Growing displacement crisis in Pakistan’s North Waziristan region

The number of people displaced by the current offensive conducted by Pakistan’s military against Taliban militants in North Waziristan Agency continues to rise.

According to the latest government registration figures, more than 435,429 people (114,496 men, 137,301 women and 183,532 children) have left from military operation zones in North Waziristan Agency.

This new influx of displaced people is now being registered in Saidgai, as well as Kurrum and Alizai in Kurram Agency to the north-east of North Waziristan Agency.

Most of the families have sought refuge in different parts of Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan and Tank in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. There are also reports of families now arriving in in Punjab and Balochistan. Almost all IDPs are being absorbed into host communities.

The government of Pakistan and our UN and humanitarian community partners are currently planning for the displacement of half a million people which could bring the total number of displaced people up to 1.5 million, including the 930,000 people already displaced as a result of ongoing law enforcement operations in the tribal regions of the country.

Under the leadership of the humanitarian coordinator, the UN met with the government of Pakistan yesterday where we extended our support to the government. The meeting took place with the Ministry for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) – the coordinating ministry for relief efforts – which has now made a formal request to the UN for assistance.

UNHCR has offered support in the areas of protection and registration, as well as non-food item relief assistance.

A key challenge the humanitarian community is facing is access to the areas where the displaced are arriving. The UN and partners have calls for full and unimpeded access to the affected populations to allow the delivery of a humanitarian aid.