MAZAR-E-SHARIF (SW) – Families who are displaced from their areas due to wars and natural disasters and spend their days and nights under tents around the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, the center of Balkh, say that they do not have access to even the most basic needs of life.
Allah Dad, one of the internally dispalced persons who lives in a camp in Mazar-e-Sharif, told Salam Watandar: “We can cope with hunger, but there is no cure for thirst. We all face problems. Even if we want to buy water with money, it is not available.”
Ghafar, another displaced person in this camp, complains about the authorities’ indifference to their problems and said: “The problem is water and bread. The clinic is inactive and we don’t have a mosque. We should be paid attention to.”
Hunger, lack of access to basic life facilities, health and educational services, lack of work opportunities and reduction of humanitarian aid are considered to be the most basic problems of the displaced people in Balkh.
Raz Mohammad, a displaced child who dreams of becoming a doctor, asks the caretaker government to provide him and other displaced children with an education. He said: “I would like to study and become a doctor in the future so that I can serve my people.”
However, Asadullah Wafa, head of Balkh’s emigrants and returnees department, said that a number of displaced families have been helped to return to their areas, and efforts are being made to address the problems of the remaining displaced people. He added: “Balkh, as a large province in the northern zone, has witnessed the presence of thousands of displaced families due to wars. Besides helping the displaced families, we are also trying to provide the ground for their return.”
According to the information of Balkh directorate of immigrants and returnees, nearly 30 thousand displaced families live in parts of Mazar-e-Sharif city.
ENDS
