Dignity and respect
70-year-old Jamanera from Mardan in north-west Pakistan was forced from her home earlier this year by recent fighting between the army and militants. She lives with her son who has a disability, and they rely on handouts from their friends and neighbours to survive.
“We have been living in terrible conditions that I would not wish on anybody since my husband died 14 years ago,” said Jamanera. “Though he did not make much money working as a labourer, he was able to support his family. Now I have to manage everything and have to find the money to keep us alive.”
Disruption and destruction
Jamanera said, “The fighting brought disruption and destruction to this area, and people like me who were already poor were affected the most. We had to leave our home and move to a place called Totalai which borders Swabi District. We stayed there for two months where we lived with one of our relatives.”
“We were given food and were well looked after but we desperately wanted to return to our home. However, when we came back we found that our conditions had got worse. Still we are happy to be back and believe that it is better to be hungry and at home, than be living as a refugee,” she said.
Worries of food
“My days start with worry about where I will get enough food for my son and me. Since we do not have a source of income my neighbours help us as much as they can and sometimes share their food with us.”
Jamanera continued, “I don’t want to live like this; I feel like a beggar. I want to live my life with dignity and respect. I wish I could work and earn my for my son so we could live a respectable life, but I am old and weak and there is nothing I can do.”
“During Ramadan we usually eat dry bread and black tea in the morning and then when it comes to break our fast, we eat whatever our neighbours give us. If someone gives us a little money then we may be able to cook our own food, but this is very rare.”
“I believe that my neighbours are angels and know that if they were not there to support us then my son and I would have died long ago.”
‘I will cook my own food’
“Yesterday I received my Ramadan food pack from Islamic Relief,” said Jamanera. “I still cannot believe that we will now be able to eat good food that we used to only dream about. We received rice, lentils, dates, sugar and oil. It feels good not to be waiting on our neighbours and tonight for the first time in a long time I will be able to cook my own food; my son will love it.”
“My son and I cannot afford new clothes for Eid and we wear the same torn, old clothes that we have had for years,” said Jamanera. “But this year I will save some of the rice from my food parcel and cook it on Eid day to share with others when they come to visit. I will pray for the people who sent this food package to us and who have enabled us to enjoy this month with dignity and respect.”
