“Everyone was crying,” says IOM
Bagh Field Coordinator Tahlil Wardere who escorted
two-and-a-half-year-old Mohammad to the village of Maldarah in
Pakistan-administered Kashmir and to his father. “It was very
emotional. That’s all I can say.”

There hasn’t been much good news for the
Attique family in the past five months. The earthquake devastated
Shehzad Attique’s family, killing his wife, 13-year-old
daughter and seven other close relatives.

Shehzad, who will have to use a cane to walk
for the rest of his life, sadly never saw his son being taken away
to Prague. He was also unable to see his newly healed son run into
his arms upon his return. The earthquake had blinded
Shehzad. 

Nevertheless, the reunion of father and son on
a bright morning was filled with tears, laughter and hugs –
and many thanks to the Czech government and IOM.

Several weeks ago, the Czech government, which
had airlifted Mohammad and eight other children to Prague for
medical treatment immediately after the earthquake last October,
approached the IOM office in Prague to help take Mohammad back to
Pakistan. IOM paid for his ticket and on 24 February, Mohammad
arrived at Maldarah, 16 kilometres west of Bagh with Tahlil to be
reunited at long last with his father.

Although the family is together again, more
difficulties await them in the future. Shehzad’s house was
destroyed, and the land he farmed is likely to slide into a ravine
with the next large tremor. Reconstruction will be hard for a
widowed blind man with children.

“When we left, we told Shehzad that if
he needed anything – corrugated iron sheets,
transportation, reconstruction help – he was to contact
IOM,” says Tahlil, who was touched by the tearful reunion.
“Everyone needs help in this region, but we’ll do
whatever we can for this family. They have tough times ahead and
hopefully we can help.”