Mohmand Agency IDPs: Caught between a rock and a hard place

Locals living in IDP camps describe the miserable conditions.

PESHAWAR: Abdur Rauf fled from his village of Anzari along with 15 members of his family, with what little he had on his back, in hopes of escaping the ongoing military operation in Mohmand Agency.

Upon reaching Kashmir Kor Camp in Nakhqi area of the Mohmand Agency, Rauf soon realised that the conditions were similar to the conflict zone he once considered his home – in fact, they were worse.

Security forces recently launched operations in some parts of the tribal region to clear the area of militants. Relief workers put the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at 25,000.

Locals who reached the Kashmir Kor IDPs Camp told The Express Tribune that they have been living under extremely tough conditions, in subzero weather.

“It has been raining for the past two days and we are literally living in mud,” Rauf said, adding that the tents provided to them do not have protection against rain.

He said that security forces were now not allowing locals to leave their villages in conflict zones, leaving thousands behind.

He added, however, that while thousands of people were trying to escape the volatile situation, living conditions in the camps are just as miserable.

“The authorities have not set up any latrines at this camp, which is the biggest problem for us,” he said.

At the camp Rauf’s family were provided with single bedding, making it near impossible for them to manage in the severe cold.

Sultan, a resident of Sagi area, told The Express Tribune that he managed to escape from his village in the darkness of the night, walking several hours on foot. The camp did not provide him with the relief he longed for. Ration and water have been scarce, and the cold weather, especially for children, is getting harder to cope with, he shared.

Mohammad Saeed, head of Al Khidmat Mohmand chapter, told The Express Tribune that according to the figures shared with them by local authorities, at least 2,250 families have shifted to Kashmir Kor Camp; around 776 families are living at Danish Kol camp and around 100 in Nakhqi Camp.

He said that the camps were set up on January 28, and still lacked latrines owing to the callousness on part of the authorities.

He said that locals have to walk from Dewazi through Shati Kandao on foot which is about eight to 10 kilometres.

Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) spokesperson Adil Raza when contacted referred to the FDMA website for latest figures; however, no document was found on the said links.

Regarding the lack of latrines, he admitted that there were some issues due to problems in planning, but added that the authorities have opened at least 48 washing units at two camps and the number will soon be doubled.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2011.