An Afghani refugee in Naracoorte, Mohammad Dawood, is in constant fear and worry about his family in war-torn Pakistan.
He fears for the safety of his wife, two children and mother who “can’t go out of their home” because of risks including injury or death from bombings, shootings and kidnapping.
Mohammad’s wife Shaista, sons Sahil, 8, and Mehdi, 4, and mother Bakhtawar are constantly afraid for their lives.
“They are not safe,” he said. “Every day there are problems.”
Originally from the Gheznia province of Afghanistan, Mohammad travelled to Indonesia where he received an Australian visa.
He moved to Australia in December, 2010, and has been trying to move his family here ever since.
Mohammad applied for an immigration visa nine months ago and was told it could be a 3-4 year wait before his family could enter Australia.
They live in constant fear as street bombings are common and unpredictable.
Fighting is also a regular sight when they dare to venture from their home.
Transport is not an option for fear they will bombed or stopped and arrested.
Mohammad said the problems were everywhere in Pakistan.
“There is real tragedy,” he said. “I’m lucky to leave, but right now I worry about my family.”
He talks to his family most days and tries to keep his mind off their plight while working part-time, travelling interstate for Australian Army Training, educating Australians about Afghanistan.
Thousands of kilometres away, Mohammad worries about his family’s lack of support.
His mother is elderly and Shaista is being forced to look after the kids as a single mother.
“There is no one to look after them and transport them if there is trouble,” Mohammad said.
Sahil and Mehdi don’t go to school; instead, they stay at home with Shaista each day because it is unsafe to go out.
Mohammad said Sahil was missing out on an education: “He should be in class two but he couldn’t go to school.
“We are afraid of killing and kidnappings.”
Mohammad personally witnessed terrible acts of violence in Afghanistan.
Mohammad was with a group of people who the Taliban seized in the dark.
They arrested some of the group and beheaded them, but a desperate Mohammad narrowly escaped the incident with a small foot injury after a Taliban fighter threw a hand bomb in his direction.
“It was night and I was alone...had no family or children with me, so I could escape,” Mohammad recalled.
But less fortunate were the young and old Afghanis who could not escape and were arrested.
He said Pakistan was at war because of the religious divide between the Shia and Sunni Muslims.
The Taliban follow the Sunni faith and believe Shia followers are not Muslim.
“They try to kill,” he said. “They think if they kill them, they will go to heaven.”
Naracoorte and surrounding district is home to a growing Afghani population, as well as migrants from many other countries, many of whom arrive to work in vineyards or at the Teys Bros meatworks.
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