“As for women, they always suffer the most.”

These were the words of Shumaila Jabeen of Pakistan's Network of Women's Rights, confirming what is already expected in any war.

Since the United States (US) released a statement early in May accusing the Pakistani government of “abdicating” the militants, the offensive against the Taliban militants have intensified, leaving over 2.5 million displaced from their homes. Of the recently displaced, about 200,000 are living in 16 camps set up by the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) government and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), most of whom are women and children.

The impact of the conflict in women is tremendous. For example, in an interview by the Aryana Institute for Regional Research and Advocacy (AIRRA), the women narrated the obstacles they had to go through while fleeing the conflict-struck areas. Some talked about walking for days and days as they sought safety. Some of those who come from Mingora talked about traversing the rocky terrain of the mountains to elude the 24-hour curfew imposed by the government for 10 days.

The bad state of medical facilities and the scarcity of medics in the camps also threaten the lives of thousands of pregnant women in camps. In June alone, 4,735 are due to give birth, but there is yet no certainty if they will get the medical attention that they need, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Some women who are in need of medical help refuse to let male doctors touch them.

In a country where they are used to segregation from males other than family members, the women are having a hard time adjusting to their lives as internally displaced people (IDPs). In some camps, they have to stay inside their tents and endure the oven-like temperature so as not to be seen by other men. But in places where a private tent cannot be availed, they endure the humiliation of being seen.

Access to even the most basic necessities are also very limited. There is a shortage of tents as the displaced population continues to rise, leaving some in the streets under the blaring heat of the sun. Food is also scarce while accessing clean water is a challenge. The people are being forced to use alternative sources of water, which have caused diarrhea and other water-borne diseases.

It is uncertain when such agony would end as the government has not provided complete information regarding the conflict, including its toll on civilians. Jabeen, for one, suspected that the media and the governement are war-mongering. “With no or little independent media access to the affected areas, all they get is the the government's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) version of events, which has never been known for credibility,” added Jabeen. The casualties reporter only pertain to the military and the rebels.

Moreover, even pieces of government-released information contradict each other. For instance, on May 31, Pakistani Defence Minister Syed Athar Ali claimed in a meeting of Asian nations in Singapore that only "5% to 10% of the job" of clearing the Taliban from the Swat valley remained. However, Maj Gen Athar Abbas said in an interview with the BBC that the operations will “take a little more time,” and that it is not possible to predict when the military operation would be completed.

Sources:

Interview with Shumaila Jabeen, Network of Women's Rights (4 June 2009) by Nina Somera
IRIN. (18 May 2009). “PAKISTAN: Female IDPs struggle in unfamiliar settings ”. 
Hasan, Syed Shoaib. ( 2 June 2009 ). “Long war against Pakistan taliban ”. BBC News, Islamabad. 
IRIN. ( 24 May 2009). “PAKISTAN: Pregnant displaced women lack facilities, skilled medics”. 
Aryana Institute for Regional Research and Advocacy. (2009). “The women who walked – and walked.” (copy text).