Adil Najam
This is a beautiful photograph. But the circumstances in which the picture was taken are sad.
The original caption reads:
A young Pakistani boy internally displaced walks across a bridge separating the camp at the Yar Hussain UNHCR camp in Chota Lahore on July 6, 2009 in Swabi district, Pakistan. Approximately 3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been created as a result of an on-going military operation against the Taliban. Pakistani forces are battling militants in the Swat valley, Lower Dir and Buner. New camps are sprouting up while others continue to grow as people shift away from the city of Mardan where thousands were living with families and schools as the UNHCR and other aid agencies struggle to deal with the needs of so many. The refugees are facing extremely harsh living conditions in the searing heat in over crowded camps.
When I see this picture I am flooded with all sorts of emotions. Of resilience, of defiance, of sadness, of hope, of frustration, of responsibility.
What do you think of when you see this picture?
P.S. I wanted to use this post to also update on our fund-raising drive. We will close this current collection with this post. We will add another $1000 what is collected here and donate all to appropriate agencies helping the IDPs (in the past all the collection has been given evenly to the Edhi organization and to UNHCR). In the previous fundraising drive ATP readers had contributed just under $5000, which we had topped off to $5000 and added another $2000 from ATP. This time we will top off whatever is collected from the readers to $2000 and add another $1000 from ATP advertising. So, the total would come to $10,000 from All Things Pakistan to IDP relief (including $3000+ from ATP advertising). Our thanks to all those who have contributed to this drive (including some who have done so more than once), and to everyone who has supported IDP relief anywhere, through any means. We hope you will continue doing so through whatever avenues you find most useful to you.
I would like to believe that is not a sun setting, but a sun rising on the horizon. Horizon of this young child’s future and of our own and our country. -Amen
— Adil Najam Sahib.
Should I appreciate the power of the image which pierces our hearts or should I put up a ” she’r “for another heart wrenching description.
— bujhi bujhi si hain rahein, chiraagh jalte hain,
dhoain bharain hain diloan mein , dimaagh jalte hain —-
Naseer
First American forces displace Afghani and camps are set up in Palistan. Then RAW supported Taliban are allowed to operate in Swat. Pakistan Air Force and Army attack their people destry their houses and know army cantonment will be built in Mingora so the militry wifes can enjoy cool weather.
What a Game plan…………………
Excellent snap shot.. this shows
Our poor nation always prepare their children for difficult paths ahead, without any helping hand, while our leaders’ children are prepared how to become president or priminiters ( Mr. Bilawal Zardari, Mr. Hamza Shahbaz ,and Sons of Chaudries and Sons of Gillani) , without knowning how poor live without daily nessecities.
Definitly our poor children have tough future ahead and our leaders’ sons have bright future. God bless all
P.A.K.I.S.T.A.N