Striving to help internally displaced
persons (IDPs) affected by last year's devastating earthquake, IOM
has expanded its return process to Punjab, the eastern province of
Pakistan, which accommodated quake survivors.

On 21 April, IOM started providing medical
screening and transportation to those willing to go back to their
homes from a camp in Fateh Jang, a town 50 kilometres from
Islamabad.

The camp, which was set up in November 2005 by
the Punjab government, shelters some 3,000 quake survivors.

"Having no money, we were waiting for someone
who could help us go back to our village," said Muhammad Makhan, a
father of three who returned with IOM assistance to Kai Manja, a
village some 25 kilometres from Muzaffarabad. "I really appreciate
IOM for helping me in this time of need."

Muhammad Makhan, whose wife died in the
earthquake, is one of the 800 people (187 families) who have so far
benefited from IOM transport and medical screening facilities in
Fateh Jang camp.

To date, IOM has helped more than 5,600
quake-affected families who wanted to leave temporary settlements
to return home.

Meanwhile, IOM is winding up its emergency
relief operations in Balakot tehsil. "Although we have ended the
emergency relief phase, we will not end our presence and will
continue providing assistance to the people in this area," said
Hassan Abdel Moneim Mostafa, IOM Regional Representative in
Islamabad.

Over the last six months, the IOM sub-office
in Balakot has provided more than 5,500 jeeps to international and
national NGOs to transport relief goods and a fleet 17 IOM buses
have been providing free travel to local passengers and
schoolchildren.

For more information, please contact:

Saleem Rehmat

IOM Islamabad

Tel. +92.300.856.5967.

E-mail: "mailto:srehmat@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">srehmat@iom.int