PESHAWAR: The Emergency Response Unit established by the government of NWFP for monitoring, controlling and coordinating the relief operation for internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Malakand division is devising a comprehensive strategy with the return task force for providing maximum facilities to IDPs in their homes as the return process of in-camp IDPs has entered its last phase.

“We are mindful of the deficiencies in the relief operation and trying our best to remove them with the initiation of a plan for settlement of IDPs in their respective areas in the near future,” an official handout issued here on Sunday quoted Provincial Relief Commissioner and ERU Incharge Muhammad Azam Khan as telling the officials concerned.

Muhammad Azam Khan proposed that utility bills of host families should be waived off as they had experienced considerable economic losses while providing accommodation and other basic necessities of life to the IDPs. “We will make a request to the component authorities to provide some kind of relief to the host families too by writing off their loans and waiving their utility bills,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the provincial government had already written a letter to the federal government with a request for announcing a relief package for the host families.

ERU Member Abid Majid informed that ERU has arranged additional vehicles for transporting IDPs to their respective areas. According to him, now the return plan of in-camp IDPs is in its final phase. “We have tried our best to make the return journey of IDPs of Swat and Buner Districts as comfortable as possible. Moreover, we are ensuring that maximum number of IDPs get their cash cards on time, and in case of any unforeseen delays we will make arrangements that they receive the same in their districts of origin ” he added.

The ERU has established an information and complaint center in its office where the staff remains present round the clock for providing guidance to the IDPs and registering their complaints. “We will consider their complaints while giving final shape to the plan for settlement of IDPs in their respective areas,” said Muhammad Azam Khan.