IDP camp in Kurram Agency closed as families return home

Since the last 5 years several Internally Displaced People (IDPs) were staying at the New Durrani Camp in Kurram tribal region. The camp was established some 30 kilometers east of Parachinar in 2010 where around 54,000 IDPs were accommodated.

The FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) has announced that these people have now returned to their homes and the camp has now been closed.

The camp was declared abandoned as more than 10,000 families staying have been repatriated to their homes. The FDMA also said those IDPs outside the camp will also be sent to their homes till 9^th May.

It has also announced the schedule for the return of IDPs from other tribal regions of the area which included South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Orakzai and Khyber Agency. More than 150,000 families are expected to be returned by end of November.

Till 2008, Kurram Agency was the stronghold of various terrorist organizations including the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), until the Pakistan Army launched a military operation to flush out the militants.

This military offensive called Operation Koh-e-Safaid continued till 2011 after which the area fell back into Pakistani control and it was later declassified as a conflict zone. The closure of this camp is a significant step in bring peace and prosperity in one of the most remote and restive areas of the world.