I established the Siran Sialkot camp 35 kilometres from Mansehra in June 2006, catering for the needs of 804 people who were displaced internally as a result of the October 2005 earthquake.  These included 225 school-going children.  UNICEF supported the education of the children, tents and blankets were provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Norwegian Refugee Council.  

Everything proceeded relatively smoothly until I was tasked to make arrangements to close the camp by 30 March 2007.  I started mobilizing the internally displaced persons (IDPs), working to convince them of the necessity to become independent and return to their place of origin once again in faith and dignity.  After weeks of hard work, we were ready to leave the camp and had already formed a convoy.  

Suddenly, a high-ranking district official stopped the convoy, encouraging the IDPs to stay and promising them land in the area.  With elections coming up at the end of the year, it was obvious that his promises were part of his electoral campaign.  I had to start at square one and once again convince the IDPs of the need to return to now better places.  In the process, I received anonymous threats trying to discourage me from continuing with the repatriation.  We proceeded nonetheless and succeeded in the end.  Now, I am now receiving calls of thanks and appreciation from former IDPs who are convinced they took the right decision.  We closed Siran camp on 5 June 2007.

One of the major challenges I faced in the camp was a 17-year old girl suffering from severe aplastic anaemia, Shakila Bibi.  She was close to death when diagnosed and required two packs of blood per week, and eventually a bone marrow transplant.  Since this treatment was very costly, I focused on getting her blood donations, and have gotten her 54 packs so far.  I also rallied for support to her case, addressing government, local and international organizations.  A few days ago we finally had a breakthrough:  the Government decided that Shakila will be admitted to Rawalpindi hospital this week to start treatment.  I am now collecting money to cover the costs and have already arranged a matching bone marrow donor.

Muhammad Fayaz is a UNV volunteer Camp Manager.  Since closing his camp, he has been assisting other UNV camp Managers in developing the exit strategy necessary to close their camp.  Before becoming a UNV volunteer, Muhammad worked with UNHCR in Pakistan on protection issues, repatriation and community development.