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GENEVA / PAKISTAN DISPLACEMENT
STORY: GENEVA / PAKISTAN DISPLACEMENT
TRT: 2.10
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 24 JUNE 2014. GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. External, fly-over shot , Palais des Nations
2. Wide shot, press room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Dan McNorton, Spokesperson for UNHCR:
“UNHCR is noticing now a growing displacement in Pakistans 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, 435,000 people have now left due to the military operations which are ongoing.”
4. Cutaway, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Dan McNorton, Spokesperson for UNHCR:
“The government of Pakistan and our UN and humanitarian partners currently expects up to half-a -million people could be displaced by the current military operations, bringing the total number of displaced people from the tribal regions of Pakistan to 1.5 million.”
6. Cutaway, journalist
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Dan McNorton, Spokesperson for UNHCR:
“We do predict growing displacement unfortunately, we do have a growing concern that will and that will remain particularly in relation to shelter, water, food and some of the sanitation issues that we've already touched upon.”
8. Cutaway, press room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Elizabeth Byrs, spokesperson WFP:
“WFP has begun to distribute food to people displaced by the offensive in North Waziristan. Distributions began last Sunday 22 June to around 300 families which is approximately 3000 people. WFP is scaling up its operation to reach 1,500 families every day until all registered families are provided with food rations.”
10. Cutaway, press room
The United Nations (UN) refugee agency (UNHCR) at the press conference today said that the military offensive by Pakistan's army against Taliban militants in the north of the country has displaced more than 430,000 people and that the number continues to rise.
According to the latest government registration figures, 435,429 people, including some 183,000 children, have fled from combat zones in North Waziristan agency since mid-June. The newly displaced are being registered in Saidgai, as well as Khurram and Alizai in Kurram Agency to the north-east of North Waziristan.
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 Punjab and Balochistan. Almost all the internally displaced people are being hosted by local communities.
Since 2009, some 930 000 people have fled tribal regions due to various waves of violence. Both Pakistani government and the UNHCR expect this number to surge up to 1.5 million because of the current military offensive.
The UNHCR has a “growing concerns” when it comes to providing shelter, water, food and about “some sanitarian issues”.
The World Food Programme’s (WFP) spokesperson said that the WFP is “scaling up its operations” to reach 1500 daily. It had already distributed food to some 3000 displaced people from North Waziristan.
A key challenge for aid agencies is access to the areas where the displaced are arriving. The UN and partners have called for full and unimpeded access to the affected populations to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.
North Waziristan lies along the border with Afghanistan and it is largely under control of Taliban militants.
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