UNifeed: PAKISTAN / IDPS RETURN

PAKISTAN / IDPS RETURN

Pakistan says it will start a return operation to bring back those displaced by recent violence. In May, the government launched a military offensive aimed at driving out Islamic militants from the Swat valley region, forcing an estimated two million people from their homes. UNHCR

Duration:02:17Date:10 July 2009

Categories:

Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, PROTECTION OF AND ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS, PAKISTAN

Downloads:

Broadcast-quality video for UNifeed stories is available online for two weeks. Should you wish to request older material, please contact the agency source of the material. For UNTV or peacekeeping stories, please contact the UN Video Library.

Full Script

STORY: PAKISTAN / IDPS RETURN
TRT: 2.17
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: URDU / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 27 JUNE 2009, PAKISTAN

SHOTLIST:

27 JUNE 2009, FARASH, MARDAN DISTRICT- PAKISTAN

1. Med shot, Oumar Zada exits his house 
2. Med shot, Oumar and family outside his house
3. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Oumar Zada, displaced:
“It s very hard here as we are cut off from our usual community. All the time, I think about my relatives who stayed behind. I think of my animals. The only thing I do here is to pray for peace and for us to be able to go back.” 
4. Zoom out, tent with children
5. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Oumar Zada, displaced:
“Until this situation is fully resolved our going back would be very difficult.”
6. Pan left, compound
7. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Shir Zameen, hosting displaced family: 
“Though this is a burden for us, we are sharing everything with them, including food. The IDPs only got one food ration for the month and it’s not enough. They came with only one pair of clothes. I am ready to share with them as long as it is necessary, for years. They came by foot through Buner, through Birbaba side. It is difficult to use that side.”
8. Various shots, children in the compound of Shir Zameen 
9. Various shots, children displaced camp 
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Ron Redmond, Spokesman, UNHCR:
“UNHCR wants to be sure, along with our partners, that the conditions are in place for the voluntary, safe and what we call ‘dignified’ return.  That people can go home, make a go of it – that they have all the essential basic services in place.  A lot of the infrastructure has been damaged some houses have been destroyed, so people are going to need help when they get back.”
11. Wide shot, Oumar and Shir at compound

STORYLINE:

Thirty-five year old Oumar Zada says until there is real peace, he will not take his wife and nine children back to their village- even though he left his mother and other relatives behind:

SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Oumar Zada, displaced:
It s very hard here as we are cut off from our usual community. All the time, I think about my relatives who stayed behind. I think of my animals. The only thing I do here is to pray for peace and for us to be able to go back.

Since the conflict between the government and militants started in early May, more than 2 million people have been uprooted.  Now authorities say it is safe enough to return.

SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Oumar Zada, displaced:
 “Until this situation is fully resolved our going back would be very difficult.”

While the international community has reached out to those left homeless by the fighting- creating tented camps and distributing essentials like food and blankets- it’s the local populations which have shouldered most of the burden.

About one million 750 thousand people are being housed in private homes and other buildings- dependent on the goodwill of hosts like Shir Zameen.

SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Shir Zameen, hosting displaced family:
”Though this is a burden for us, we are sharing everything with them, including food. The IDPs only got one food ration for the month and it’s not enough. They came with only one pair of clothes. I am ready to share with them as long as it is necessary, for years. They came by foot through Buner, through Birbaba side. It is difficult to use that side.”

Shir has 13 children of his own yet he opened his doors to a family of eleven – allowing them to stay indefinitely.  Most of those who fled- left with little except the clothes on their backs. They need everything- food, clothes, utensils and shelter.  UN Habitat is distributing UNHCR tents to families and tool kits for home owners.  This helps, but as time goes on the resources of the host families are running out and their generosity could be short-lived..

Life in the camps is even more difficult- especially for the women.  The question of privacy and security are paramount.  The Islamic faith requires that women remain separate from men which is difficult when living in tents with a shortage of space.  Many of the women have not been outside in public for years.

Under the government plan those living in camps will be the first to go back.  The operation is scheduled to begin July 13. The government says that security, as well as utilities, have been restored.  The UN refugee agency wants to make sure returns are voluntary:

SOUNDBITE (English) Ron Redmond, Spokesman, UNHCR:
“UNHCR wants to be sure, along with our partners that the conditions are in place for the voluntary, safe and what we call ‘dignified’ return.  That people can go home, make a go of it – that they have all the essential basic services in place.  A lot of the infrastructure has been damaged some houses have been destroyed, so people are going to need help when they get back.”

Many here don’t seem in a hurry to go back. However, the prospect of living an indefinite hand to mouth existence could persuade many families to reconsider their options.

Breadcrumb Trail

PAKISTAN / IDPS RETURN

UNifeed Archive

UNifeed Outlook

About

Connect to Unifeed

Connect to UNTV

Other UNTV Products