ETTIFAQ VILLAGE, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, 1 February 2018 — There are more than a thousand families in Ettifaq village in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar Province, near the border with Pakistan. Many are returnees from Pakistan or internally displaced persons impacted by violence and conflict in neighbouring provinces.
A recent influx of new families following armed conflict in the nearby Khogyani district has not been easy for Ettifaq, which has already been feeling the burden of refugee families for two years. Though physically safe from the conflict, Ettifaq has struggles of its own. Schools and health facilities are far away and poorly equipped; access to clean water is limited. Children struggle to find a place to play and gather.