SWABI: Afghans living in two refugee camps and other localities here in the district said on Friday that they had not received any assistance from any national or international organisation during Ramazan or for Eidul Fitr.

The refugees considered themselves as the most neglected people, saying there were widows and orphans among them who had no source of livelihood. They are entirely dependent on assistance of the international aid agencies.

Narrating their difficulties, they told mediapersons here on Friday that they could feed their families only when they would work. They said their livelihood sources had significantly shrunken because of restrictions implemented amid coronavirus pandemic.

They said they were expecting that during lockdown the UNHCR, government and welfare bodies would come forward to provide them assistance, but they ignored them for unknown reasons.

Haji Zarif Khan and other elders at Gandaf refugee camp said they were surprised at the way they were neglected at this difficult juncture. They said that the widows and orphans were the worst-hit during the last three months of lockdown.

However, they hoped that the UNCHR would provide them with assistance on emergency basis so after Eid.

FOLLOW SOPs: Doctors of leading hospitals and the district administration here on Friday urged the people to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) during Eidul Fitr and avoid gatherings.

Swabi deputy commissioner Shahid Mehmood said that people should understand that the most important step for protecting themselves from coronavirus was social distancing and upholding SOPs.

“We are exposed to coronavirus more than before and we should be more careful,” said Prof Dr Shamsur Rehman.

Dr Mohammad Jasim said that people must show seriousness for their safety and to control spread of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, great rush here in the local markets showed that people did not care about the SOPs such as social distancing.

When contacted, district traders’ president Laiq Khan told this correspondent it was not a good omen that the traders and consumers had been disregarding SOPs. He feared that the government could re-impose lockdown if this situation did not change.

DROWNED: A young man drowned in the Indus River at Hund area here on Friday.

Raham Zeb, 18, of Chota Lahor city was bathing along with his friends in the river when he slipped into deep water and drowned.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2020