After four months, calamity still haunts the children of Utror

Utror, with a population of 35,000 was the worst hit area of the region; its 14 villages completely washed away.

SWAT: A four-year-old child from the Gulshanabad area of Utror sits with his brother on a tree trunk narrating the story of how his house was washed away by the floods that caused widespread destruction in the country a few months back.

“The waves were trying to catch us and I was so scared,” he said. The one constant element in all the stories narrated by the children in the area is fear, the fear they experienced during the floods, when their whole village was washed away.

The Union Council of Utror, located 2,900 meters from the Kandol Lake with a population of 35,000 was the worst hit area of the region, with a total of 14 villages completely washed away.

Known for its five lakes, the Candol, Spina Khwar, Khar Kharia, Paristan and Dhamaka, Utror is one of the most beautiful valleys in upper Swat. Dhesan Banda, Laddu Banda and Shahi Bagh vale are famous for their breathtaking views, granite and chromite stone deposits. The region traces its historical traces back to the period of Mahmood of Ghazni.

More than 90 per cent of the population depends on farming for sustenance. The floods wiped out about 80 per cent of their agricultural land, leaving them in a dilemma about their future.

Mohammad Din, a local farmer who was severely affected by the floods told The Express Tribune that his 15-room house and 30 kanals of agricultural land were washed away by the floods.

“There are 27 members in my family and we were all left to God’s mercy. We didn’t know what to do because the road connecting us to Kalam and then Mingora was also completely washed away.”

Later the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) got to them, bringing them food and non-food items. UNHCR is now helping them construct shelters. “Their help has revived our hopes, we are thankful to them,” he said.

“Since our agriculture land is no more, we will migrate to the lower parts of the country to seek work there and earn our livelihoods,” he added.

Hazrat Ahmad, a social activist of the area, said, “There is nothing here, no lands, houses. Micro hydel power stations, bridges, water supply schemes -- they have all been washed away. We are grateful to the SRSP and UNHCR who came to help these helpless people and provided them with shelter.”

Ahmad added that about 70 per cent of the people had migrated to the lower parts of the region through US helicopters.

“Nobody from the government visited us except the Peshawar Corps Commander.  Contrary to the claims and announcements in newspapers and media, the MPA’s and MNA’s have done nothing for us. They don’t even have time to visit,” he added.Locals, dismayed by the inefficiency of the government to help them during this difficult time, appealed to the government to assist them by providing them with a new infrastructure to help them rebuild their lives.

“The 14-km-long road connecting us with Kalam Valley and Mingora must be restored by the government,” Azeem Minaj, a resident of the area, said.

“The agriculture, tourism and mining industries should be promoted,” Minaj added.

While SRSP, with UNHCR funding, will provide shelter to 300 families, there is much that still needs to be done. More NGO’s and government organisations must come forward to help assist the most devastated areas of upper Swat.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2010.