PESHAWAR: World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that it has completed food distributions to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Swat, Buner and Malakand districts.

The food distribution was going on since July-August after Government of Pakistan announced a return-strategy for these IDPs, said a press release issued here.

While returning to their areas of origin, the World Food Programme provided one months ration and the government of NWFP supported these returnees with free transport facility and other non-food assistance.

However, keeping in view their vulnerability and other factors in mind, together with the government of NWFP, World Food Programme (WFP) at that time decided to keep on supporting these families for a period of six months to allow them reestablish their lives and livelihoods.

Despite security challenges, WFP’s staff based in Peshawar, Swat and Buner and with the help and cooperation of law-enforcing agencies ensured full and timely supply of monthly food rations in these areas. As the volume of displacement increased during the course of 2009, so too did the need for emergency assistance and the resultant scale of WFP’s response; with life-saving food rations supplied to 2.7 million individuals, at its peak.

To accommodate all those requiring this support, an extensive network of Humanitarian Hubs was established, through which food rations were distributed across areas of displacement and return. By making food readily available even in the most isolated and volatile areas, these hubs facilitated the early and dignified return of displaced families; ensuring that basic needs were able to be met, despite ongoing availability and access constraints. By the end of February, free food rations will have been provided to returnee households in Swat and Buner for a total of six months.

During this time, and in the absence of immediate food security concerns, recipients of WFP assistance were able to engage in some recovery undertakings as their situation was given time to stabilise: resuming work and livelihood activities, re-building property and assets, and putting children back in school.