Jalozai refugee camp prepares for closure

The Jalozai refugee camp, a makeshift transit point for masses of Afghans fleeing their war-torn country, looks set to close in mid-February as the last group of refugees prepares to be transferred. Often referred to as a death camp by former residents, Jalozai proved a major source of contention between the UN and Islamabad as aid agencies struggled to provide relief to thousands living under deplorable conditions. "There are approximately 8,000 people left in the camp, but with bus convoys leaving each day, the site will soon be empty," UNHCR spokesperson, Melita Sunjic told IRIN in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad on Monday. Former residents were now living under humane conditions with regular food supplies, shelter and the necessary food items in one of six new camps built in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) since 11 September, including Kotkai, Bajaur, Shalman, Old Bagzai, Basu and Ashgaru, she explained. While no definite date had been given, agency officials were looking to close the site in mid-February, she added. Located 35 km southwest of NWFP's provincial capital Peshawar, at its height, the Jalozai transit camp housed some 70,000 people, 50,000 of whom have been transferred. Additionally, 10,000 of these were recognised and registered as genuine refugees by UNHCR and transferred to the new Shamshatoo refugee camp outside the city before 11 September, Sunjic said. Over the past few years, Islamabad viewed Jalozai residents as economic migrants rather than refugees, a designation that doomed them to appalling conditions. "Since the government regarded them as illegal refugees, agencies were restricted to providing assistance there and conditions worsened," she maintained. After mid-September and fears of an expected additional influx of refugees flooding the country, UNHCR secured permission to move them to the six new camps constructed in the NWFP. "Negotiations with the government improved after this date," Sunjic added. Asked how conditions were in the new camp, Sunjic maintained that even many of the "invisible refugees" living in urban areas had already approached agency officials about moving there themselves. "People are very keen to get their children into schools and there are education facilities at these camps," she said. But it was conditions at Jalozai that brought it the most notoriety over the past two years. Described by some as a 'living hell', thousands of newly displaced Afghans sat cold and hungry under inadequate plastic sheeting, desperately awaiting assistance. Many succumbed and died of hunger and exposure, including scores of children. Health and sanitation conditions were dismal. Aid workers on the ground were overwhelmed with the misery and suffering and had repeatedly called upon the Pakistani government to allow UNHCR to register them and to provide full access to the area. Just last year, UNHCR representative to Pakistan, Hasim Utkan told IRIN following a visit to Jalozai: "There are no words to describe what you see there. It was one of the biggest shocks of my entire career." Commenting on the closure plans, spokesperson for the NGO Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF), Tim Pitt remained more cautious. "The government and UNHCR are aware that MSF intends to remain on the ground there until the very last refugee sleeping in a tent is gone," he told IRIN in Islamabad. He added over time they had voiced their concern to both parties and were confident those concerns had been heard.