Conflict displaces hundreds of families in Baghlan

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): Hundreds of families, fleeing continued violence, have been displaced to Pul-i-Khumri, the capital of northern Baghlan province, and they are now in dire need of help, local people say.

Haji Farhad Ahmadzai, head of a council in Hussainkhel village of Pul-i-Khumri, told Pajhwok Afghan News that around 300 families had newly been displaced from their villages to other areas by the war.

“They live sporadically in different parts of Pul-i-Khumri city, they already had no good economy and they are now in the worse situation after displacement,” he added.

He said the affected people were yet to receive any primary assistance from any sources.

Shah Mohammad, another resident of the village, said that he was displaced to Pul-i-Khumri city two months ago and currently they lived in a rental house.

“The war was intense, we left our house and village and now we live in the city, we have nothing to eat and have no money to pay the rent,” he added.

Another displaced person, Navid Khan, a resident of Dand Ghori area of Pul-i-Khumri, said the conflict left around 50 families from their area with no option but to flee.

“We had never thought we would be displaced but the violence turned worse and we were obliged to leave everything behind and come to the city,” he said.

A number of other refugees made similar complaints and asked the government for emergency help.

On the other hand, refugees and repatriation officials in Baghlan say that the number of displaced people was very high compared to resources and charity organizations in the province.

Sharifullah Shafaq, head of Baghlan refugees and repatriation affairs said that they had received requests for assistance from the newly displaced families in the province.

He said the assistance to displaced families would be provided after a survey.

However, he added that the number of displaced people in the province was much higher compared to their resources and active aid organizations there.

According to local officials, around 20,000 families had been displaced by war in Baghlan last year.

Mds/ma