Written by Ahsan Khan, Executive Director, Rural Development Project (RDP)
Implementing partner of CARE International in Pakistan
Many inhabitants of the Swat valley, once also known as the Switzerland of Pakistan, have been forced to evacuate their home due to a military operation. With no clear future prospects and no clue what the future will hold for them, the internally displaced people of the Swat valley are arriving in Mardan, Swabi, Charsada, Haripur and Mansehra districts. These people are landing into formal and non-formal camps as a last resort. The status of the refugees in different districts portrays a very gloomy picture of their miseries. Many camps are already stretched to the limit, full of desperate refugees, such as the ones in Mardan and Swabi. However, influx of people does not stop. More and more arrive, day by day.
The newl
y arrived people have suffered unprecedented losses both in terms of human and material resources. They have lost mothers and fathers, sons and daughters. They have nothing. All belongings have been left in their villages and the places they came from. However, the suffering is far from over. There are not enough tents and rooms to accommodate and support these deserted families. In order to understand the exact nature and magnitude of problem, a team of Rural Development Project (RDP), a local organization and partner of CARE International Pakistan, visited different informal settlements of internally displaced families. These are the stories they have been told:
People of Barikot subdistrict, Swat valley
The displaced people of Barikot have been resettled by the Municipal Administrator into a deserted colony where they don’t even have simple plastic mat to sit on. An elder person named Jamil Ahmed told his story: “We left our home area because we were frightened of the ruthless shelling. While leaving our homeland we were unable to carry any belongings since no transport facility was available. We had no choice but to walk. We marched for a whole day to reach a place named Khwazakhela. From there it took us another whole day to reach Haripur.” While narrating their ordeal another man named Junaid Ali came along. “Six members of my family were killed in heavy shelling”, he explained. “My family buried them in one grave and immediately left the area. The shelling did not stop even during the prayers times.”
Internally displaced people of Buner and Mangora districts
During its fact finding mission, the team of RDP visited one informal settlement of refugees near a village named Hattar, Haripur district. In the vicinity of Hattar the majority of people has found refuge in informal settlements. They are not noticed by the district administration and as a consequence they have not been registered so far.
Palwashay: A Victim of circumstances
Iqbal is a young man of 20 years. He is a peasant of Hattar village. Hailing from Swat valley Iqbal’s familiy left its village of origin some ten years ago to find a job and earn a living in Hattar. He told us about his courageous efforts to save the lives of his family members. “During the current fightings I went to the Swat valley and pulled out members of my three family branches who were stranded in different areas. We walked for more a few days to reach a safer place. I desperately tried to save people’s lives, constantly caring for the others. However, the strenuous march was too much me. After a few days, I lost my energy. Consequently, I could not hold a small girl, Palwashay, in my arms any longer. The fragile girl fell down and got her arm fractured. There was no place to get first aid let alone proper treatment. So I carried on, holding the crying girl with the injured arm all the way until we reached a clinic near Taxila. There I finally found someone who bandaged her arm. Presently, I am hosting three families, a total of fifteen persons in my small mud house. I have no resources to feed them but I hope for external support.”
CARE International, together with local partner organizations has distributed emergency items to 500 families (3500 persons). They have received 1000 plastic floor mats, 1000 mosquito nets, 1500 female and 1500 male shawl, 500 hygiene kits and 500 kitchen sets.
