45-year-old Naqshoon is a mother of 13 children. She fled the fighting in her village in Buner two months ago and is now living in Surkh Dheri in Mardan. She was pregnant when she left her home and gave birth two weeks ago.
When Naqshoon experienced difficulties during the delivery her family searched the village for a female doctor but there was no one there to help. She eventually made it to the Rustam hospital but her baby was stillborn.
A terrible journey
“When we left our home in Buner we had to walk for a long way in the mountains,” Naqshoon said. “The journey was terrible and my children kept crying and saying that they wanted to go back home.
“When we first got to Surkh Dheri we stayed for a short time in a local school but then we moved to this house which is owned by Sajjad. We didn’t know him before but his family let us stay here. Although we are living in a house and not a camp none of us are happy or comfortable and we all want to return to our home in Buner.”
No way to earn money
The two families are sharing just two small rooms. There is no running water, electricity or place to cook in the house, and more than 20 people have to share one latrine. Sajjad is providing Naqshoon’s family with most of the items that they need as none of them are able to work.
“My husband has not got a job here,” Naqshoon said, “and he has spent all the money that we left our house with. Two of my sons are working in Dubai and although they try to help us they don’t earn much money. They are worried about us but I don’t want them to know what is happening here because I don’t want to give them any more stress.”
Difficult for the children
Naqshoon’s children have had trouble adjusting to their new environment and have been left traumatised by the conflict they witnessed in their village.
“We cannot get used to staying here no matter what we do,” said Naqshoon. “It was so difficult to make my children stay here as none of them were happy and they all wanted to go back to the village. For the first few days they wouldn’t eat or talk to anyone and would cry all the time.”
“My son Aziz was the worst. He has been violent and has been fighting with other children. But since he started going to the Islamic Relief centre in the village his behaviour has improved which has made things easier for me.”
Desperate to return home
“My children are frustrated and want to go home as soon as possible,” Naqshoon said. “The activities they get to do at the centre are helping to keep them busy but it is not the same as home.”
“This morning my 14-year-old son Samad could cope no longer and decided to go back home,” said Naqshoon. “He told me that he was missing his home and his village and wanted to go back. I tried to stop him but he wouldn’t listen to me and he did not tell his father he was going. He left with no money and I don’t know if he has food or if he is safe. I am so worried about him and wonder what will happen.”
Naqshoon’s youngest son, 18-month-old Uzair is very ill. He is weak, malnourished and has a severe respiratory tract infection. He is now receiving treatment from Islamic Relief’s health team as well as supplementary food, but doctors remain concerned about his fragile health.
“We have been tested again and again, and when we go back home I know we will have yet more problems as everything has been ruined,” Naqshoon said. “My life is full of miseries and I don’t know what will happen next.”
No-one there to help
“Just over a week ago I gave birth to my baby but when she was born she was already dead,” Naqshoon explained. “This was because there was no female doctor in this village who could help me.”
A traditional birth attendant came to help Naqshoon but did not spot that there were problems and told her that it was not yet time for her to give birth. However the problems persisted and it became clear that Naqshoon needed medical care.
Her family managed to borrow money to pay for the cost of travelling to the Rustam Civil Hospital. Here she was able to get treatment from a female doctor but it was too late. Her baby girl was stillborn.
“My children and I all want to return home but my baby is buried in this village,” said Naqshoon. “I know that she is dead but I don’t want to leave her here when we all go back.”