SHARANA (Pajhwok): The recent fighting has displaced nearly 7,000 families in south-eastern Paktika province who are currently in dire economic straits, the provincial refugee director said on Tuesday.
Zmarali Fazliar told Pajhwok Afghan News a total of 6,846 families had been displaced by the recent fighting in the province.
He said 1600 of the families had been registered with them so far and 250 of whom had received assistance from the World Food Program.
“We plan to survey the rest of the families and help them as much as we can,” he added.
He said they had set up a camp for 100 displaced families and were trying to provide accommodation to 500 families.
Fazliar said that so far this year, 246 families had returned to the province from Iran and Pakistan, including 88 families who had been forcibly evicted.
The director of refugee affairs called on the government, organizations and charities to cooperate fully with the displaced people in the province.
One of the displaced persons, Ismatullah said, that he had been displaced from Mata Khan district to Sharana.
“There was heavy fighting, very few people remained in Mata Khan, all fled to Sharana and other provinces”, he said.
Another IDP, Jahangir said, that the displaced families were facing severe economic hardships and they spent the night under the open sky. “We don’t have shelter and food, children and elderly people are all sick, that’s what happened to us.”
A number of other displaced people made similar comments, urging the government to provide them with necessary assistance or pave the way for their safe return to their villages and homes.
bk/ma
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