FACTBOX - The crisis over Pakistanis displaced by fighting

Fri Jul 10, 2009 10:26am BST
 
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(Reuters) - The United Nations stands ready to help with the return of people displaced by fighting between Pakistani security forces and militants, despite concerns over whether the conditions are right, a top U.N. official said on Friday.

Following are some facts about the displaced.

- About 2 million people have fled from their homes because of the fighting, most since late April from the Swat valley and neighbouring districts.

- The U.N. refugee agency says it is grappling with one of the largest, fastest and most complex operations it has faced in years.

- Most of the displaced are living with family or friends in "host communities," but about 280,000 are in more than 20 tented camps on the lowland below Swat.

- The government, the army, the United Nations and other aid agencies are helping people in the camps, those staying with host communities, and the hosts, most of whom are also poor.

- The United Nations has received close to $230 million (141 million pounds) in response to a $543 million aid appeal it launched in May in a bid to avert a long-term humanitarian crisis.

- Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday that government would start bringing the displaced back home to the Swat valley from July 13.

- About, 55,000 families, or about 380,000 people, have gone back, most to Buner district, just to the southeast of Swat. Some have also gone back to Swat.  Continued...

 

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