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Bracing Themselves for War: Who Cares About the Refugees?
By Altaf Husain
24/09/2001
Imagine if you had to run for your life.
What would you take with you? What would you leave behind?
This was the scenario and these were the questions for many of those individuals who went to work at the World Trade Center in New York or the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.
In real-time, the world watched as the horror of what will long be remembered as one of the most tragic events of the start of the 21st century unfolded.
No words can capture the anguish and pain that the victims of these tragedies suffered. Knowing full well that they would not emerge alive, some passengers of the hi-jacked airplanes called their loved ones to bid farewell - a heart-wrenching phone call that no one could ever write the script for.
There has been almost universal condemnation of the attacks. No doubt about it - no religion or race of people would ever condone visiting such a brutal attack on innocent people who are going about their daily lives and minding their own business.
So what if people disagree with U.S. foreign policy! There is no justification for such an enormous loss of life and infrastructure. However, Americans are a resilient people.
President Bush has reaffirmed his resolve to bring those who perpetrated these uncivil acts to justice. Last week, Mr. Bush declared a "war on terrorism." That's right. Not a war on a single state, but rather an all-out war "to rid the world of evil-doers."
Some analysts have counted nearly 60 countries that would be affected by such a war. Yet, there is one country in particular that is about to feel the wrath of the U.S. Not because one of its nationals is a suspect in the attacks. No, the rationale for bombing Afghanistan is much clearer than that.
Let's make no mistake about it - the U.S. intends to strike Afghanistan. And Pakistan has offered to help the U.S. in its "war on terrorism." Consequently, Afghanistan is bracing itself for war because the prime suspect, who is believed to have led the global network with which the attackers have been associated, is said to be living in Afghanistan.
Whether or not he still remains in Afghanistan is a question of "intelligence." Although no one has denied it, no one can confirm it either. But if the ruling Taliban does not hand him over, the U.S. is intent on proceeding with its war against Afghanistan for its "harboring" of the prime suspect.
While Americans and the world are furious with the Taliban, let's not mince words - innocent Afghans will suffer; many will die.
The world in general and the Muslim world in particular seem to have forgotten the fate of the Afghan people. For over 22 years, they have valiantly endured Soviet aggression, civil unrest, and weather conditions that make it impossible to plan - let alone develop - any sort of modern infrastructure.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has estimated that nearly 6.2 million Afghans can be classified as refugees. This total caseload includes Afghans who have fled to Iran, Pakistan and, in smaller numbers, around the world. However, there are still nearly a million internally displaced Afghan refugees - many of whom are too poor to flee. In the face of impending war, though, many of them are trying.
Imagine having to run for your life. What would you take? What would you leave behind?
A rise in prices for food and fuel has triggered a thriving black market. Nevertheless, these poverty-stricken Afghans have little to take or to leave behind.
Currently, most of the Afghans are living in refugee camps such as Jalozai, Nasir Bagh and Shamshatu among many others. Although statistics are difficult to come by, an estimated 80,000 people live in Jalozai camp alone. The living conditions are sub-human - the torn tents are made of extremely thin material that is unable to protect its inhabitants from the boiling sun. The water supply is scarce; drinking water is almost unavailable. Medicine is unavailable; even small cuts and bruises are left to become infected.
The little aid that was available is now all but gone. Most of the international aid workers have pulled out - it's easy for them because they have a homeland to retreat to. But little is being said on the news about where the Afghan people are expected to take cover. Where should they run?
The news reports are quite clear - their neighbors, Iran and Pakistan, have both closed their borders, barring the entry of any more Afghan refugees into their countries. Imagine how trapped they must feel with war having been declared against their country.
Many of these refugees have already lost so much - for so long. The dishonorable Clinton administration bombed Afghanistan in 1998 after the embassy bombings in Africa, implicating the same prime suspect that they are hunting for now. But what have the Afghans to do with this? In this latest impending attack on their country - much as in the earlier attack, they are neither involved nor responsible.
As Muslims who have been blessed with homes, wealth, peace and security, we should make it our mission to bring the plight of these refugees to the world's attention.
After all, imagine what it would feel like if you had to run for your life. What would you take? What would you leave behind?
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