2.4 million people had left their homes in haste after the security forces launched operation against miscreants in Malakand division.