Refugees, Volunteers and missing toilets
By CARE
Distribution of emergency items in Rustam Mardan (photo: CARE/Shah Faisal)
It is about noon up here in the Northwestern Province, maybe one or two o’clock.
In one of the refugee camps we meet a teacher, who is now volunteering to help his fellow countrymen. He tells us his story: “When all of the refugees arrived I did not hesitate. I contacted the government to register as a volunteer. ‘What can I do’, I asked them, ‘How can I help?’.”
It amazes me how many Pakistani volunteer to improve the situation for the refugees. This teacher for politics and English is one of many more I have met who show an astonishing solidarity for the ones in need. Somehow this reminds me of the readiness to help each other after natural catastrophes like floods or earthquakes. Many people even ask their directors for temporary exemption so they can work for NGOs, the United Nations or the local government. It is the help of all of these people who is much needed, irreplaceable and a great act of humanity.
12,000 people squeezed into one camp
We are visiting a camp which was originally designed to accommodate 7,000 people. Nobody would have ever thought that this would not be enough to house all of the refugees, especially because since there are many camps around. By now this camp houses – according to official data – more than 10,000 people. Others estimate the number of refugees to be as high as 12,000. Security is deployed not only at the entrance but also within the camp, giving the exhausted a feeling of being protected. The manager of the camp warmly welcomes us and tells us about the overall situation. The tenor of what he says is very disillusioning: They set up two transformers, a third one is in process. They hope to supply all the present occupants with electricity. A big problem is that there are only 400 toilets for everybody. Even though there are 200 more being built at the moment, this will still not be enough.
“These people know how it feels like to loose everything”, says the manager. “None of them knows how life will go on, what the future brings. They have no idea of what is coming.” That was also my impression when I spent some time with the refugees. One special incidence was when I met the three sisters Shazia (18), Saima (16) and Kashmala (6). Having a high fever Kashmala lies on the ground, huddled in a corner of the tent. “She is traumatised”, the man who is translating for me says. “It is just too much for the children. For this little girl it is especially hard.”
“All they have left is each other: Pakistani refugee women (photo: CARE/Schwarz)”
Twelve square metres for five people
This tent measures only twelve square metres. This is really not big for a whole family consisting of five people. A ventilator offers some ease from the humidity. Luckily the power is working right now. I am not yet seated when they already turn the ventilator towards me to give me some comfort. The mother asks me, where I come from. She tells me, that her cousin is living in Germany. “He is a doctor”, she says. “If you have any kind of medical problem, you should contact him. He will be of help.” She then hesitates. “Unfortunately I cannot give you his number right now. I have it in our home. I will send it to you as soon as we get back.”
A very small mat made out of a material which looks like rubber catches my eye. “We are waiting for sleeping pads”, the mother says. Some they carried along from their home in Banikot Savat. Still they do not have enough mats for everybody. They give me their contacts and invite me for tea. They also promise me that their cousin, the doctor in Germany, will help me whenever I will be sick. That is just how they are, the Pakistanis. That is how I have always appreciated them. Most of them are – compared to our standards – very poor. On top of that, two and a half millions are now escaping from a war. Even if they barely get in touch with foreigners they still remain friendly and open-minded. What moves me most is how hospitable and helpful they are. But right now it is them who urgently need our help. Now. It will be too late in two or three weeks.
Tags: emergency, internally displaced people, Pakistan, refugees
