Pakistan crisis
In the mouldy disused bathroom in her temporary home, three-year-old Areba from Mingora washes her hair with a bar of soap distributed by Oxfam as part of a hygiene kit. Photo: Alixandra Fazzina/OxfamGB
Where is the international community?
It's been almost a year since more than three million people fled the fighting in Pakistan's Swat valley and surrounding areas. The crisis is far from over though as Pakistan's humanitarian needs remain great. And humanitarian organisations have been unable to adequately respond because of a critical shortage of funds.
Donors – including the Australian Government – must urgently commit funds to meet Pakistan’s humanitarian needs, or essential programs providing health care, clean water and sanitation, livelihoods and education will be forced to close.
Over a million people were displaced — two million people have returned to find their villages destroyed and are struggling to rebuild their lives.
The fighting in my village has subsided. But there is nothing there any more; nothing to go back to … If [my brothers-in-law] move back to the village, I’ll go. I prefer the tents here though. Without a husband it’s very difficult to live there. It might not be secure for the children. I would be really worried about what might happen if fighting broke out again.’
- Marhaba, widow and mother of four, Jalozai
Oxfam is there
Oxfam is providing safe water and hygiene facilities, and health information, not only for people in camps but also those staying in cramped, difficult conditions with host families whose resources are already overstretched.
We are also calling on all sides in the conflict to take special care to avoid harming civilians, and to allow humanitarian workers safe access to help people affected by the conflict wherever they are.
Oxfam is also calling on the international community to support efforts by the government and aid agencies to provide emergency relief and help families return to their communities, to rebuild their homes and livelihoods when the conflict is over.
Read new Pakistan Humanitarian Forum report on the situation.
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