PESHAWAR: Emergency Response Unit (ERU) has made a special announcement in connection with the voluntary return plan of IDPs belonging to Buner who are living in different camps of the province. The plan is in addition to the previously announced return schedule entitled “Naway Sahar” for rest of all the in-camp IDPs of the Malakand Division including Swat region. It may be mentioned that approximately 70 percent of IDPs population belonging to Buner has already reached there in the last few days when the security forces cleared the area of miscreants. However, ERU has made additional arrangements for those in-camp IDPs from Buner who might have stayed on for one reason or another and wish to return voluntarily as well. In the initial phase, transportation will be provided from Swabi and Mardan Camps. The plan is tentative and is subject to revision in case of any important development.

According to the detailed return schedule, on 14 July (Tue) special vehicles would leave Mazdoorabad and Sheikh Yasin Camps of Mardan at 0700 hrs. On 15 July (Wed) vehicles would leave Jalala and Sheikh Shahzad camps at 0700 hrs. IDPs will have the choice to disembark at either of these destinations in Buner: Ambella Chowk, Swari Adda, Pir-Baba- Civil Hospital, Jowar Chowk, Bampokha Chowk.

In Swabi, transportation would depart from Shah Mansoor & Chota Lahore camps on 15 July (Wed) at 0700hrs for the above-mentioned destinations in Buner.

ERU members Abid Majeed  and Adnan Zafar have been notified by the government as focal persons for all matters relating to the return of  the IDPs meanwhile Zubair Shah has been notified as focal person for ensuring security of the returning IDPs.

Abid Majeed of ERU in a statement has said that voluntary return of the IDPs is a tough challenge which the government of NWFP and ERU have wholeheartedly accepted. ERU is coordinating with all International and Federal agencies to make it as convenient and secure for the IDPs to return to their places of origin with dignity. He thanked the various organizations working in collaboration with each other to achieve this end and he requested the media to play a supportive and positive role.

Schedule of all in-camp IDPs return starting on 13 June has already been widely advertised on media for general information. Meanwhile, detailed return schedule of those IDPs who are living outside camps would be announced soon. (ERU)