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News backgrounder: Uncertainty shadows displaced Pakistanis
19 Jun 2009 19:07:00 GMT
 Source: Church World Service
Website: Website: http://www.churchworldservice.org

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A young Pakistani boy sits pensively at a camp for displaced persons in Mardan.
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A young Pakistani boy sits pensively at a camp for displaced persons in Mardan.
Photo: Ghulam Rasool/CWS

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Friday, June 19, 2009

ISLAMABAD--Uncertainty exists in all aspects of the lives of those uprooted and displaced by fighting between Pakistani government forces and the Taliban in northwestern Pakistan.

They question when they can return to their homes and what will happen when they do. With each passing day, displaced persons wonder how long host communities can continue to support them. Even those who received relief items wonder for how long they can sustain their families without jobs or money. For many of the uprooted, uncertainty is the real crisis they face.

Since the beginning of the recent flux of displaced people in Pakistan, organizations including Church World Service identified the need for psychosocial support. Doctors report that 70 percent of internally displaced persons suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. While one humanitarian organization says 85 percent of its patients are suffering from anxiety, depression and trauma.

Of course, words or counseling cannot erase the uncertainty completely.

In an interview with CWS's Kelli Siddiqui, one internally displaced person, who asked to remain anonymous, shared his thoughts on uncertainty: "If we return to our community, where is the guarantee that the government has control?"

He added that he heard rumors that all houses in his community, about 50 miles from Mingora, were hit by mortars. As for living in a host community, he said, "We can't stay here for long. We have disturbed our hosts' own system. Even my uncle vacated his house so we could stay here." He said the people in Swabi are famous for their hospitality and later added, "We are a burden although they (our hosts) don't mention it here."

The fear and uncertainty are real. People displaced by the fighting tell graphic accounts of events they witnessed before leaving their homes. One displaced man recalled that on his way home from work, Taliban paraded two decapitated bodies with notes identifying them as government and army spies and showing them to every person passing on the roadway.

Many women have told CWS staff about traveling alone with their children for days to reach camps after seeing their husbands die in front of their eyes, often from shelling or other conflict related violence. When the conflict ends, to what will these millions of people go back? Destroyed homes, dead family members, lost livelihoods, destroyed schools. The displaced people know this. Still most desire nothing except to return to their homes.

For children, routine is important: When a child's daily routine is disturbed or the child witnesses graphic violence, he or she is often disturbed emotionally. The uprooted children witnessed armed conflict, shelling, air strikes and other violence, and then were rapidly taken away from their homes.

They left their belongings -- clothing, school books and toys -- and found themselves in strange camps or host communities. Unable to return to school and often unwilling to speak, many children are like lost souls; only blank eyes tell of their internal suffering.

Although some camps or organizations have set up makeshift schools and recreational areas and children are seen interacting with each other, many of the children need psychosocial support.

In the camps, some of the children are engaging in games of combat, running around pretending to shoot rocket launchers, which could be a predictor of violent behavior later on. Experts say that children need to return to a disciplined routine centered around education, healthy recreation and family in order to help them overcome their trauma.

CWS relief activities directly and indirectly equip displaced persons with the ability to deal with stress, trauma and uncertainty. The initial provision of shelter kits and family food packages gave the beneficiaries some security over basic survival needs.

Over the next three months, CWS will continue to provide family food packages for the most vulnerable of the displaced families. For families without money or a source of income, having quality food to meet their basic nutritional needs dramatically reduces the families' overall stress level.

How to help Church World Service is helping to provide food, shelter and medical care for displaced children and families in Pakistan. Contributions to support Church World Service emergency response and recovery efforts may be made online, by phone (800.297.1516), or sent to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.

Media Contact: Lesley Crosson, 212-870-2676 lcrosson@churchworldservice.org




[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Men sit along a river running through Mardan district, about 150 km (93 miles) northwest of Pakistan's capital Islamabad, June 19, 2009. Pakistanis who fled fighting between the army and the ...


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Last updated:Fri Jun 19 19:09:19 2009