The Hearts and Minds of Pakistan's Displaced Posted by David Shorr

An important alarm bell today from the Times' Jane Perlez and Pir Zubair Shah, who report on Islamic aid groups providing displaced Pakistanis with assistance -- and a heaping helping of anti-American, anti-government political indoctrination to go with. Any of us who are concerned about popular sentiment toward the US will be disturbed to learn that the IDPs resist any aid coming from us, especially after the Pakistani goodwill resulting from America's post-earthquake relief efforts there four years ago. But anti-American sentiment is the least of the problem here.

You can get the details on the current humanitarian need and response from Refugees International. I want to make sure we keep sight of the stakes here. Never mind the United States, the question uppermost for the displaced population is whether their own government cares about them and will cushion the blow after their lives have been turned upside down. Of course the US should do whatever it can to help. We just need to be mindful that if the displaced are left to scrape by in open-ended limbo, a huge hearts and minds battle will have been lost. The relevant grafs from the Times report:

Signs of the organizational strength and robust coffers of Islamist charities were easy to see around the camps, often in contrast to the lack of services offered by the government.

For example, Al Khidmat, Mr. Hassan’s group, arranged to bring in eye surgeons from Punjab to staff a free eye clinic for the displaced, offering cataract operations and eyeglasses.

“Government hospitals are nonexistent here, and we are able to treat not only the displaced but the whole community,” said one of the surgeons, Dr. Khalid Jamal.

Refugees and those displaced within their own countries classically tend, over time, to fade as a focus and a priority. Indeed, they pose challenges much easier to ignore than tackle. How do you help rebuild productive lives for two million people who suddently find themselves somewhere new? Regardless of the problem's difficulty, though, the people affected are bound to see it as a test of the responsiveness and true intentions of their government. Whether the IDPs settle in their new locations or manage to return home, the faith and allegiance of an entire Pakistani region are up for grabs.

Comments

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[David Shorr]

Thanks. This is a classic problem on which governments tend to coast and hope for the best; we can look toward things possibly getting much worse if unaddressed. Please fee free to share with others.

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Pakistan needs help.Pakistan has begun to put together an official relief effort, but it is hampered by a lack of financing and equipment....

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How do you help rebuild productive lives for two million people who suddently find themselves somewhere new? Regardless of the problem's difficulty, though, the people affected are bound to see it as a test of the responsiveness and true intentions of their government. Whether the IDPs settle in their new locations or manage to return home, the faith and allegiance of an entire Pakistani region are up for grabs.
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