Baghlan IDPs in urgent need of humanitarian assistance

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): Thousands of families have been displaced due to fighting between security forces and Taliban insurgents in northern Baghlan province and the families are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

These families have been displaced from Dand-i-Ghori and Dand-i-Shahab areas of Pul-i-Khumri City, the provincial capital. On behalf of the affected families, some people gathered in the 5^th police district building.

Samargul, one of the displaced persons, told Pajhwok they were displaced as a result of conflict. He said they were currently living in miserable conditions as they had left behind all their goods and now they needed urgent aid.

Abdul Kabir Ahmadzai, a senior civil society activist, told Pajhwok that around 30,000 families had been displaced over the past two months in Baghlan as a result of the conflict.

He said these families had since been struggling with hard situation and the government only made promises.

Akhtar Mohammad Omari, head of 5^th police district, told Pajhwok that about 5,000 families were displaced in Dand-i-Ghori and Dand-i-Shahab areas of Pul-i-Khumri city due to clashes.

He said: “Some families are living in deserts and others in relatives’ homes but no assistance has so far reached them.”

Director of Refugees and Repatriation Sarifullah Shafiq told Pajhwok that around 4,000 families had been displaced due to conflict and moved to safe places.

He said some fraudulent people were trying to enter among the displaced people in order to receive aid. He added only displaced families would receive aid after a proper survey.

sa/ma