Tough times and uncertain futures: Voices of Afghan Refugees living in Pakistan

[pakistani342]

It seems another wave of Afghan refugees are set to pour into Pakistan.

I guess the destinies of Pakistan and Afghanistan are truly inseparable -- sadly we are bound by the desperation of the poor Afghan masses.

While the Afghan elites, middle class (and I guess the poor too) chant marg-bar-Pokiston, poorer Afghans are desperate enough to turn to the hated Pakistanis to seek refuge.

The article highlights that some are refugees who were previously refugees in Iran now have turned to Pakistan to seek refuge.

original article here, excerpts below.

...

Faiz Muhammad is in his early fifties and is among the 1.6 million Afghans refugees living in Pakistan displaced by the various conflicts in Afghanistan over the last three decades.
Like Muhammad, the majority of the Afghan refugees in Pakistan were displaced by the Soviet invasion in the early 1980s and, after 34 years of displacement, Muhammad has become part of the statistics rather than visible reality - Afghans continue to comprise the largest protracted refugee population in the world. With the outlook for the future of Afghanistan bleak, the prospects of return remain unrealistic.

Muhammad follows closely what happens in his native country, concerned about the future well-being of his family, he said, “currently we cannot think of going back, the situation is not stable in Afghanistan and there are very little work opportunities for poor people like us”. Refugees see the situation in the neighboring country as highly uncertain owing to the NATO troop withdrawal and the upcoming Afghan presidential elections in 2014. The political stability and security of the country are at stake and the outcomes unpredictable. Distrustful of the forthcoming so-called transition, many refugees have adopted a “wait and see” strategy.

...

According to UNHCR, more than 620,000 people are also internally displaced inside Afghanistan, many of them living in very precarious conditions in the informal urban settlements on the outskirts of the capital Kabul. A high number of these IDPs were refugee returnees who faced hardships in attempting to reintegrate and enjoy a normal life following return. Over the past year, the return of refugees has significantly declined with 50% less refugees returned to Afghanistan compare to the previous year. Deteriorating security, continued armed conflict and high levels of violence, combined with lack of access to basic services and livelihood opportunities are the main reasons so few refugees are seeking to return and internal displacement inside Afghanistan continues to rise.

Gul Agha is a newly arrived refugee in Pakistan, also concerned about his uncertain future. Previously displaced in Iran for 6 years, Gul Agha returned to Afghanistan in hope of peace and a stable life in 2004. He started living in Kabul and joined the Afghan police force, being part of large wave of returns in 2003, to help rebuild the country. As part of his duty and in the effort to curb opium production and trade, routine raids were conducted and large caches of opium were found and drug dealers detained. However, what was successful for the police force and security in Kabul also exposed Agha’s life to great risk: “after few days my fellow policeman was killed by unknown gunmen in front of his house, as a punishment for capturing their opium. I also received threats from an unknown drug lord”.

With his life at risk, Gul Agha decided once again to flee and move his family to safety - this time to Pakistan. Agha and his family were granted temporary asylum by UNHCR. However, asylum does not necessarily ensure the families can meet their basic needs “I am going through very difficult time here in Pakistan, I don’t have a job, my children are not going to school and we have movement problems because I haven’t received my Proof of Residency card yet” Gul Agha noted. Despite these difficulties, returning home is still not an option for many refugees like Gul Agha, because the risk of insecurity inside Afghanistan remains too great.

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Growing challenges to obtain jobs and increasing security concerns mean that growing numbers of Afghans in Pakistan are struggling to cope with decreasing incomes and deteriorating living conditions.

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The Government of Pakistan remains committed to supporting Afghan refugees. The adoption of the new policy on Afghan Refugees was a clear commitment by the new government to preserve asylum space by extending the PoR cards until December 2015 and strengthen protection for current both registered and undocumented refugees. While the commitment of the government at the highest level is clear, this does not always translate so easily at the community-level, meaning many Afghan refugees are faced with daily challenges in going about their lives.

...

Afghans refugees have no bright hopes for the immediate future. The uncertainties and unpredictable political and security transitions underway in Afghanistan are making them reluctant to voluntarily repatriate for the moment, with most choosing to wait and assess the situation before making such a crucial decision. Refugees are happy with the decision by the Pakistani Government to extend the PoR cards but understand too that they are still expected to return to Afghanistan in the future – a country that many Afghan refugees have never visited.

 

[OrionHunter]

Growing challenges to obtain jobs and increasing security concerns mean that growing numbers of Afghans in Pakistan are struggling to cope with decreasing incomes and deteriorating living conditions.

