Int’l NGOs ‘fail’ Kashmiris in crisis

Srinagar, Oct 8:  Prominent non-government organisations (NGOs) seem to have gone into sleep mode even as Kashmir lockdown has entered into its third month.

Kashmir is shut since August 5 when Centre abrogated Article 370 and divided the state into two union territories.

However, two international NGOs including ‘Save The Children’ and ‘Medicines Sans Frontiers’ are missing on the ground.

Sharif Ahmad Bhat, who is heading ‘Save The Children’ in Kashmir, said they “could not work” due to communication blackout in the valley.

“We have a role to provide relief to affected children. But we could not work properly because of financial constraints. Our office also remained closed for over two months,” Bhat told The Kashmir Monitor over phone.

Bhat, however, noted that they are “exploring options” to help children who have been detained since August 5.

“We are exploring options to provide relief to the children. We are discussing all these things,” he said.

‘Save The Children’ Kashmir chief also pitched for opening of schools in the valley. “We want immediate reopening of schools. Students’ education should not suffer,” he said.

Similarly, ‘Medicines Sans Frontiers’ (MSF), which is mandated to provide emergency medical aid to the needy, too is not visible on the ground.

The MSF has been claiming that it is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people in over 65 countries affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare.

However, the NGO has failed to provide any mental healthcare to the affected people in Kashmir.

Officials of MSF did not respond to repeated calls.

A doctor at SMHS Hospital said that NGOs could play a big role in providing relief to the affected in Kashmir.

“Unlike other parts of the world, these NGOs including MSF are not providing any trauma care in Kashmir in the crisis situation. People in Kashmir are suffering from mental health problems, but the reputed NGOs have failed Kashmiris,” he said.