Thousands of evacuees across Aceh started returning home Tuesday to their villages even though there is no guarantee of their safety. It appears that the evacuees decided to go home after realising that their circumstances in the camps were no better - in their villages they are afraid of the army and in places to which they have fled they are threatened with disease and hunger.

From Sigli it is reported that no fewer that 20,000 from 33 villages in the sub-district of Bandar Dua, Pidie have now returned to their homes.

On Monday evening, evacuees from four villages in the sub-district of Ulee Glee have all returned home, according to coordinator Rusli Ibrahim, excepting for about one thousand, who are likely to return home today, he said,

Villagers who fled from Lamno, sub-district Jaya in West Aceh three days ago have also started going back home. They had fled their villages following the Gunung Geurute incident when two members of the army were killed.

But in Peudada, North Aceh, and Alue Nireh, East Aceh, the evacuees are staying where they are. Local activists say that although many people are returning home, they are not yet sure whether the overall number of evacuees is declining.

Those who have decided to return home have come to the conclusion that it is better at home. Staying at the camps where they have fled gives them no certainly that they will be safe, but if they return home, they hope that conditions there will improve and they will be able to resume their normal lives.