Pakistan: The Bigger Battle

As war rages through the Swat valley with the government finally having grown a spine and doing what it should have done long ago by fighting the Taliban; an even bigger battle is now being waged. The bigger battle is to care for what is perhaps the largest single sudden movement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the history of the nation; with numbers on the move getting revised upwards almost hourly. According to the 1998 census there were 1,257,602 people living in the valley, a decade later there are perhaps 1.5 million and it is possible that between one third and a half of that number are fleeing for their lives. Thus between half and three-quarters of a million people are going to need food, shelter, water, medical care and, most importantly, security; within the next ten days to a fortnight. As if this were not enough – and no government anywhere would find an adequate quick response to numbers of IDPs of that magnitude – we are already host to a large refugee population that shows no early sign of going back to where they came from. Perhaps to our fortune both the provincial government of NWFP and the UNHCR as well as other NGOs and national organizations have long experience of handling refugees and IDPs and it is obvious that the machinery of care is already clicking into gear.

It is difficult to conceptualise the sheer scale of the refugee and IDP burden that Pakistan has borne for decades and continues to bear today. As rolling news channels cover the latest influx, the last wave of human unhappiness disappears into a cloud of unknowing there to be administered and managed by the agencies whose job it is to do so. For instance, how many will remember that in early March this year the Pakistan government signed a pact with the UN refugee agency to continue to host 1.7 million Afghan refugees until 2012 – another three years hence? Under the agreement the UNHCR will raise $140 million from the international community to fund the Refugee Affected and Hosting Areas (RAHA) programme, which includes development projects aimed at boosting employment prospects, reviving agricultural and irrigation systems, repairing farm to market roads, improving crop and livestock production, and marketing produce. Which is all very well and we are pleased that the UNHCR is helping us with the hosting of Afghan refugees as they are – but the fact remains that they are still in Pakistan, are here until at least 2012 and with the way things are going in Afghanistan today the likelihood of them wanting to up-sticks and wend their way home – ever – is slim.

Within the month it is possible that the total number of refugees and IDPs of all sorts and origins within Pakistan is going to top three million, and one of the world's poorest countries will be hosting one of the worlds largest populations of displaced persons. Most refugees and IDPs do eventually return to their homes, and as long as the army does the job thoroughly and cleanses Swat of the Taliban cancer, and as long as the politicians do not discard their newly-grown spinal column, then the Swatis can go home. Their home will have been substantially damaged by warfare, and they are going to need post-conflict reconstructive help for decades to come – which will be neither cheap nor easy to fund. The rueful irony is that we would never have got to this position but for bungling and gutless governance. No wonder the rest of the world looks at us and shakes its head in bemused puzzlement.

Anna's Intern Corner 05/04/09

Just a quick note!

I wanted to let you all know that there is a new link on the Hansen website where you can view research and articles written by Hansen fellows.  Just go to the home page, and on the right hand side there is a link for "Research by Hansen Fellows," click on that and you can see articles by Davor and Tatiana.  Also, there are links next to their names on the alumni page that will open up the same articles.

For any of you who have written articles recently, feel free to email them to Bonnie and she will get them up on the site!

Hope you are all well!!

Anna

Greetings from Tatiana (Moldova)-The World is Our Playground

The world is our playground!

Hi everybody! Here I am…chillin’ after the Queensday party …sitting in my favorite coffee company, drinking my favorite hazelnut latte, browsing through all the possible online information to reminisce the beautiful memories and experiences that Hansen left me with.  Why now? ‘Cause unbelievably it has been almost one year…and time flies…this is what Sara reminded me some days ago on facebook…I don’t wanna get all emotional right now…but to be honest I wish I could see everybody joined together once more…can we make it Ron, Bonnie? :-) Silly question but coming from my heart…

Just to bring an update…things are going well for me…just recently landed a new job at the Nicolaas Witsen Foundation in Amsterdam, an organization bounding to my work in public policy what I was doing in Moldova. In addition, still studying Dutch…hope to make it through one day and master it as I would like it…it is really difficult but my language skills are not disappointing me! Traveling has become a big part of my life – for this summer I plan to visit a lot of special places, which are on my “bucket” list since the Hansen experience. And yes…maybe not all in one this year…but I would like to visit South America and Australia too! Hope not to go over my budget.

