Pakistan is going through its worst crisis since the separation of refugees from India in 1947, and although the world seems familiar with the camps that spread as rugs since the start of operation against Taleban in April, the vast majority of almost 3 million people who fled live hidden in homes and schools, according to humanitarian aid agencies.

They are the “invisible refugees”, and they inflated the numbers of people in capital cities in the northeast of the country, Islamabad, multiplying social problems such as poor roads, schools, sewer systems, water supply, and also on the families host.

Most fled suddenly, without money or belongings, and many have limited access to millions of dollars of international aid that has been sent to the country.

But as regards the crisis of refugees, the response of federal and provincial government have been negligent, or simply non-existent. Refugees said in interviews made last week that they see no evidence of assistance from the government.

The main efforts to alleviate the situation come to the aid organizations and the UN, which registered the refugees in camps, mostly away from urban centers. Many of the refugees did not know how to register, even if they could do it.

All this puts a burden on host families, which, according to a survey by Save the Children, received more than two families each. (An average family has about ten people.)

It is a huge act of charity. The survey found that only one third of the refugees were living with relatives. The rest is up with friends and with strangers.

“We were forgotten,” says one refugee.

Via: NYT.