Millions of IDPs and returnees face continuing crisis

According to a report, a large number of families in Pakistani tribal areas have been displaced from their native lands to settled areas of Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, and Bannu while some have migrated to far-flung Karachi (2009). During the process of this enforced displacement, stirred by the security operations in Waziristan, four infants and two pregnant women have lost their lives. Records of the Relief Camps suggest that the number of displaced people form South Waziristan has exceeded 60,000. In 2009, some people affected by fighting between government troops and militants have moved further from the conflict zone. Around 30-35 families of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from South Waziristan had arrived in Majeed Colony in the port city of Karachi. Owing to safety reasons, some 550 families fled to Bannu area through Miran Shah area in North Waziristan, others fled to Laccki Marwat, Karachi, NWFP, Punjab and other parts of the country.  In 2008, people in Tiarza tehsil, Berwand, Sararogha, and Kaniguram had left their homes for safer places because of persistent shelling. A large number of people have migrated to Karachi and Hyderabad.”

Date: December 2, 2009

Source: refworld.org