NORTHERN PAKISTAN / DISPLACED

Locals in the northern tribal area of Mohmand Agency have been displaced multiple times as a result of the ongoing fighting between the government and insurgents. A new military operation began there on 27 January, after stepped up activities in the region by militants. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:36
• Production Date: 17 March 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
• Geographic Subject: PAKISTAN
• MAMS Id: U110317e

Description

STORY: NORTHERN PAKISTAN / DISPLACED
TRT: 2.36
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / PASHTO / NATS

DATELINE: 24 FEBRUARY 2011, MOHMAND AGENCY, PAKISTAN

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, tents in the camp
2. Med shot, Man digging
3. Various shots, camp scenes with children
4. Wide shot, Bahadur Khan chopping firewood
5. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Bahadur Khan, displaced father:
“This is the fourth time we left our area, my children got injured and amputated, our hearts ache, firing and shelling terrified my family.”
6. Tilt up, from Rashida’s limb to her face
7. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Rashida, displaced daughter:“We were fetching water from the water tap, bullets came that hit me and my elder sister. She got bullet in her foot while I sustained leg wounds and I lost my lower leg.”
8. Wide shot, Rashida hopping to get out of the tent and put on her shoe
9. Wide shot, Bahadur and Rashida picking up the cut wood
10. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Bahadur Khan, displaced father”If I get the whole world it will not compensate for the lost leg of my daughter. When I am outside, I am alright, but when I enter into my home and see my daughter without a leg, my heart bleeds. The whole world cannot be a substitute for my Rashida’s leg. May Allah bring back peace to this country so that the people could live happily.”
11. Med shot, girl pouring water from bidon into bucket
12. Wide shot, elderly man carrying mattresses
13. Med shot, people in line registering
14. Med shot, Ghulam Samdani approaches man registering displaced
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Ghulam Samdani, Senior Field Assistant, UNHCR:
“The UNHCR is providing tents, site planning and NFIs while other agencies are providing health, education, water and food.”16. Med shot, Khan family sitting on the ground
17. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Bahadur Khan, displaced father:
“We pray for the restoration of peace and brotherhood among all, because we are very upset and disturbed, we are very poor and humble.”
18. Various shots, Rahsida making a fire

Storyline

In this rugged tribal area cut off by mountains and fighting, over 2,000 families still live in this camp UNHCR built. This is Mohmand Agency - a place so remote that little help ever reach these displaced Pakistanis.

The agency is one of seven tribal agencies along the Pakistan-Afghan border. A new military operation began there on 27 January, after stepped up activities in the region by militants.

Bahadur Khan and his family of nine arrived here, by foot, more than a month ago when their village was hit by mortars.

SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Bahadur Khan, displaced father:

“This is the fourth time we left our area, my children got injured and amputated, our hearts ache, firing and shelling terrified my family.”

A few months before, in another attack, Khan’s two daughters were badly injured.

SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Rashida, displaced daughter:
“We were fetching water from the tap stand, bullets came that hit me and my elder sister. She got bullet in her foot while I sustained leg wounds and I lost my lower leg.”

Her father cannot forget.

SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Bahadur Khan, displaced father:
If I get the whole world it will not compensate for the lost leg of my daughter. When I am outside, I am alright, but when I enter into my home and see my daughter without a leg, my heart bleeds. The whole world cannot be a substitute for my Rashida’s leg. May Allah bring back peace to this country so that the people could live happily.”

As the government takes on the insurgents, families like the Khans are displaced over and over again. In the rush to flee, this time, Rashida left her crutch behind. UNHCR provides some of the basics to help families get by.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ghulam Samdani, Senior Field Assistant, UNHCR:
“The UNHCR is providing tents, site planning and NFIs while other agencies are providing health, education, water and food.”A driver, cut off from his livelihood and unsure when he will be able to return home, Khan says peace is the only answer.

SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Bahadur Khan, displaced father:
“We pray for the restoration of peace and brotherhood among all, because we are very upset and disturbed, we are very poor and humble.”

Fighting against the insurgents began in 2008 and has intensified since January. These families are grateful to have a place of refuge, but it doesn’t replace what they’ve left behind, their homes and their lives.