(Un)timely essentials: Displaced persons at Jalozai camp demand blankets, tents

Items required in larger quantity as Khyber-I brings in more displaced families.

PESHAWAR: Displaced families braving chilly nights in bleak Jalozai camps have asked the government to provide more tents, blankets and sweaters.

With the recent displacement of people from Khyber Agency due to Operation Khyber-I, the number of internally displaced persons (IDP) at Jalozai camp has once again increased.

According to the camp administration, the camp currently houses 5,365 families, in which 5,068 are from Khyber Agency, 290 from Bajaur Agency, 7 from Mohmand Agency. The total population has reached 39,000.



When winter ends

Noor Muhammad Afridi, from Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency, told The Express Tribune they have been living in the camp since three years.

He said he has experienced all sorts of weather conditions while residing there and has noticed the camp administration and non-governmental organisations (NGO) provide the needed commodities after the season passes. He complained previously they were given electric fans during winter and believes this time they will get the required blankets when the temperature rises.

“I live in this tent with my wife and seven children,” he said. “The condition of the tent is so poor that it cannot protect us from the cold or the rain.”

He demanded the camp administration provide them new tents and blankets as well as sweaters for their children as they cannot return home due to the security situation in their areas.

Twenty-year-old Sajid Afridi said he and his family of eight have been living in the camp since four years.

He said the recently displaced people have also come with their relatives to live in at Jalozai and the administration has not yet allotted them tents in accordance with family size. As the tent is not large enough to accommodate 12 to 15 people, male members of the family spend the night under the open sky.

“But now the weather has changed and it has become unbearable to sleep through the cold of the night,” he said. “The weather is tolerable during the day but at night the women and children cannot sleep properly as they do not have blankets to keep them warm.”

He asked the government and humanitarian organisations to help provide them essential facilities as they cannot return home during the operation against militants.

Zahid Wali, from Bajaur Agency, said they have been facing an acute shortage of wood over the last couple of months. “People cannot cook food as there is no wood to make fire,” he complained.

Jalozai camp in charge, Faisal Khan told The Express Tribune that with the entry of recently displaced people, the number of camp residents has increased. Different NGOs are working to help the affected people and to provide them with basic amenities, he said.

Faisal said the recent IDPs will be provided tents, food and non-food items after their registration.

To save people from inclement weather, the Jalozai in charge said they will distribute blankets and other daily use items.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2014.