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70-year-old Lal Bibi fled her village with her neighbours when it was attacked. Fearing for their lives they left Buner and travelled to Dir District. But then the conflict spread and they had to move again, this time to Mardan.
Lal Bibi is now living with an old friend; she knows that she is putting an added burden on an already poor family but with no family around her she has no other choice.
 No family
“I came here with some neighbours after fleeing my village. I have no family to look after me. My sons left me when my husband died many years ago and my daughters have married and moved away. Even before this crisis I struggled to survive. Then the conflict started and brought even more misery into my troubled life.
Moving on
“First I went to Dir district with my neighbours hoping that we could find some place to stay. But then the situation there deteriorated so we decided to come to Mardan.
Health problems
“I am suffering from high blood pressure and the stress of trying to find somewhere safe to stay has badly affected my health. I was offered place by Gul Hamesha, a friend who I have known for long time. Her two sons are laborers and they do not make very much money with which to support the family. Taking me in to their home has added an extra burden to their already difficult life.
“I am old and living in
such difficult conditions has really affected my health. My hearing was affected as a result of the conflict in my village but I cannot afford any medical treatment.
Rising prices
“The cost of items that we use on a daily basis has increased greatly because there is now more demand from all the displaced people. I am grateful to Islamic Relief for providing me with some essential items that I would never have been able to afford to buy at market.
“With the support that I have been given
by Islamic Relief I am positive about the next few weeks and I know I am going to survive as there is someone out there to take care of me.”
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