Kashmir caught in humanitarian crisis; cities and towns are worst hit

Srinagar: Prolonged and uninterrupted official curfews and clampdowns and protest shutdowns called by separatists have caused a humanitarian crisis in Kashmir Valley. The situation particularly in urban areas like the towns of Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama and Kulgam is grim, if not alarming.

But the situation is getting worse by each passing day, as there seems to be no end to the unrest triggered by the killing of Burhan Muzaffar Wani, a top commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahedin, which took place more than three weeks ago. The PDP-BJP government is grappling in the dark with Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, making conflicting and dubious statements on the crisis.

On the other hand, the separatist leadership is virtually losing control over defiant youth.

An obscure outfit calling itself ‘Sangbaaz Association Jammu and Kashmir, Azad Kashmir’ has named a few business establishments including a departmental store and a bank, warning them to desist from violating the shutdown calls or face consequences. It has also asked girls not to move out on their scooties or two-wheelers or they would be burnt along with their vehicles. Similar threatening posters and leaflets have surfaced in the name of various militant and separatist outfits in south Kashmir.

But these outfits were quick to disown them, claiming that various intelligence agencies and other vested interest are out to “create confusion’ and “defame the ongoing freedom struggle.”

Nevertheless, an entire population has effectively become a hostage to the conflict yet most take it into their stride and openly talk about being adherent of the ‘azadi’ cause.

Take for instance the plight of over 1.5 million residents of summer capital Srinagar. Uninterrupted curfew imposed immediately after Wani’s killing on July 8 was lifted partially earlier this week but only to be re-imposed the very next day to hold back ‘azadi’ rallies called by separatists and also because many parts of the town laid on the banks of River Jhelum had again erupted with irate crowds of youth clashing with security forces along its labyrinth streets and alleyways the moment restrictions were lifted.

Ironically, half-day respites from shutdowns on two occasions announced by a recently formed ‘issue-based’ loose alliance of key separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik were also marred, first one by the authorities’ refusal to lift curfew and the second after the hordes of defiant youth quickly came out on the streets at places to warn traders and transporters against resuming work.

How do the residents cope with the situation then? No doubt, most of them have already run out of food-grains and other essential commodities, the Kashmiris traditionally store rice, pulses, edible oils, etc. in sufficient quantities to last for weeks and even months. The practice in driven by long spell of severe winter and, in fact, dried vegetables are added to the list ahead of the three Chillas, the most severe part of the winter consisting of three months beginning on December 21. But this is peak summer which is witnessing a repeat of what the Valley went through in 2008, 2009 and 2010 though on dissimilar issues.

Not much food grains and other edibles are left at majority of homes. There is shortage of LPG gas and other fuel. Filling stations are shut and fewer pharmacies are open in the vicinity of hospitals but these too are running short of supplies.

But as far the vegetables, rice and other food grains and milk, these commodities are transported to Srinagar and other towns from the countryside in the dead of the night when the security forces have already been withdrawn from the streets and are quickly sold to the residents at makeshift kiosks. Also, the old Srinagar is connected trough alleyways and canals with Dal and Nigeen lakes which have plenty of floating vegetable gardens.

Moreover, Bayt al-mals have been set up at mohalla or locality levels to help the people in need. Those which already existed but were out of action have been revived. People who can afford are donating in cash and kind to make these effective.

A Bayt al-mal or ‘House of money’ or ‘House of Wealth’ historically is a financial institution responsible for the administration of taxes in Islamic state and which also served as a  royal treasury for the caliphs and sultans managing personal finances and government expenditures. Their members and other volunteers, mainly youth, and local aid agencies have not only come to the rescue of the attendants of the injured persons admitted to local hospitals but they also travel to the countryside during night hours to buy food grains, vegetables, milk and other eatables from the farmers and then sell these to Srinagar residents on ‘no profit, no loss’ basis.

Announcements are made through the public address system installed at mosques and other places of worship about the arrival of supplies in a locality. Those who have already lost purchasing power are issued these goods free of cost through Bayt al-mals or the well-heeled come forward to buy these for them.

On Saturday, the Imam at local mosque at Naseem Bagh announced, “Do help one another-the needy in particular- before they fall prey to the manoeuvrings of unscrupulous people and the vested interest. These are tough times and we ought to get over them. We've gotten through a lot of tough times before and we're going to keep working to make them better for ourselves and also for our neighbours, friends, relatives and the unfamiliar.”

Yet the daily-wagers, pavement dwellers, labourers and those others existing on ‘hand-to-mouth’ arrangement have suffered enormously due to the unrest. The curfews and shutdowns have deepened economic woes and affected every aspect of life in the Valley. Tourist arrivals have come down to zero, mainly affecting those associated with the industry such as houseboat owners, shikarawallas, taxi operators and hoteliers. But this sector accounts for only 6.98 percent of the State’s GDP, contrary to the general notion that tourism is the backbone of its economy.

Horticulture and agriculture is the mainstay of the rural economy of Kashmir, providing employment to large number of local inhabitants. But horticulture may also suffer if the crisis is not resolved before the start of harvesting season (September-October) when the apple produce is to be transported out of the Valley. As far the average local traders, there has been 100 percent drop in sales. Already, the farming has suffered in certain areas, reports pouring in here said.

The residents who require medical care have found it difficult, and sometimes even impossible, to relocate to hospitals and other health facilities. Ambulances have come under attack from security forces and, in some cases, also by irate youth on way, prompting Dr. Qaisar Ahmed, Principal Government Medical College and head of associated hospitals to issue a warning. He asked the government to “rein in” CRPF personnel allegedly involved in manhandling of medical staff and damaging hospital property and ambulances.

Some police officials have privately admitted that despite caught in serious situation and facing odds, majority of the residents are defiant and curfews and clampdowns have failed to break their fortitude. “Their resilience appears to be unbeatable,” said one of them. \Union minister of Home, Kiren Rijiju, also acknowledged that there are "highly motivated" people in the Valley, who are "out of national mainstream" and are making it difficult for the government to improve the situation. Delivering a lecture on cyber security at a function in Delhi, he said, "In Kashmir, in some of the places, what we have realised is that people are highly motivated and totally out of the national mainstream thought. The situation is very adverse. We face hostile attitude and in those kind of situation it is really difficult to get into the bottom of the things."