It's not only about incomes and deteriorating living conditions, the impact of 3 million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan is devastating. Here's what is happening to the environment.....

Over the past 20 years the high unemployment rate and the growing resentment over the continuing presence of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is adding to the general instability of the local community. In the Chaaghi district, 80% of the population is living below the poverty line, which means that they are earning less than $1 per day on average.

This huge influx of recent migrations has resulted in extensive environmental damage in Pakistan, much of which is probably irreversible.

The impact of these refugees on renewable natural resources is of particular concern as it can have a drastic long-term effect. At most of these refugee camps, trees are cut down to provide support for shelter while branches are collected for firewood and charcoal.

Foliage is cut to feed livestock. Ground vegetation is cleared to make way for farming; even tree roots are dug up in extreme conditions and used as firewood. Eventually the land becomes unfit for even the most basic forms of agriculture. The resulting rapid and uncontrolled deforestation since the 1980s has left the area with only about 12% of its original forest cover.

Water reserves in these areas are facing a serious threat due to over consumption. They not only serve as a source for domestic and agricultural water use but also as wildlife habitats. As a result of the above unsustainable practices, the whole ecological balance of the area has been disturbed. Surveys by OXFAM and Mercy Corps International show that it would take months to increase the flow of water in Darra, a district in Balochistan, as the wells in the area are now dry due to misuse of water resources.

There is also a huge negative impact on social relationships within these regions. Where natural resources and firewood are scarce, people compete for access to these resources. Furthermore, refugees are often unaware of local traditions and laws set in place to protect wildlife and other natural resources - a common source of conflict.

Reports suggest that refugees have brought with them tick infested cattle in large numbers that could lead to Congo Hemorrhage Fever (CHF).

And I've not even started on the problem of hygiene and sanitation in the area, as well as the inevitable and permanent change in the demography of the region.

All in all, Pakistan is stuck between a rock and a hard place, somewhat like in Assam and Bengal where millions of refugees from Bangladesh have managed to set up a permanent presence there.

 

[KRAIT]

Pakistan shouldn't allow Taliban, whether its Afghan Taliban or Pakistan Taliban. As long as Afghanistan doesn't develop and employment opportunities and stability increases in this country, Pakistan will face the problem of Afghan refugees and in dire circumstances, they will be recruited by terrorist outfit.

 

[pakistani342]

It's not only about incomes and deteriorating living conditions, the impact of 3 million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan is devastating. Here's what is happening to the environment.....

Over the past 20 years the high unemployment rate and the growing resentment over the continuing presence of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is adding to the general instability of the local community. In the Chaaghi district, 80% of the population is living below the poverty line, which means that they are earning less than $1 per day on average.

This huge influx of recent migrations has resulted in extensive environmental damage in Pakistan, much of which is probably irreversible.

The impact of these refugees on renewable natural resources is of particular concern as it can have a drastic long-term effect. At most of these refugee camps, trees are cut down to provide support for shelter while branches are collected for firewood and charcoal.

Foliage is cut to feed livestock. Ground vegetation is cleared to make way for farming; even tree roots are dug up in extreme conditions and used as firewood. Eventually the land becomes unfit for even the most basic forms of agriculture. The resulting rapid and uncontrolled deforestation since the 1980s has left the area with only about 12% of its original forest cover.

Water reserves in these areas are facing a serious threat due to over consumption. They not only serve as a source for domestic and agricultural water use but also as wildlife habitats. As a result of the above unsustainable practices, the whole ecological balance of the area has been disturbed. Surveys by OXFAM and Mercy Corps International show that it would take months to increase the flow of water in Darra, a district in Balochistan, as the wells in the area are now dry due to misuse of water resources.

There is also a huge negative impact on social relationships within these regions. Where natural resources and firewood are scarce, people compete for access to these resources. Furthermore, refugees are often unaware of local traditions and laws set in place to protect wildlife and other natural resources - a common source of conflict.

Reports suggest that refugees have brought with them tick infested cattle in large numbers that could lead to Congo Hemorrhage Fever (CHF).

And I've not even started on the problem of hygiene and sanitation in the area, as well as the inevitable and permanent change in the demography of the region.

All in all, Pakistan is stuck between a rock and a hard place, somewhat like in Assam and Bengal where millions of refugees from Bangladesh have managed to set up a permanent presence there.

Very interesting facts -- would you happen to have the references handy -- I'd like to add the reference to my notes.

Thanks.