Humanitarian Crisis In Bajaur: Thousands Displaced As Mothers, Infants Suffer Severe Food And Milk Shortages

Rising tension and a wave of terrorist incidents in Bajaur have created a new humanitarian crisis. Thousands of families forced to flee their homes are now sheltering in temporary camps and government schools.

The hardships faced by these homeless families are numerous, but the most affected are the innocent children and mothers, who are suffering from hunger and lack of food. Mothers have nothing to feed themselves or their children, including milk for infants, turning the situation into a growing human tragedy.

A woman living in one of the camps told TNN,“I remain hungry all day. There is nothing to eat. Now where will I get milk for my baby? He cries all day and I sit helpless.” Her pain is not hers alone but that of dozens of women whose nursing children are wasting away from hunger.

A husband of another displaced woman in the same camp described their helplessness:“We left everything behind. Home, fields, livelihoods - all gone. There is neither food for the children nor medicine here. We appeal to the government to at least provide milk for our innocent children and food for the women so that their lives can be saved.”

Social worker Faizullah expressed deep concern over the situation, saying that women and children are the most vulnerable and affected group, yet their needs are not being prioritised.“This problem is worsening by the hour. If milk and balanced food are not provided immediately, innocent lives will be at risk. The administration and relief agencies must make this their top priority,” he urged.

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District Nutrition Officer Salahuddin Bacha explained several reasons why mothers' milk supply is drying up. He said:“Displaced women are under severe psychological stress because they have been uprooted from their homes, and this stress reduces milk production. Secondly, they lack balanced nutrition, which is essential for increasing milk supply.” He added that the Nutrition Department is running breastfeeding awareness campaigns and providing supplementary food for children aged six months to five years.

District Health Officer Dr. Gohar said that so far he has not received a formal report of widespread shortages, but his teams are present in the affected areas.“If this issue is reported, we have nutrition supplements available and two programmes already active. In such a case we will immediately inform the provincial health department,” he said.

When asked, Assistant Commissioner Khar Sadiq Ali said the district administration is doing everything possible to help affected families.“We have contacted the provincial government and welfare organisations to provide food and basic facilities in the camps. We are trying to ensure that no family faces hunger or lack of medicine, and if any gaps remain we will address them immediately,” he said.

The shortage of food and milk in Bajaur's IDP camps is not only endangering the lives of innocent children but also having severe physical and mental health impacts on women. The situation demands urgent attention and emergency measures. If prompt action is not taken, this human tragedy could deepen further with irreparable consequences.

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