Afghanistan 2003
02/14/2003

I came home to my village [outside Jalabad] three months ago from a refugee camp in Peshawar. I lived there since leaving Afghanistan in 1993. I did not receive any help to come to return to Afghanistan – UNHCR told they would not help me because I had had received assistance to return already. So I came with some people I met on the road. I came to this village because I was born here; I was married here, so I came back here. I take care of my dead son’s three children, all under the age of 7, and I live with my youngest daughter, my widowed daughter-in-law and my husband in a stable with three cows. My husband is very ill and I have no way of earning a living for the family. My daughter-in-law knows how to do some tailoring work but the sewing machine we have is broken and there is no money to fix it. Sometimes the village donates vegetables for our family to eat. I am very concerned for my grandchildren, I want them to attend school but there is no school here. I am happy to be back in my country but it is very difficult for us. I look to Allah for help.