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Refugees flood camps in Pakistan

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-13-2009 10:54

Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis have fled fighting between the military and Taliban militants in the northwestern Swat Valley.

An internally displaced boy, escaping a military offensive in the Swat valley, stands outside his family tent at a UNHCR camp (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) in Mardan district, about 120 km (75 miles) northwest of Pakistan's capital Islamabad, May 12, 2009. REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood
An internally displaced boy, escaping a military 
offensive in the Swat valley, stands outside his family 
tent at a UNHCR camp (United Nations High Commission for
Refugees) in Mardan district, about 120 km (75 miles) 
northwest of Pakistan's capital Islamabad, May 12, 2009.
REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood

At the Jalalai camp for internally displaced people near Mardan, people waited in line to register for tents and access to medical help, food and water. The UN says at least 360-thousand Pakistanis displaced by recent fighting have registered in camps and other centers since early May.

A doctor says health workers were treating up to 800 patients each day, a quarter of whom are children. The UN announced on Monday it will airlift 120 tons of relief supplies to help refugees in the region.

The ongoing military operation is focused on the major Taliban stronghold in Swat Valley and surrounding districts. The government claims it has killed up to 700 Taliban in four days of fighting.

 

Editor:Zhang Yun