Noor Malik’s Story

NGOs that work in Pakistan work closely with victims of conflict and disaster across the country and meet victims who live in various circumstances.

For this article, we would like to tell the story of Moor Malik’s family, who the JEN staff met in Dera Isamil Khan district, where the current JEN office is located.

Noor Malik and his wife do not have children. Malik is around 75 years old and his wife is turning 68.

The two used to live in a village called Kama Gourami of South Waziristan, an area that has received the greatest damage in conflict. Other than a small house and 4 goats that are a sole source of income, Mr. and Mrs. Malik had no possessions that they can call their own. Needless to say that is not enough to survive, but by receiving contributions from neighbors, they managed to somehow get by.

One day two years ago in the middle of the night, Mr. and Mrs. Malik as well as others from the village had to leave their homes and escape to Dera Ismail Khan. The army came to Malik’s village and called on the villagers to evacuate to a safe place. Seeing as war was imminent, it was no longer impossible for the two to go back to their home in South Waziristan.

The journey from their village to the evacuation area was extremely difficult. With no food, water and change of clothes, their only choice was to continue walking to Dera Ismail Khan. The two are old aged and are unable to walk for a long period. They had to leave behind their 4 goats, which were their sole source of income.

Like most internally displaced people, Mr. and Mrs. Malik could not make it in time to register as a refugee and as a result, they could not receive food aid from WFP (United Nations World Food Programme). Mr. and Mrs. Malik say they could not eat anything for days even after they arrived in Dera Ismail Khan.

Since then they two lived in a relatives house in Paharpur village located in the same district. Although they are relatives, it is a little uncomfortable living in someone else’s home, but they had no other choice says Malik. The two had no way of setting aside food for each day and they spent each day praying for a miracle.

However, in July of this year since the projects in Dera Ismail Khan have started, their lives have started to change.

Mr. and Mrs. Malik have now been registered to become eligible to receive aid and were able to get a pregnant goat. Shortly after they received the goat, a kid was born and they were able to milk the goat. They use the milk for their food every day, but because they can sell the extra milk that they do not need, they are now able to save some money.

JEN will continue to help those who need aid the most.