At the beginning of 2015, the number of IDPs in KP reached 1.67 million after the last operation conducted in Khyber Agency. The government of Pakistan announced the 2015 return plan with a planning figure of around 154,000 families. The first phase of the returns was for the displaced families from South Waziristan Agency with an estimation caseload of 2,500 - 3,000 families. The return process started on 16th of March 2015 and concluded on 31st March 2015. A total of 3,238 families returned to the area of origin, all families were facilitated with VRF.
Second part of return to SWA started from 31st Aug, 2015 and concluded 10th Oct, 2015 with total number of 6,627 families received VRF and returned to their area of origin.
With the approval of the HCT to support the return operation, Shelter Cluster activated the intervention in SWA as agreed in the cluster framework. Shelter cluster started phase one intervention to provide immediate assistance by conducting detailed assessment in parallel with the return to identify the level of destruction and the most vulnerable families who needed assistance to manage the early stage of their return.
Shelter Cluster deployed two cluster members (SRSP & FRD) to conduct the assessment and provide assistance to the returnees under the funds provided by UNHCR. Assessment started on 01st Sep, 2015, villages divided between the two partners. The assessment has been conducted door to door by surveying each family using the damaged selection criteria developed in consultation with the shelter cluster partners and the vulnerability criteria approved before by HCT. The assessment and assistance provided by the Shelter Cluster and its members concluded on 18th Oct, 2015.