United Nations Radio

UN agencies and their partners are working on a detailed plan for the return of people in Pakistan displaced by fighting between government forces and insurgents.

Pakistani IDPs in refugee camp

This follows the announcement by the Pakistani government on Thursday that on Monday next week, internally displaced people will start returning to their homes in some areas of the districts of Buner and Swat.

More than two million people have been displaced since early May as a result of the conflict between Pakistani forces and militants in the North West Frontier Province.

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, says the government has confirmed that returns will take place in conformity with recent guidelines that the government developed with United Nations agencies and their partners.

UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond says the guidelines are based on principles of voluntary, safe and dignified returns.

"The plan should work so that prior to returning on a voluntary basis, internally displaced people will also have access to proper information on the security situation in the return areas, the magnitude of the destruction, the availability of basic services and facilities. There has been significant damage in some areas of conflict."

The United Nations refugee agency has also identified the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance as a significant threat to the returning population, especially children.

Meanwhile UNHCR and its partners are continuing to distribute assistance packages to displaced people staying with host families or in schools in the North West Frontier Province.

Diane Bailey, United Nations

(duration: 1'42")