IOM, with government agencies and humanitarian partners, has
launched an information campaign targeting over 30,000 people still
living in camps for displaced people following the October 2005
earthquake. The earthquake claimed more than 75,000 lives and
affected over 3 million people.

IOM, the UN Resident Coordinator's (RC) Office and other
agencies including the World Health Organization and the Norwegian
Refugee Council are helping the Camp Management Organization in
Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the District Coordination Office
in NWFP to disseminate information to camp residents.

With financial assistance from the NGO World Vision, the IOM-led
Returns Task Force (RTF) has developed 30,000 leaflets with
essential messages, 10,000 8-page booklets on frequently asked
questions and 100 posters and 100 banners to help people in the
camps make informed choices about whether or not to return to their
homes. Radio messages and a community consultation process will
follow dissemination of the material.

A combined visit of the RTF, IOM, the Earthquake Reconstruction
and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), and RC's Office to
Muzaffarabad and Mansehra last week briefed camp managers on the
campaign.

At least 200 families from Muzaffarabad camps and over 40
families from camps in Mansehra district have returned to their
homes or nearby places in their union councils this spring.

Camp managers and the government have already announced that the
returns process will begin in April and will continue in different
phases this summer.

In the first phase those who want to return to their areas of
origin or a nearby union council will be provided with free
transport to the nearest accessible point. They will be given a
return package which includes 14 CGI sheets for those living in
winterized tents and a two month food ration. Those living in
structures made of wood and CGIs can take the material with them.
They will also get two months of food.

The second phase will target people who are landless and
claiming additional government aid. The next phase will focus on
extremely vulnerable people, whom the government has decided to
help on a case-by-case basis. More than 1,000 refugee families from
Indian-administered Kashmir, who are living in different camps in
Muzaffarabad, will be dealt with separately.

Since last spring, IOM with the humanitarian community has been
helping the government to formulate guidelines and policies for IDP
assistance, providing protection and durable solutions for
displaced people returning home or seeking resettlement.

For more information, please contact:

Saleem Rehmat

IOM Pakistan

Tel. +92.300.8565967

E-mail: "mailto:srehmat@iom.int">srehmat@iom.int