Pakistanis Continue to Flee Violence in Northwest
New York, Oct 26 2009 3:10PM
Nearly 14,000 people fleeing the latest round of clashes between Government forces and militants in the north-western Pakistani region of South Waziristan, have been registered, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ">(<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">) reported today.
Joining another 80,500 people who have
fled the area since June, they are being hosted by their
extended families or are sheltering in rented
accommodations, with no camps having been established as of
yet.
As part of its contingency planning for the
latest influx of uprooted people from South Waziristan, the
UN has relief supplies pre-positioned and local partnerships
in place. It has already been helping the first wave of
internally displaced persons (IDPs), and is ready to enhance
its assistance as numbers rise.
The world body and its
partners have distributed more than 1,000 tons of food so
far, with household items having reached some 30,000 people
and hygiene kits having been delivered to 35,000
people.
Expressing its concern over the situation in
South Waziristan, OCHA called on all parties to the conflict
to ensure the safety of unarmed civilians, especially women
and children, as well as safe passage for those escaping the
violence.
There are now more than 180,000 registered
displaced people – comprising 25,000 families – in the
neighbouring Dera Ismail Khan and Tank districts of the
North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
Over the weekend,
aid agencies urged the warring parties to observe
international humanitarian law ensuring safety for
civilians, with 139,000 people having fled South Waziristan
for NWFP.
“Those leaving South Waziristan have
travelled over a forbidding terrain, with limited supplies
and in conditions of fear and hardship,” said UN
Humanitarian Coordinator for Pakistan Martin
Mogwanja.
For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news
ENDS