KHYBER: Financial constraints, displacement and the psychological stress caused by being away from their homes compelled thousands of the newly-displaced families to forgo the ritual of sacrificing animals on Eidul Azha this year.

Some internally displaced persons shared with Dawn their fond memories of joyful and prosperous Eid festivals they had celebrated in different parts of now abandoned Tirah valley.

They said that the last decade of their resettlement in Tirah valley after their return from previous displacement in 2015-16 was one of happy occasions as they had reestablished their social fabric while also rebuilding their fractured livelihoods with sheer hard work and love for their soil.

Lodged mostly in rented houses or being accommodated by the host communities in Bara and surrounding localities with limited facilities, most of these displaced families had lost the very essence of observing Eidul Azha as they were confronted with mental trauma and serious financial issues.

Most of displaced persons live in rented homes in miserable conditions, struggle to meet basic needs

Minhaj Afridi, a resident of Shalobar area in Maidan, said that he belonged to an affluent family and would sacrifice eight to ten animals on the first day of Eidul Azha during the last 6-7 years since their return in 2016.

He said that now his joint family had not only lost the financial power of purchasing just a single sacrificial animal but they could not even buy new clothes and shoes for their children during this Eid.

“Our family lost its business while our farmlands have gone dry due to our displacement from Tirah since December last year and now we are finding it hard to even arrange two meals for our children on a daily basis,” he said with grief writ large on his face.

Saeed Khan of Bagh Maidan said that they were more than satisfied with their lives as they had established decent businesses while also rehabilitating their agricultural lands during the last decade but the recent displacement had dashed all their hopes of a prosperous life and celebrating a joyful Eid.

A trader by profession, he said that the establishment of peace since their return a decade back had attracted a large number of tourists to the valley during all the festive occasions which had also augmented their financial position while providing part time jobs to local youth as tour guides and operating rented facilities for tourists.

“Now that we are forced to leave our homes again in the hope of an elusive peace, we feel like we are huddled in a large cage in Bara while living in a suffocating environment after being expelled from the picturesque Tirah valley,” he added.

Rehmat Shah, a young resident of Tirah was of the opinion that they could not make any preparations for Eidul Azha as most of them felt dejected as they eagerly awaited an official announcement about their possible return to their homes prior to Eid.

He said that he along with his young friends and relatives would go to picnic spots and Eid related traditional outdoor festivals during the two Eids while also arranging family gatherings and cooking different varieties of food when they were living in their own homes in Tirah.

“Our biggest happiness would be our immediate return to our homes as Eid festivities could not be observed in such hostile circumstances,” he said.

Nauroz Khan, a paramedic by profession, told Dawn that majority of the IDPs lived in rented homes in inhospitable conditions and most of them were unable to meet basic needs for their families.

He said that a considerable number of the displaced families had yet to receive the promised financial assistance, so they’re unable to pay the rent of the houses they were living in.

“We are mostly passing through a difficult phase of our lives with most of us suffering from severe mental stress due to prolonged grief and uncertainty about our return,” he said.

The paramedic said that most of the IDPs had lost interest in Eid related festivities as they had lost their livelihoods which they had revived after decade long hardships while now confronted with excessive hot weather and financial helplessness.

He insisted that all their grievances could be addressed and their happiness would be restored with an immediate and dignified return to their homes.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2026