The nine-year-old boy remembers the sound that changed everything. "My ears have never heard such a banging noise," he recalls. "It was through loud speakers from the Mosques that we came to know we would have to abandon our beautiful village as soon as possible."

Manzar Khan’s home, a once lovely valley with lush green mountains, has turned into a deadly war zone.  The lucky ones have found refuge with host families in other parts of the country. Those with no relatives to go to or no means of travel have been relegated to one of five main refugee camps in the North West Frontier Province.

Wrenching choices
Many people had to leave everything behind.  Crops were abandoned at harvest time, as were livestock.  There’s little hope that either will remain until families return, thereby eliminating income for the next few years.

Tragically, some families have also reported having to leave elderly parents alone in the conflict area because they were not strong enough to make the difficult trip to the camps.

“It was a nightmare we faced when we started this exhausting journey,” says Manzar’s mother.  “Along with my mother-in-law and three pregnant sisters-in-law, we walked 35 to 40 kilometres over treacherous terrain…in the mountains.  It was the fear to save our lives that made us rush so fast.”

Life in the camp
Manzar and his family have taken refuge in Chota Lahore camp in Swabi, established by the provisional government of Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province.

Government and UNHCR staff are struggling to cope with the sheer number of families arriving at the camp, more every day.  The camp may not be able to provide basic services for much longer.

Chota Lahore is a barren land with a handful of trees in an area eight square kilometres.  Electricity is available for only 50 tents.  With no access to fans or shade, the scorching days are particularly brutal for girls and women observing “Pardah” (the seclusion of women from public observation) in their stifling tents.

Harrowing memories
Apart from basic necessities, psychosocial support is also desperately needed.  People are struggling to cope with the loss of loved ones, homes, possessions and livelihoods.  Reportedly, cases of stress-induced domestic violence are increasing.

Omer Hayat remembers his harrowing escape.  “We boarded a van that charged us 300 times more than we used to pay in order to reach the camps.  We abandoned our cattle, goats, belongings and crops and in our case our dear father as well.  My two nephews were killed in last night’s shelling – they were just 13 years old.  One of our relatives told us that their corpses are still lying in the open ground as heavy shelling prevented us from burying them.”

“I wish even my enemy won’t face such a grim reality, as we are mourning with our every breath.”

World Vision is working alongside the local government and other aid agencies to provide relief to an estimated 200,000 people fleeing from the violence.  The top priorities are food, water, and adequate shelter for the families.

Schooling is being provided to more than 350 children in Chota Lahore camp, but more resources must be put in place to meet the educational and recreational needs of many others.