Swat Refugees Cry for Food, Shelter
Shahzad Shameem
Swat Refugees Cry for Food, ShelterDO PUT YOUR ZAKAT,SADAQA,DONATIONTO WORK IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
PESHAWAR –- Hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the troubled Swat valley, where the army is pushing a major offensive against local Taliban fighters, are left in need of almost everything from food to shelter. "This is the third consecutive day when I am going back empty handed," Intizar Jan told http://www.nchhip.org inside the Jalala camp Mardan, some 40 kilometers south of Peshawar, the capital of Northwestern Frontier Province (NWFP).
The middle-aged Pushtun managed to reach this camp from Qambar, one of the epicenters of battles between heavily-armed Taliban and security forces, along with his seven-member family.
Hundreds of thousands of terrified civilians have been streaming out of different parts of restive Swat each day, with the UN refugee agency registering 501,496 displaced people since May 2.
Though the camp has a capacity of only 8000 people, some 120,000 people, many of them women and children, are taking shelter at the Jalala camp.
Every day they line in long queues sneaking out outside the camp, waiting for hours to get food and other essential items.
"I had bought food from outside (the camp) the first two days, but now I am running out of money," says a helpless Jan.
"I can stay without food, but my children cannot.
"I have to get food for them in any case, no matter if I have to snatch that," said the father of three sons and a daughter.
President Asif Ali Zardari has appealed for global aid for the civilians displaced by the fighting.
"We're appealing to the world, myself and the (UN) secretary general…to draw attention on the human catastrophe that is taking place," he said after meeting UN chief Ban Ki-moon.
"They are losing their crops, they're losing their earnings, their livelihood and their homes, so we want the world to help us."
UN humanitarian chief John Holmes said he would "substantially" increase an aid appeal for Pakistan.
The UN had made an appeal for 165.9 million dollars for humanitarian aid in Pakistan for 2008-2009.
Desperate
Ghulam Dastagir, an aging Puhstun, fled Boner, one of the troubled districts of Malakand, along with his two grandsons, two granddaughters and a daughter-in-law.
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Many illiterate families are required to fill in registration forms before being given any aid. His two sons are still in Boner taking care of their house and live stock.
"This is wheat-reaping season in Boner and Swat, and we are begging for a bowl of food here," he said, with tears in his eyes.
"There is an acute shortage of water. You have to go all the way long to fetch water, which is a must in this sizzling heat," he added.
"We cannot think about taking a bath. We will be happy if we get enough water to drink."
The aging grandfather complained that in the camp survival is for the fittest.
"This is a power game going on here. Those who can pull and push, get the food and other relief goods. And if you cannot, then you just wait while standing in long queues."
The same is happening in Shaikh Yaseen camp on the outskirts of Mardan, where over 15,000 displaced persons are taking shelter.
"There is a scarcity of food, water and tents," says Rizwanullah Mohmind, who is in charge of the relief operations carried out by NCHHIP, the country’s largest NGO.
"But more than that, the lack of medical facilities is assuming alarming proportions."
A sudden increase in temperature is afflicting the displaced, especially children, with various heat-related diseases including diarrhea.
"We have deputed doctors with the help of Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), at all the camps but they are totally insufficient due to an unexpected migration," Mohmind said.
He made a passionate appeal to doctors to volunteer to save thousands of lives.
"They need doctors and medicines at urgent basis otherwise the situation will turn out to be grave."
Ridiculous
Mohmind complained about a total mismanagement of the crisis.
"The government was not prepared for such exodus. It launched the military operation without arranging anything for the expected displaced people. Everything is going on haphazardly."
Several refugees complaint about the registration process.
"This is totally ridiculous," Abdul Jabbar, a resident of Mingora, the capital of Swat,"Just imagine, we have traveled several miles on feet to reach here, and they don’t allow us to enter the camp before registration for which you along with your ill and weather-beaten children and women stand in long queues," he fumed.Many refugees are completely illiterate and cannot read or write.
"This is a new affliction for us. They do not provide you tent and food if you are not registered.
"I can show you scores of families which are lying under open sky just because they have not got themselves registered."
Ghulam Shabbir, a local registration official, defends the process.
"I understand that this is an additional burden on the displaced persons, but this is essential because militants can take shelter in these camps," he said.
"Militants are on the run, and these camps can be the ideal place for them to hide. That’s why we have to have the details of all the displaced persons."
But that makes absolutely no sense for Intizar, the middle-aged Pushtun father.
"It is hard for me to see my kids crying for food.
"I don’t know whether I would be able to get food today or again go back with empty hands."
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With Best Regards & Wishes
http://www.nchhip.org
New Creative Helping Hand In Pakistan.
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With Best Regards & Wishes.
Do Take Care Of Your Self,
Shahzad Shameem
http://www.nchhip.org
(New Creative Helping Hand In Pakistan)
Shahzad Shameem
Educationist, Consultant, Town Planner, Property Advisor
Dubai Real Estate & Builders Abbottabad.