Pakistan’s ‘Invisible Refugees’ Burden Cities

Pakistan is experiencing its worst refugee crisis since partition from India in 1947, and while the world may be familiar with the tent camps that have rolled out like carpets since its operation against the Taliban started in April, the overwhelming majority of the nearly three million people who have fled live unseen in houses and schools, according to aid agencies.

They are the invisible refugees, and their numbers have swollen the populations of towns like this one northwest of the capital, Islamabad, multiplying burdens on already sagging roads, schools, sewers and water supplies, and, not least, on their host families.

Most fled suddenly, without cash or belongings, and many have limited access to the millions of dollars in international aid that has been flowing in.

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Pakistan Diary: Mass Exodus

"The media here have dubbed this the biggest movement of people since partition... in 1947". The first thing that hits you when you visit a refugee camp is the sheer scale. 'Camp' is too small a word to use- these are cities of canvas and rope. Hussein camp has only been running for a few days. So far it houses 4000 refugees - a small town compared to say Jallala refugee encampment which has upwards of 48,000 people living there.

It is a "massive crisis" - according to Antonio Guterres, the United Nations high commissioner for refugees."Pakistan has hosted the largest refugee population in the world - 5 million Afghans - Pakistan now needs help itself and the world must pay attention."

The UN and other aid agencies have a big job on their hands. This is the biggest movement of people in recent times. At least 1.3 million people are on the move and more than 800,000 are registered with the UN alone as refugees.

But behind that figure lies another one. You could call them the forgotten refugees. Since August 2008, people have been fleeing clashes across the North West Frontier Province. The army has been battling Taliban fighters and more than 500,000 refugees have been registered in camps by the UN since August last year. They have been living makeshift accommodation since then. The Red Cross has registered another 400,000.

Read More At Al Jazeera