The following is correspondance and an article sent by Doulos Correspondant Ashfaq in Pakistan. You can contact Ashfaq at:
pakistan@doulosinternational.org
—————————————
Dear Brother Robert and Doulos International USA and others, Peace, Please find below a report on Internally Displaced Women in Pakistan. It was been prepared by a women group that is in contact with Doulos International Pakistan. You can write to me for further information or feed back.
Women voices from inside IDPs camps in Mardan, Pakistan
§ Religious norms & oppressive tribal values lock women inside tents
§ More than 100 pregnant mothers in Sheikh Yasin camp at mercy of God
§ Filthy joint toilets may cause spread diseases among IDPs
§ Taliban, Army and all three adding woes to women of Swat
——————————————
With the deepening crisis in valley of Swat, more and more displaced families are pouring in Mardan, Swabi, Peshawar and other areas of Pakhtunkhawa (Old Named of the state is NWFP). Though independent media and state now confirm over 1.5 million people are displaced from Swat as a result of 3rd military operation against Taliban in less than two years. But the exact number is believed at 2 million as hundreds of families are waiting yet to be registered.
The camps set up in Mardan for the displaced population from Swat. These include camps of Shaikh Yasin and Shaikh Shahzad in surroundings of Mardan city.
There are 1312 families with 12438 persons in Shaikh Yasin camp, 1914 families with 8065 persons in Shaikh Shahzad camp, in total there are 32725 persons lodged in the four camps. Most of the families here belong to working class. While the affluent people of Swat fled early and managed to take refuge either in the houses of their relatives/friends or in government school building, much better than the tents. According to District Nazim of Mardan, there are 1.23 million IDPs living with host families in Mardan, while 611 school buildings are being used to provide shelter to IDPs.
Despite hefty amount of foreign aid the poor situation of IDPs in these camps speaks volumes about hallow political and moral rhetoric of the provincial as well as federal governments. The report below is based on our direct observation and discussions with the IDPs in these camps. A number of IDPs including men, women and children shared their views on Taliban & Army.
Majority of the IDPs was of the view that Taliban are evil, who have made people’s lives hell by flushing them out of their homes. They told that majority of the population has migrated from Swat but still some people have stuck in Swat. The army has asked these people to vacate area as soon as possible otherwise they will be treated as Taliban. The relatives in camps have no information about them as Army has cut off all communication means.
Notwithstanding the fact that every family has been provided with a tent and no body is without shelter, life is miserable for these families in the sizzling heat with mercury above 40 degree Celsius. It is hard to imagine life in the tents with no electricity coupled with hostile weather and poor amenities.
There were few dispensaries sans quality medicines and proper treatment. Due to poor medical services a large number of people specially, elderly people and children are suffering from diseases like Diarrhea, dysentery, skin disease, eye sore, throat infection due to the consumption of unsafe drinking water, smell from filthy toilets and inappropriate food, etc.
Water availability is also poor. Families have to use same water tank meant for toilet as well drinking purposes. Though water purification tablets are provided to families but due to lack of orientation only few women use these tablets. The situation of Unicef-made pit toilets is very bad as there is no water supply system to these toilets. They are full of odor smell. Moreover, absence of washrooms and separate toilets for women has added to the miseries of women. These filthy toilets being close to living is permanent source unpleasant smell.
As far as food is concerned the local municipal corporation of Mardan has outsourced the provision of meals to local contractors. These contractors prepare food in big pots (Degs) and distribute among the people standing in queues. In these queues one can see only men and children getting food. Women do not come out of their tents to get their share of food. The usual breakfast is tea and chapatti (sometimes left over), lunch comprises daal/beef with chapatti, while dinner is normally daal and rice with tea. Most people have complaints about the quality of food. They told that separate food should be prepared for elderly people, children and pregnant mothers.
Women issues are most prominent aspect at IDPs camps. A 25-member crew of government Women Health Workers is based at these camps. They told us that lack of medicines for IDPs especially pregnant women is a vital problem. There are around 100 pregnant women living in Sheikh Yasin Camp but not enough medicines for these women. These women are highly vulnerable to hot and adverse climatic conditions. They also have not adequate health facilities in case of emergency. These women are in dire need of better accommodation, multi vitamins, including proper food with milk and fruits etc. These pregnant women along with their families should be immediately shifted to comparatively better place with better climatic and health and food facilities.
One can observe girls up to 7/8 years roaming around camps but above that age, you cannot see any young girl or women around. Surly they are there but all invisible, concealed inside the tents. This is an additional misery to be a displaced woman, as they are to be confined inside the tent with dropped entrance. They said it is our culture women cannot go outside. The horrible combination of strict religious norms and oppressive tribal culture has added to the woes of these women. This horrific misery is an enemy itself for these women.
Orphans and widows are facing more tough conditions. To get food and relief items you have to stand in the queue but women and young orphan girls do not ready to come out of their “ovens”. So in most cases they are ignored and deprived of their right. The women have a lot to share. Every body has a story to tell but pathetic are the stories of women inside these tents.
Jan sultana, a grandmother of 2-years old boy, told that she is looking after the child as his mother has left behind in Swat and there is no information about her. She might be killed. The mother-sick child was suffering from fever and chest infection for last 15 days.
Hadia, a widow from village Qabaal in Swat, is mother of 6 children. But only three residing with her, the rest of the three are stuck back in Qabaal. She told that 6 months ago she and her husband got injured in bombardment by Pakistan Army, killing her husband on the spot, while she got her right leg, seriously injured. Her tent was very smelly and hot. She screamed that Taliban and Pakistan Army both are the killers.
Naheed from village Tahiraabd, Mingora told that she is mother of new born 3-day old baby. She was at camp for last 12 days. She had to travel much distance on foot in pregnant condition from Mingora to this camp. It took her 13 hours to reach here “After three day curfew army forced us to leave the area, I was crying with pains, walking by foot all the way from Mingora about 15 Km.. My feet were swollen and legs were aching”, she said.
Yet another woman, Rajmeena, mother of nine, from Mingora town told that it took her 10 hours to reach this camp along with her 9 children. She was critical about tent, food and health facilities. “This is the third war in span of two years and we are worried about the safety of our homes. Taliban are looters and murders. They have killed many women who incidentally went out in the market without the company of any male member. They would plunder everything”, she cried with tears in her eyes. We want to go back to our homes; we want Taliban & Army out of our beautiful Swat.
—————————————————
Here are several photos of the work of Christians as they deal with the misfortunes of the Army-Taliban War now in progress in Pakistan.
