Residents of Kohistanat district of Sar-e-Pul province, who fled their homes a year and a half ago, have appealed to government for help. 

Four displaced families are living in one house which has only four rooms, and according to them, they are in dire need of help. 

“Losing a district (to the Taliban) and not helping vulnerable people is a shame for government,” said Azizullah, one of the affected residents. 

“We are thirsty and hungry and do not have anything to wear or to warm our room,” said Rajab Khal. 

“Our houses were taken by Taliban in Kohistanat district and we were forced to come to Sar-e-Pul,” said Juma Khal, another resident.

The families said neither government nor humanitarian organizations have helped them and that they have to work as laborers to feed their families and to pay the rent. 

“We lost whatever we had. We were forced by Taliban to leave our houses and we could not bring anything with us. Now we work to feed our families and also to pay the rent of the house which is 5,000 AFs per month,” said Hadis Khal. 

Meanwhile Sar-e-Pul provincial council members criticized security forces and said they have lied to the displaced people about retaking the district from Taliban.

“The provincial council members call on government to help these people,” said Salahuddin Chrik, a member of the provincial council.

According  to statistics provided by the local officials, nearly 500 families have fled from Kohistanat district to Sar-e-Pul city.

Kohistanat fell to the Taliban a year and a half ago but it is still not clear when security forces will launch operations to retake the district from insurgents and when the district will be cleared of Taliban.