War-displaced Daikundi families desperate for help

NEILI (Pajhwok): Nearly two thousands families have been displaced owing to ongoing insecurity in Kajran and Nawmekh districts of central Daikundi province and are in dire need of assistance, public representatives said on Monday.

Ghairat Jawahiri, a member of the Provincial Council, told Pajhwok Afghan News these families fled homes in Kandoha, Salmanjo, Suf and Karez, Patakak, Eshtran, Sadami and Paynawa localities of Kajran district and as well in Khanjak, Gardak, Gardani and Barghanjoi areas of Nawmesh district owing to clashes between security forces and militants and took refuge in Neili city, the provincial capital.

Pajhwok regional reporter interviewed some of the displaced families who said they were desperate for assistance.

The families number round 1,800.

Rohullah, 65, one of the displaced persons, said they left behind everything at home in Patakak area of Kajran district and were only able to save their lives. Now he is living with his family in a tent.

He said the government had turned a blind eye to them and urged the authorities to conduct clearing operations against militants in their areas as soon as possible.

Gul Naz, a displaced widow, asked the government to provide them food in their tents and security in their district.

Lotfullah, another war-displaced man, said they were displaced from Nawmesh district due the conflict in their area. He said clashes were ongoing in their district for the past two weeks.

Asadullah Sarwari, the natural disaster department head, told Pajhwok that they had dispatched a team to the area to assess the displaced families’ number.

He said so far three NGOs had announced urgent assistance with the displaced families.

Meanwhile, Sakina Ahsani, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok a delegation was being for assessment of the displaced families’ situation.

Governor Syed Ala Rahmati told Pajhwok at least 23 security forces had been killed and as many others wounded during the two week-old conflict.

He said dozens of Taliban militants had also been killed and wounded in clashes with security forces.

Pk/ma