Kandahar starts giving plots to returnees after Pajhwok report

KANDAHAR (Pajhwok): Authorities in southern Kandahar province have started allotting plots of land to returning refugee families under residential schemes after Pajhwok published a report about shelter problems of the returnees.

Earlier this month, Pajhwok Afghan News published a report “Returning refugees from Pakistan demand shelter and work.”

Maulvi Nimatullah Ulfat, deputy director of the Kandahar Department of Refugees and Returnees, told Pajhwok Afghan News that land distribution had begun in Zheri district of Kandahar, and land will be distributed to about 7,000 families.

He said the land would be distributed in a township which has 1500 acres of land

He said small families would be given 500 meters and large families 1000 meters and 1500 meters of land each. “We look at each family, giving 500 meters to those with fewer members and 1000 or 1500 meters to those with more members.”

According to him, the returning families will build own houses on the land, but they are trying to persuade international organizations and charitable organizations to cooperate with them in this regard.

Meanwhile, Maulvi Abdul Matin Saeed, the head of the Kandahar Housing and Urban Development Department, said that schools, seminaries, mosques, parks, health centers, stadiums and all other facilities required in a township had been taken into account.

He said the process of distributing land to refugee families was currently underway in Daman district of Kandahar, where land was being distributed to up to 1,500 families.

He also said: “We have a plan to build a township in Takhta Pul, along with Zheri and Daman, and the survey in this regrd is underway. Land will be distributed to 15,000 families in these three towns, but we are considering land for all those who have returned, who do not have land and are in need. If these townships are not enough, we will allocate other lands for them.”

Happy with the land distribution, the returnees hoped they would be provided employment opportunities as well.

Unable to build houses on their own, they sought the help of charitable institutions and organizations.

A returnee, Nazarjan, was happy with the distribution of land to them and asked for help from charitable institutions in building houses.

He said: “It is not easy to return to homeland after years of migration. We have acquired land, we are very happy, but we do not have the means to build a house. We are asking charitable institutions and organizations to help us in this regard.”

Another returnee, Nasrullah, said they returned empty-handed and that they should also be provided with work opportunities.

He said: “We are very happy that the government has provided us with land. This is a new beginning for us.”

Living in a rented house, Nasrullah hoped the returnees would be provided with work and employment opportunities.

Although some of the refugees returning to Kandahar from neighboring countries have found jobs, most of them have no occupation or education and are currently struggling with unemployment.

They say if provided with work opportunities, all their affairs will gradually improve and they are happier than anywhere else in their country.

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