(MENAFN- Pajhwok Afghan News) MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Families who fled violence in Pashtunkot district and now living in the capital of northwestern Faryab province say the government should ensure security in their areas in order they could return.
The families have recently arrived in areas on the outskirts of Maimana from Moqani area of Pashtunkot district due to the conflict and around a hundred of them are living in an under construction building in Guzar Tagah area of the city.
The internally displaced persons say they fled homes after a 12-year-old boy was killed, five people were wounded and 50 homes damaged in airstrikes on militants who captured Moqani area three days ago.
One of the displaced men, Mohammad, said that hundreds of Taliban militants stormed Moqani area and captured it. Afghan forces ---unable to resist --- called for airstrikes that forced many people to flee homes, he added.
'We came to Maimana three days ago, we and four other families are staying in a house of our relatives, we have no shelter, warm clothes or food items and no government official has so far inquired about our situation,' Mohammad said.
Gul Bibi, one of the war affected , said the conflict forced them to leave their home, belongings and travel impassable mountains and reside in Maimana city. She was concerned about her relatives stuck in the conflict.
Sayed Abdullah Khatami, an influential figure from Moqani area, said 300 of the total 600 families living in Moqani area had been displaced to Maimana by the conflict and inside Pashtunkot district. He said the uprooted families faced acute shortage of food and warm clothes.
He said the local government had failed to ensure people's security and accused security forces of hitting people's homes in airstrikes and artillery fire after the Taliban took control the area.
'Is this logical to fire cannons from Maimana and hit a target 22 kilometers away. Only civilian houses are hit in the name of targeting Taliban'.
An official of the 209th Shaheen Military Corps in Faryab, who wished to go unnamed, confirmed firing cannons into Moqani area but he said there was no information about civilian casualties. He said two Taliban fighters were killed and three others wounded in a latest cannon firing.
Mohammad Rahim, provincial refugee and repatriation director, confirmed a number of families had arrived in Maimana due to violence in their home areas and the families were being surveyed to know their exact number before aiding them.
'We have enough resources and materials that will be distributed to the displaced families soon after the survey is completed,' he said.
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