People flee city of Jalalabad

"The majority of families from Jalalabad went to the neighbouring provinces of Laghman and Kunar," says Ahmad. The 25-year old man, who worked as a medical student at the civil hospital in Jalalabad, adds that people only became afraid once the numbers of civilian casualties started increasing. "Before the bombs started hitting residential areas and villages, people thought the strikes would hit only military targets", Ahmad Shah explains. He says that although many of the injured were delivered to the hospital in Jalalabad, some were taken to the hospital in the Pakistani town of Peshawar. "There is still medicine available in the hospital in Jalalabad," Ahmad says. "But too many innocent civilians are dying."

According to Ahmad Shah, 90 percent of the inhabitants of Jalalabad have left the town and are either staying with relatives or in the open air in the villages. Conditions are already extremely tough because of the drought. Life for the Afghan people is deteriorating rapidly he says. "Already the price of bread has doubled."

He reports that although food is available in the bazaar in Jalalabad, only those who work for the Taliban and have money can afford the food. The rest of the people have little or no money. He said many people he spoke to could not even afford bread for an evening meal. He added that people are also concerned about security, as cases of theft are on the increase since the start of the bombing campaign against Afghanistan.

There are not many new arrivals from Afghanistan in the camps of Mansehra. But the elders of Brari camp expect that should the border open, many people will flood into the area. The elders are afraid that this will add to the existing problems in the camps. "Malnutrition is already a serious problem", says Dr. Mohammad Arif, the medical co-ordinator at the CWS office in Mansehra. CWS has expanded its activities across the border into Afghanistan. In Jalalabad CWS has established four health units to treat about 125,000 people. A staff of 70 people provides basic health services. These include vaccinations, medical assistance in cases of tuberculosis and malnutrition, as well as offering support to pregnant women. Malaria and other diseases are also being treated.

But life in the camps in Pakistan is not easy according to the refugees. Increasingly, hostile sentiments are aimed at the Afghan refugees according to people. Afghan people are being blamed for crimes committed in town, the elders complain. They fear that if things get worse, they may be confined to the camp and lose any chances of working as daily labourers in town. This will deprive them of their only income – less than 10 USD a month - an amount without which they cannot survive. It will also mean that they will be totally dependent on aid again.

People in the camps are now subject to a curfew, put in place after the military attacks against Afghanistan started and enforced by the district police. They are only allowed to leave the camp between six o’clock in the morning and six o’clock in the evening. Local police has also warned the refugees that they are not allowed to take part in any political activities. Should they be caught doing so, they will be sent back to Afghanistan.

Ahmad Shah is afraid to return to Afghanistan because of the attacks. When he crossed the border in the mountains near Torkhum at an illegal crossing, he had to pay 300 Pakistan Rupees (about 5 dollars US). He saw about 2000 people walking to the border at the weekend.