Kheshgi Refugee Camp
The Kheshgi Refugee Camp in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province is home to just under 2,000 Afghan refugees. The residents of Kheshgi camp are trying their best to rebuild their lives months on from the worst flooding in Pakistan’s history, impacting on 20 million people.
Doctors Worldwide has been working in Kheshgi camp since late July 2010 when the flooding started. We have provided building materials and cement to the community so they can start rebuilding their homes. The price of cement like most things in Pakistan is becoming increasingly beyond the reach of the very poor. One bag of cement costs around 350 Rupees (around £3.50p). On average it costs 250 (£2.50p) rupees a day to provide a family with basic food for the day. The men who are fortunate enough to have jobs in the camp work as labourers in Nowshera and surrounding villages. Very few children attend school because there isn’t enough money to send them to school and the women spend the day taking care of their homes and children.
‘’We are struggling to rebuild our homes after the floods. All we had left was the clothes on our back. It is impossible for us to receive aid from the government of Pakistan because we are refugees. We are dependent on the kindness of strangers and organisations like Doctors Worldwide’’ says camp resident Malang Jaan.
Malang says he was unable to salvage anything from the floodwater. However, with the help of DWW, Malang was able to rebuild his home.
Alongside the building material, Doctors Worldwide has been providing hot food for residents of the camp. On the festival of Eid Al Adha, meat was distributed to families so they could cook their own meals.
Abdul Wahab is Doctors Worldwide’s medical coordinator and lives in Nowshera.
‘’These refugees really are the poorest of the poor and are not being helped by anyone. We are distributing cement and roofing materials so at the very least people can build one solid room where they can shelter from the harsh winter. It’s very difficult for the elderly and children especially to sleep outside in a tent. It’s not appropriate for women and children to be subjected to such conditions and now that the winter is here we need to make sure that people stay healthy.’’
Abdul believes Doctors Worldwide have provided much needed assistance to this community and is proud of the difference the organisation is making.
‘’We are a small organisation compared to other international aid agencies but I feel confident that the work we are doing in these communities is making a difference and helping to ease the suffering of people who have been through so much. None of our work would be possible without the donations from people in the UK around the world and on behalf of Doctors Worldwide and the communities here I thank everyone for their generosity, ’’ says Abdul Wahab.
