Over 300,000 Pakistanis displaced in conflict, says UN
May 12th, 2009 - 10:05 am ICT by IANS
Geneva, May 12 (IANS) The UN refugee agency has appealed to the international community to provide humanitarian aid for some 360,000 people displaced in the conflict in northwest Pakistan.
UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) Antonio Guterres Monday called for global solidarity in support of the displaced civilians.
The Pakistani Army launched a massive operation against the Taliban in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), killing hundreds of militants who vowed to attack the government after a failed peace deal to implement the Sharia (Islamic law) in the region.
“The number of displaced people registered with UNHCR for help since May 2 has now reached more than 360,000. Not everyone is registered and people continue to flee, many arriving only with what they can carry on their backs,” Guterres said.
“These are the same people who for decades showed great generosity to millions of Afghan refugees. Now it is time for the international community to show them the same generosity by supporting humanitarian programmes for the displaced Pakistanis,” he added.
The UN agency has assisted the government in setting up three new camps for the displaced people in Mardan and Swabi districts. It is also assessing the suitability of land identified by the government for setting up additional camps in the region, Geo TV reported.
The UNHCR is also working with the local authorities to increase the number of registration centres for aid distribution in Mardan, Swabi and Charsadda districts. About 20 centres are currently operating in the region.
The agency is distributing basic relief items such as tents, kitchen items, sleeping mats and blankets, among others for the displaced people through the non-governmental organisations and concerned government departments.
Guterres said more help is required. “This is a huge and rapidly unfolding emergency, which is going to require considerable resources beyond those that currently exist in the region.”
Meanwhile, the agency has announced to airlift about 120 tonnes of humanitarian supplies Tuesday from its stockpiles in Dubai for the affected population in Pakistan.
- 100,000 people displaced in Pakistan this year - Mar 31, 2012
- Over 100,000 flee fighting in northwestern Pakistan: UNHCR - Mar 31, 2012
- UN deplores killing of Somali refugee leader at Kenya camp - Jan 01, 2012
- Pakistan's displaced cross 500,000 mark, Rs.1 bn released for relief (Lead, Changing dateline) - May 12, 2009
- 80,000 people flee Mali as clashes continue - Mar 02, 2012
- US to give $12 mn in aid for Syrians - Mar 16, 2012
- Italy to send emergency aid to Horn of Africa - Aug 19, 2011
- Refugees crowd Pakistani camps as army battles Taliban - May 12, 2009
- Angelina Jolie visits Tunisia-Libya border - Apr 06, 2011
- Sri Lankan refugees return from India - Oct 12, 2011
- 250,000 civilians uprooted in Yemen since 2004 - Jan 30, 2010
- Mali situation under close watch: UNHCR - Mar 23, 2012
- Insurgents attack animal clinic near UN offices in southern Afghanistan - Oct 31, 2011
- Pakistani villagers rejoice at Taliban retreat - May 16, 2009
- 834,000 civilians displaced in Pakistan due to Swat operation : UN - May 15, 2009
Tags: afghan refugees, antonio guterres, charsadda, frontier province, geo tv, global solidarity, local authorities, mardan, massive operation, non governmental organisations, north west frontier, pakistani army, pakistanis, peace deal, refugee agency, registration centres, sharia islamic law, swabi, un agency, un high commissioner for refugees