Eyewitness: 'Sick and injured left in Swat'

--BBC--

As the Pakistani army continues its offensive against the Taliban in Pakistan's Swat valley, a female student in the town of Saidu Sharif describes the harsh conditions for the people who never managed to flee the fighting. About two million people have been displaced by fighting in the north-west The situation for those who have not left the Swat valley is getting more and more difficult. The curfew is continuing and there is shortage of food and other daily necessities. We haven't received any relief from the government or any donors. The sick people and those who have been injured are left without treatment. Pregnant women die during labour. Those who rely on taking medication regularly are in trouble. I myself haven't been feeling well over the last two weeks. I've got kidney stones and I am in pain. I've also got fever because of the infection. I have become so weak I can hardly move around the house. But I haven't been able to find a single tablet to relieve the pain. We are mostly eating fruit and that's how we survive. We also slaughter our animals, but not everybody has them People are dying due to the shortage of medicine and food. We have no source of income because of the army operation. Now is the season for the summer fruit: we have invested a lot, but we are unable to sell our fruit because of the curfew. We are mostly eating fruit and that's how we survive. We also slaughter our animals, but not everybody has them. 'No trust' The Taliban have moved out of Mingora and Saidu Sharif although they are still in control of other areas of Swat. Despite this, we still have no trust in the government. The Taliban will return and resume their activities if the government doesn't kill or arrest their leaders. And it's a bit disconcerting that this hasn't happened already. The Taliban turned the people of Swat into internally displaced people (IDP). When the people who are in IDP camps return to Swat, so will the Taliban. If the government is serious about cleaning Swat of these militants, they need to create a powerful police force and provide them with the latest weapons and vehicles. We can see that there is good quality food available to the army. They are enjoying the cool Swat weather while our kids are dying because there's no bread. Where are our rights? If the army can arrange food for their soldiers, why can't they do the same for the people of Swat? I have been thinking about my education. I don't think it will be possible for many years to come for a woman to get education in Swat. I have changed my plans for the future. I will go into nursing, so that I can serve the poor and innocent people of Swat.