Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) – The wave of Pakistani refugees fleeing the Swat Valley continues, as they seek refuge from the fighting going on between the regular army and the Taliban in the region.
The Church, Caritas, and other Catholic organizations have begun an aid effort in the territory surrounding the Swat area and in the cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, where refugees continue arriving, hoping to be able to return to their homes once the fighting ends, which according to Pakistani Armed Forces, could be a matter of at least three months.
“The situation is still one of confusion and it is difficult organizing the aid for so many people in extreme difficulty,” one local Church source told Fides. Our source has asked to remain anonymous, for security reasons. “We have to be on the alert. This is not only a humanitarian crisis, but a conflict that could take a turn for the worst at any moment,” they added with concern. There is a palpable tension. There are many fundamentalist groups involved, with their interests. The refugees are at the end of their strengths and at the point of despair. The people in the city feel suddenly “invaded with a wave of people in conditions of extreme misery” ... and the police who, in order to maintain public order, are transferring the refugees to new places. Everything is contributing to a situation that could explode. It is “fundamental that we move with extreme caution,” the source said.
Emergency aid is running out and in the capital city of Islamabad, they were caught unprepared in terms of receiving the people...the Church is trying to make up for what has been lacking on the part of public services.
In the meantimes, there are over 2 million civilians fleeing the fighting in Northwestern Pakistan. 1.4 million have fled since May 2. This is what a report from Geneva's UNHCR Antonio Guterres said. The UNHCR says that it is the most dramatic crisis they have seen in recent times. “It has been a long time since there has been a displacement this big. It could go back to Rwanda [genocide of 1994]. It's an enormous number of people,” said UN spokesman Ron Redmond. More specifically, “a total of 1,454,377 people have been registered just since May 2,” the UNHCR says. “They join another 553,916 displaced people already registered in NWFP who had fled conflict primarily in Bajaur, Mohmand agencies in the Tribal areas and Swat over several months since August 2008.” which makes the total number of refugees 2,008,293. “Leaving this population without the support they need – with such massive numbers – could constitute an enormous destabilizing factor,” the UNHCR added. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/05/2009)
