All but forgotten: IDPs feel brunt of donor fatigue

Those in Jalozai camp received no attention on Eid

PESHAWAR: The internally displaced persons (IDP) living in Jalozai Camp comprise some 2,500 families from Bara, Khyber Agency and 100 families from Bajaur and Mohmand agencies. None of them received any Eid packages containing food and clothes from the federal or provincial governments or even from NGOs this Eidul Fitr.

Gulmat Afridi, an IDP from Bara, who has been living in Jalozai with 13 other family members for the last six months, said, “We were helpless but survived Ramazan – there was no electricity for the past three months and the heat was almost fatal.” He added, “We hoped some assistance would come from the government this Eid but no one has even visited us once.”

With patience

“The government, Pakistan Army and a few NGOs visited IDP camps in 2014 and distributed Eid gifts. However, this year no arrangements have been made so far,” said Saeed Khan Afridi, another resident.

“Even the children who usually start shopping and making requests for Eid a week before the festival are aware of our financial condition.” Saeed added, “They have made no demands whatsoever.”

Mahabat Khan, an older IDP, lamented the living conditions at the camp.

“We are treated like animals. We drank boiling hot water at Iftar and survived without any electricity. We are also Pakistani citizens and do not deserve this treatment,” he remarked almost aggressively.

Jalozai Camp Coordinator Waseem Khattak said the electricity issue had arisen to a fault in the main lines which had been rectified.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2015.