Pakistan: Displaced and Hungry

Some 3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Pakistan have put tremendous strain on the government to provide food and medicine. Nearly every week, IDPs protest in Peshawar, condemning the lack of resources allocated to their basic survival.

A health crisis is not far off, experts say. Jawadullah Khan, a doctor who has worked extensively with refugees in the Bannu and elsewhere, says people here are badly in need of balanced diets, and clean water.

“Back home, we were farmers, growing our own food,” a 60-year-old refugee says. “We always had enough grain, vegetables and fruits. Now, we have only one meal a day, and always go to sleep hungry.”
 

IPS