The kindness of strangers
“Yesterday I travelled back to Mardan after a couple of days in Islamabad. Even in this short space of time it was evident that the number of displaced people in this area had increased dramatically.
On the way I saw a makeshift camp that people had set up in the middle of a field. The camp consisted of a collection of small tents, many made from no more than bits of sheeting and plastic. Otherwise there was nothing else; no water points, no health clinics, no schools. I wondered how long these people could cope living like this.
Dependent on aid
Thankfully some aid is reaching most of those who need it. Travelling around Mardan I saw the familiar queues of people waiting to get rations of food. The people in the lines were calm and waited patiently, but I knew that most had been waiting there all day. They had no choice. These people are completely dependent on aid and the generosity of the local community. They have no money or possessions with them and no way to make a living. The food and aid that organisations working in the region are delivering is their lifeline.
At the end of one of the long lines, I saw an old woman who was clearly exhausted by the ordeal. I wondered what had happened to her family. Had she been separated from them like so many others? Who was looking after her? I also wondered who would help her carry her food back to wherever it was that she was now living. I hope that she found someone to help her.
Determined to help
But even as the situation in this region has deteriorated over the past couple of weeks, I have continued to be touched by the kindness of ordinary people. None of the local people I have spoken to has expressed resentment or anger towards those who have been displaced. Everyone has wanted to do what they can to help and have only shown sadness that they cannot do more.
In the village of Chahar Gulli where Islamic Relief is working, I met Wajid Ali. He is a school teacher and earns around £2 a day. Although it is often a struggle to support his own family, when displaced families began turning up in his village he was determined to help.
“I offered them my house”
Wajid told me, “When we learnt about the conflict and the massive numbers of people who had fled their homes, I wanted to do all I could to assist them. So when I came across Zahir’s family who had fled their village in Buner I did not think for a single second and offered them my house.”
Wajid moved his own family into his parents’ house giving Zahir’s family somewhere to stay. “My family is living under one roof with my parents so I am not worried about them. But if Zahir and his family were not living in my house they would have had nowhere to stay and would have suffered greatly.”
Difficult conditions
There are 28 people in Zahir’s family so living conditions in Wajid’s small home are difficult, however they know they are lucky to have a roof over their heads. Zahir told me, “I am extremely grateful to Wajid who offered us his house without even knowing us.”
“If he had not offered us shelter I don’t know where we would have ended up. I will be thankful to him for the rest of my life.”
Losing the ability to cope
This generosity has been replicated over and over again across Mardan as local people have opened their doors for those who have turned up with nothing. It is a touching reminder of the good that people can do in difficult circumstances. But I also know that despite their willingness to help, local people are slowly losing their ability to cope. What will happen then is unthinkable. “