Reuters AlertNet Full site
Homepage | Newsdesk | NGO Latest | Crisis briefings | Country profiles | MediaWatch | Jobs | Alerting | Login

FROM THE FIELD

World Vision plans to support displaced in Pakistan
08 May 2009 10:54:47 GMT
Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe/ Central Asia office
wvmeero logo
Evacuees from Buner are seen on the outskirts of Peshawar April 29, 2009. Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Ali 
Imam.
Previous | Next
Evacuees from Buner are seen on the outskirts of Peshawar April 29, 2009. Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Ali Imam.
World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org
Intense fighting between militant groups and the Pakistani Forces in and around the Swat valley has driven more families from their homes, adding to the 550,000 people already displaced over three years of violence.

World Vision is responding to a call by Pakistani authorities to join a relief effort to assist an estimated 200,000 new Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)...

Aid organisations indicate that these numbers could easily rise, if hostilities are not contained.

World Vision plans to build on its own relief expertise and capacity or to work through partners, focusing the aid on people displaced from Buner and Swat who are seeking refuge in Mardan, Swabi and Charsada located some 130km from the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. A World Vision team is visiting the area to assess the needs and plan the relief response.

The organisation is particularly concerned for the health and protection of displaced children and women who make up half of the population in the Swat valley area.

'With the loss of many innocent lives and tens of thousands of children and parents on the run, we need to act as a matter of urgency, securing strong local partners and funding to quickly provide relief', said Graham Strong, Country Director for World Vision in Pakistan.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) reportedly gained control over the Swat valley's largest town Mingora just a day after the group announced formally its withdrawal from the controversial Swat Valley peace deal in response to ongoing military offensives in and around the valley.

Pakistani authorities and aid organisations including World Vision are meeting regularly to plan and coordinate the further relief response. Providing shelter, health care, clean water and sanitation, food and education are the top priorities. It is estimated that 30% of the IDPs will remain in camps, while the majority will find refuge with family and friends.

-Ends-


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]


Email this article       Send comments

Topics

•  Children

•  Refugees & displacement

MORE >>

Emergencies

•  Pakistan violence

MORE >>

Members

•  World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe/ Central Asia office

MORE >>

NGO latest

•  World Vision plans to support displaced in Pakistan
World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe/ Central Asia

•  Central African Republic: ICRC brings aid to 1,700 newly displaced people
ICRC - Switzerland

•  MSF forced to reduce its emergency activities in north-western Pakistan
MSF International

•  Children celebrate community involvement
Red Cross - UK

•  Pakistan: ICRC priming itself to address escalating humanitarian crisis
ICRC - Switzerland

MORE >>

Latest news

•  Pakistani forces bomb Taliban in Swat

•  In Brief: Insecurity hurting education in Southern Sudan

•  ERITREA: Climate-proofing for the future

•  Pakistani forces bomb Taliban in Swat

•  Situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo

MORE >>

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

Del.icio.us Del.icio.us  |   Digg Digg  |   NewsVine NewsVine  |   Reddit Reddit   
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-05-08T102755Z_01_TAK104_RTRIDSP_2_PAKISTAN_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/TAK104.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-05-08T102559Z_01_TAK102_RTRIDSP_2_PAKISTAN_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/TAK102.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-05-08T102116Z_01_TAK101_RTRIDSP_2_PAKISTAN_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/TAK101.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-05-08T005021Z_01_ISL18R_RTRIDSP_2_PAKISTAN-VIOLENCE_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/ISL18r.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-05-07T221828Z_01_SWA111_RTRIDSP_2_PAKISTAN_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/SWA111.htm

Internally displaced women, fleeing military operations in Buner, wait to get registered at a UNHCR camp (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) in Takht Bai, about 150 km (85 miles) northwest ...



Disclaimers |  Copyright |  Privacy |  Contact Us |  Feedback |  About Us |  RSS XML

Last updated:Fri May 8 11:59:44 2009