Eight-year-old Shahzad left his home in Charain in Buner District five months ago as the escalation of violence in the region meant it was too dangerous for his family to stay any longer. Shahzad, his parents and four siblings made the journey from their village to Rustam where they are now staying with a local family who took them into their home.
Shahzad is one of more than 4,600 children who has benefitted from Islamic Relief’s Mercy Centres, set up as a safe place for displaced children and those from the local community. At these centres they can access education, healthcare, psychological support and safe places to play.
Below, Shahzad explains how he has coped living in a village with people he does not know and the difficulties his family will face this Ramadan.
Lives at risk
“It has been nearly five months since we had to leave our home in Buner,” Shahzad said. “My parents told us that we had to go because our lives were at risk and we could have been killed by the fighting.”
“Back home my father was a driver but now he is struggling to find work,” he said. “We are staying with a family in Qaderabad village but they are not our relatives and I don’t know them.”
Making new friends
“At the beginning it was very difficult living here because I had no friends and nothing was familiar. But then the Islamic Relief Mercy Centre was set up and since I joined I have made new friends. Sajid is from Swat and Haris is from this village and they are my best friends. We all play together and attend the school lessons that the Centre runs.”
“I like going to the centre as I get to do many activities that I love. We do drawing and painting, and play with the toys. I also get to play my favourite sport which is football. In my village there is no proper place to play like we have here.”
Becoming poor
“Since we left our home we have become very poor and I don’t know when or how we will be able to go back to our village,” said Shahzad. “We are really struggling to get enough food at the moment as there is not much to eat. I am not sure what we will eat for our iftars during Ramadan. Last Ramadan we had plenty of food and fruit but now I don’t know what will happen as we are struggling to get just a little bit of food.”
“On Eid day I normally wear new clothes and my father gives me some money so that I can buy ice cream and sweets. But this year I don’t know if we will be in our village and I don’t think my father will have any money to give me or to buy us new clothes.”
Thanks to your support Islamic Relief continues to provide help for children like Shahzad who are still unable to return home. We are also planning to start work in Buner to help people start rebuilding their lives.
To ease the suffering of those in north-west Pakistan who are facing their most difficult Ramadan ever, please donate here.