Farahi returns to his ruined village after years of displacement

FARAH (Pajhwok): Forty-year-old Abdul Salam Farahi, a resident of Pashtrod district of western Farah province, says their village was the front line of the war in the past 20 years and all residents were displaced to other areas and returned to their ruined homes after the war ended.

He says: “Due to the war and insecurity, all the residents of Tapa Shiran village were displaced and I spent four and a half years in Farah city and returned to my village one year ago, but everything is in ruins and our village is completely destroyed.

He said he had seven children and it was difficult for him to meet their living costs in Farah city. He said their village had been completely destroyed during the past conflict, but still he would want to live there.

“Life is difficult here, but whatever happens, we can never forget our village.” He said remembering the hard days and nights of the previous wars, he was happy with the current situation because people had at least a free life.

He said: “The past insecurity is not forgettable; it caused psychological problems to people. We had no peace either in night or day. There were always clashes and bomb blasts.”

While narrating the story of his life, Abdul Salam put his hand on the head of his seven-year-old son and added: “I have spent my life, may God bless them.”

Worried about the future of his children, he always prayed to God to save the country from wars and insecurity.

Abdul Salam said the government or any other organization had not yet assisted the repatriated families whose houses were destroyed in the past war.

Abdul Khaliq, another resident of the village, also said all residents of their village had been displaced due to the past wars and most of them had returned to the village.

He said some families were not returning to the village because their houses had been destroyed.

Khaliq also lives with his 10-member family in Farah city because his home is destroyed and reconstructing it requires money and time.

Tens of thousands of families were forced to flee and take refuge in cities during the past 20 years of war due to airstrike, night time raids and insecurity.

Families who returned to their areas after the end of the war are now facing lack of shelter and clean drinking water.

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