News
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Over 181,000 have fled NW Pakistan fighting: UN
GENEVA: More than 181,000 people have fled fighting between government troops and Taliban or al Qaeda-linked militants in the Tribal Areas, the UN refugee agency said on Friday. “The number of people displaced by an ongoing government security operation in northwest Pakistan has now surpassed 181,000,” said a statement from the office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The agency said that about 10,000 new arrivals were being registered daily at the Jalozai camp near Peshawar. “The vast majority of those registered - 85 percent - choose not to live in the Jalozai camp, opting instead to stay with friends, relatives or in rented accommodation,” said the UNHCR. The body said it had distributed more than 37,000 humanitarian kits and other UN agencies, including UNICEF and the World Health Organisation, were also providing aid. The fighting started on January 20 when the government troops attacked terrorist groups in the Khyber region. Western countries allege that seven tribal districts near the Afghan border are rife with insurgents and are strongholds of Taliban and al Qaeda operatives. Terrorists have killed thousands of people across the country since the government troops raided a mosque in Islamabad. afp
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk