The protection and assistance required by children, especially unaccompanied minors, expectant mothers, mothers with young children, female heads of household, persons with disabilities and elderly persons, is a particular concern for World Vision and other members of the Protection Cluster, which is working with the government to ensure that the rights and needs of the displaced are met.

People are keen to secure their properties and assets, such as livestock, and escape the scorching heat of the lower plains

Conflict between government forces and Taliban militants not only caused an unprecedented people movement – half of whom are children, but also destroyed homes, infrastructure and livelihoods when households had to abandon their fields during harvest, thus losing their produce.

Many people do not know the condition of their village or homes, yet the desire and willingness to return home is strong, depending on where people are from, says Edward Kibirige, World Vision Response Manager for the IDP crisis.

“There has been reported nervousness regarding security from the IDPs going back to Swat. Some families have sent one or two male members to first scout out the situation in terms of security before making a decision to send the entire family”, he explains. People are keen to secure their properties and assets, such as livestock, and escape the scorching heat of the lower plains.

In areas like Buner, however, it is believed that about 70% of the IDPs had already started making their way back by the time the government started its return process on 13 July.

“The government stresses that all returns are voluntary which has been one of the key issues for the humanitarian community”, says Kibirige. The UN High Commission for Refugees reportedly signed an agreement with the government of the North West Frontier Province to ensure that the willingness of the voluntary return is maintained and that people are well informed about what the conditions are in the areas of return.

The government stresses that all returns are voluntary which has been one of the key issues for the humanitarian community

Based on a schedule of return drafted by the government, buses and trucks with escorted security vehicles are transporting families back to their mountain villages from both camps established for the displaced and from host communities, where the majority of IDPs sought refuge.

World Vision has focused its resources on meeting the needs of IDPs in host communities, which have borne the burden of caring for thousands of people, often strangers. The organisation has provided family kits, water purifiers and six-month cash support to particularly vulnerable families and is also providing psychosocial support for children through two Child Friendly Spaces in Buner.

World Vision is now assessing the need to redirect activities in areas of return to ensure the immediate needs of families, particularly children, are met, as well as to address the longer-term issue of livelihood recovery.

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