KARACHI: More than a dozen families have escaped their hometown in a remote Balochistan district and moved to Karachi because of clashes between security forces and insurgents, it emerged on Monday.

About 15 families left their homes in Dasht, Kech district, over the last few days and a majority of them have settled in Orangi Town, Sabzi Mandi and Federal B Area. Four of the 15 families have moved to Hyderabad and Kotri.

Among them, Mohammad Balaach and his family of 20 moved to Faqir Colony in Orangi Town around two weeks back.

Initially reluctant to divulge details of their escape, Balaach later told Dawn that the “worsening situation in terms of abductions by the security forces forced us to move to the city for the time being”.

Narrating the events leading to their escape to Karachi, Balaach, a 60-year-old wage earner, said that a security operation began in their village, Zarren Bog, and two other villages, Bal and Kolaach, almost six months back.

Around that time, the main target of the security forces, including the Frontier Corps, were the insurgents and to locate their hiding places.

According to information received by Balaach’s family, about eight villagers went ‘missing’ during the operation for allegedly facilitating the insurgents.

“We didn’t facilitate anyone. I also felt that there is a strong chance of being misunderstood because of the language barrier there is between the security forces and the residents. Moving to Karachi seemed feasible for the time being,” he added.

“Many others are on the way,” he said.

He said he planned to move back to his village after Eid, but chances were he would stay a bit longer.

Surab Baloch, moved to Karachi’s Orangi Town a week ago.

Explaining what prompted him to move to Karachi, he said that the clashes “almost reached our homes”.

He added: “Awaran is almost empty with around 5,000 people already migrated to Karachi, Vinder and Utthal since last year.”

So far, Surab is the only person who spoke to Dawn, whereas two others refused to share any information, citing safety issues.

Surab said that the situation in Dasht worsened a week ago on June 2 when the security forces found out about a group of armed insurgents hiding in a village, Zarren Bog. “There was no confrontation, initially. There was an announcement on loudspeakers around noon for the insurgents to leave the area. It ended in a clash, with hordes of people leaving their homes the same evening.”

The estimated population in this particular village is around 15,000 according to Surab and two others.

A reporter from the area also confirmed that a few families had migrated towards Chabahar in Iran and Pishin, whereas a “sizable majority is still looking for ways to get out as they are caught in the crossfire”.

Those who recently moved to Karachi also confirmed the reporter’s claim.

Among them, Abdul Hussain said, “Families didn’t have enough time to decide as the clash escalated quickly. We took up whatever we had and arranged a pick-up to leave. There are still many others who are back at the village and in contact with their families and friends in Karachi.”

Around 10 days back, Fida Ahmad, 38, moved to Kotri with six of his family members, including his parents.

While speaking to Dawn over the phone, he shared the reasons for his family’s temporary shifting to Kotri.

“We are tired of constant clashes,” he began, “the clashes between the armed forces and the insurgents began last year in July.”

These clashes, he further added, began with the security operation against Baloch insurgents in Awaran’s two towns, Gajjar and Mashkay.

“Apart from that, there is no water, electricity or proper medical services in my village Zarren Bog, in Dasht. We have to travel all the way to Karachi for a medical check-up even for curable diseases,” he added in frustration.

Speaking about similar conditions, Abdul Hussain, a driver in Turbat and a resident of Dasht’s Zarren Bog village, said: “I moved to Kotri and might leave for Orangi Town soon, since this is one of the few options I have got at the moment.”

Abdul Hussain added that for many families, Kotri and Hyderabad was the first stop to stay over before they further move on to Karachi.

Most of those shifting to Karachi this time around are farmers, land owners and wage earners.

Those affluent enough find shelter at the homes of their relatives in Orangi Town, Sabzi Mandi (Superhighway) and Federal B. Area. But others, including wage earners, have fewer options and usually prefer to stay in Utthal and Vinder due to affinity with the people in those places.

Hussain said that the rent for, at times, a two-room house was increased twice by the landlord once he figured out that the family was in an urgent need of shelter.

As a result of that, three of the families chose to stay with their relatives in Vinder while others were accommodated by their Baloch friends in Karachi.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2016