94,000 in NW Pakistan dislocated as troops advance on Taliban

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-19 16:40

ISLAMABAD: At least 12,700 families in northwest Pakistan's South Waziristan have been dislocated so far because of the ground assault against Taliban militants, local official said Monday.

"Up till now 12,700 affected families of 94,000 persons from South Waziristan have been registered in five registration centers set up in DI Khan and Tanks districts for them," Provincial Relief Commissioner Shakeel Qadar Khan told reporters in Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province.

He said that a large number of people from South Waziristan tribal agency are moving towards Tank and DI Khan to stay with their relatives or in safe places and 18,000 smart cards have been issued to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of South Waziristan so far and they can withdraw 5,000 rupees (about $62) per month.

Officials said the city administration has tightened security in DI Khan and Tank and extra measures have been taken to ensure peace and harmony there.

The hospitals in DI Khan and Tank have also been directed by high authorities to be ready for any urgent situation. The wards in the hospitals are specially spared with extra supplies of medicines to tackle an emergency situation in wake of operation in South Waziristan.

Colonel Waseem Shahid from an army support group said around 100,000 people have been displaced. He said some 80,000 people had already left Waziristan before the operation and more people are coming out.

In the last two days about 1,500 families of some 22,000 people have left the area, he added.

A spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency in Pakistan confirmed that authorities had registered more than 100,000 displaced people.

Officials say the number of IDPs could rise to 200,000 with more families expected to leave in coming days, despite an indefinite curfew slapped on parts of South Waziristan, home to a population of 600,000.