Reading the info posted on the blog…I really find it interesting even being an alumni…and I hope that is also helpful to Hansen participants of 2009. You know guys…being born and raised in Moldova provided me with a unique perspective of society. I am a citizen of a country that even after 18 years of independence, is still described by poor governance lacking knowledge and skillful diplomacy that could advocate innovative reforms. Probably…having every day the picture of the other side of the coin made me consider the choice of my dual-degree in economics and the choice of my professional goals in non-profit sector, which eventually consolidate my critical thinking and provide me a professionally-focused attitude. In HANSEN I noticed a personal approach…not just a standard student program “gathering” to talk…but more to share and relate on each other’s experiences, apply the knowledge in our daily life… that opens us opportunities of the 3 C’s – collaboration, cooperation and coordination.

When reflecting back how it all started…I get the picture when I first left the Chisinau airport (I need to add here my trademark question…“do you know where Moldova is?”), I had a killing stomachache that came from all those emotions and excitement that I was embarking on. The flight from Europe to US…was pleasantly tiring…I am feeling blessed that I met such special people out there, people with peripheral views, ambitions, intelligence and commitment in fulfilling their goals - starting from the organizers and ending with the participants. When stepping on the escalator of the SD airport…and seeing our names waiting for us…I felt that I am special and awaited! I first asked myself…is it really happening to me…just like that question, Bonnie, that I asked you at the Dean’s reception of the SDSU…are we SPECIAL?  And yes since that day…I realize that we all are…everything that is happening in my life comes from the positive energy and firm goals that I would like to pursue in order to make this life worth living! The Hansen program helped me to enhanced my knowledge in world peace and boosted my self-confidence in bringing an impact on my surrounding environment through things that I can do as I community leader and simple human being. This program taught us how to talk about our own perspectives when understating peace and promoting cooperation in a whole new format, where by bringing an informal setting we are committed and ready to be a part of the policy playground of this world. As I have said in my 2008 Hansen application…it is indeed an experience about pursuing a goal of opening young people’s minds for different perspectives in bringing new ideas for a sustainable future, by giving an opportunity to unlock true potential and see the bigger picture. A picture excluding economic crisis, conflicts and misery and includes the simple communication among cultures and people with different beliefs, ideas and visions. It was so easy to talk to people that until the program started, were thousands of miles far from me…and just like that…once...decided to be a part of the Hansen family…and make a difference, show their peers what a huge impact a simple 3 weeks program can bring.  I am aware of the fact what I am writing here…it is not utopian thoughts that I would fill out the content of this blog…I really see a potential in all those that got a chance to live the Hansenian dream…and I really appreciate the effort, interests, support and care of all those people that made it possible!  To the attention of the 2009 Hansenians: like Haseeb said “try to have as much interaction as you can with the other fellows during these three weeks”! Talk with each, share your knowledge, talk about perspectives, give advices…it will not just be about visiting the most hot spot of the Californian coast…concentrate on dialogue and ask what you don’t understand, participate in discussion, emerge, make friends, have a quality presentation (it is quite important!), keep in touch after the program ends, spread info about Hansen and write an update on yourself…what I am actually doing right now! Embrace diversity and foster a win-win situation! Don’t be shy to get in touch with either my generation or previous generations of Hansen alumni to share ideas or exchange experiences! Use collectivex (the social networking software) and not only! Maybe we even get different generations together one day! 

Thank you guys for getting to read my fresh-typed-in thoughts till this point! I will try to be much more active and bring some news-feed more often – now I have a lot of witnesses for my promise! J

Many warm thoughts and hugs from a girl that started with a simple dream and pursues her goals – just like Hansen reiterated us! I am happy to be a part of the network of informed, inspired, committed and independent leaders!

Keep in touch!

Tatiana (your Moldovan Hansenian ;-)