October 30, 2024
By Islam Gul Afridi
JAMRUD
After prolonged protests and sit-ins, Jamrud authorities have formally begun the resettlement process for internally displaced persons (IDP) belonging to the Kukikhel tribe, back in the Tirah Valley after nearly 13 long years.
Although registrations are still underway at the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) office in Jamrud, with around 50 families already departed for their hometown on October 29, thousands still remain and feel that things are off to a very rough start.
Voicepk talked to Rehmanullah, a resident of the Rajgal area of Tirah, outside the TMA office where he had arrived to check if he and his family were listed among the next batch of returnees.
“I have a night shift as a security guard at a factory. I will spend the entire day here and then head back to my duty at night. Nobody knows who will be able to return when, or whether their names have been announced or not,” he complained.
Furthermore, the resettlement process has begun at a time when the valley is experiencing the onset of a harsh winter. Although the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) is supplying the returning IDPs with cash, tents, food and other necessary items, Tirah’s villages lie mostly in ruin due to years of conflict and military operations, and therefore lack many basic facilities.
Despite this concern, Kukikhel tribespeople are still willing to return, but complain of the lack of basic necessities.
“The government is providing us with minimal support; there are no arrangements for the winter season, we do not have any livestock and all our homes have become rubble,” said Khaya Khan, a resident of the Tor Chapar area of Tirah. “We used to have proper, well-built homes, we cannot make do with just tents. But we still want to return because there is a Pashto saying, that ‘every man’s home is his Kashmir’.”
According to a notification issued by the Deputy Commissioner Khyber, 2,401 families will be returned in phase one of the process, while phase two is expected to begin in May next year. According to the Kukikhel Protest Committee, the total number of displaced families range between 6,000 to 7,000. They are also appealing to the government and aid agencies to restore infrastructure and basic facilities in Tirah.
“Homes worth Rs. 10 million each were destroyed because of the war, our fields have become barren and our lands have been seized. We should be compensated for all this,” said Raza Khan, also a resident of Tor Chapar.
A seven-member committee has been constituted to verify and prepare a final list of returnees for the perusal of the district administration. Voicepk reached out to various officials for a comment regarding the difficult registration and return process, but received no response.