As she shares her story, it’s clear that Zameena’s misery knows no bounds. But two of her daughters are no longer here to console her.
Like thousands of others in her village, Zameena and her family were forced to flee their home in Pakistan’s northwest when fighting escalated between the Pakistani army and Taliban militants in May, 2009.
She, her husband and six children sought refuge with a host family. Her husband took a loan from this family to help support his own. Shortly after, he died in an accident. Zameena was left with grief, uncertainty, and a debt to repay.
Zameena “sold” her two daughters in marriage to cover the debt. Shahzad, now 14, was sold for 40,000 rupees ($493) to a member of the host family. Younger sister Kainat, age 10, was sold in marriage for just 28,000 rupees ($344) to cover the expenses of her father’s funeral.
Still not enough
With the money received from the “bride price” of her elder daughter, Zameena purchased a cow once she returned to her village, to help provide for the other children. Despite her unfathomable sacrifice, Zameena and her children still depend on “zakat” or charity from friends and neighbors.
Zameena has no inheritance, no house and no access to the land now owned by her husband’s family. She and her children rely upon the food aid provided by World Vision and the World Food Programme.
“The food aid must go on, I have no other way to support my children,” she says.
Giving her daughters in marriage reflects the desperation felt by many families following their displacement. Some 2.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) fled their homes when the Pakistan military carried out operations against Taliban militants in Swat, Dir and Buner.
Providing basic necessities
World Vision subsequently distributed more than 2,000 metric tons of food rations to 123,699 people (22,328 families) leading up to January 2010.
For most of the returning families the food rations represent their only meal of the day. On average, families the size of Zameena’s receive a monthly ration of 80 kg of wheat flour, nearly 5kg of vegetable oil, 8kg legumes, 1kg salt, 1.5kg of high-energy biscuits, 300 grams of tea and 4kg of sugar.
With seasonal crops, livestock and seed stores lost due to the conflict, the monthly distributions are still desperately needed. High prices of staples like wheat and legumes compound the already difficult food situation for returning families.
"Please continue the help; we rely on food aid for survival. We will starve or be forced to beg if the food rations are stopped,” says Zameena’s seven-year-old daughter Kausar, with a maturity beyond her age.
Distribution with dignity
“Women like Zameena are able to collect their food rations on a day specifically allocated to distributions for females, taking into account the cultural norms, values and their need for privacy,” explains Touqeer Ahmed, World Vision Pakistan’s Commodity Officer in Buner.
“I never thought the distribution would be so easy to access; World Vision staff gave me my rations with dignity and respect,” says Zameena.
Contingent upon funding availability, efforts are underway to support early recovery and livelihood needs through both government and private grants.
World Vision will focus on five areas of intervention: shelter and non-food-items such as cooking sets, water and sanitation, food security, education, and early recovery programs. World Vision will work to provide safe drinking water, ensuring adequate sanitation and hygiene, addressing nutritional needs of vulnerable families, providing psychosocial support to affected children through teachers/parent training, establishing child-friendly spaces and providing adequate shelter and providing essential household items.
