UN says fierce fighting in FATA may displace 600,000

Geneva, Feb. 11 (ANI): The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has claimed that fierce fighting in Pakistan's tribal areas could drive over 600,000 people away from their homes within a few weeks.

"Latest estimates put the number of displaced people in the region at around 450,000, but the UN believes more than 600,000 could be displaced within weeks," UNHCR spokesman, Ron Redmond was quoted by The Nation, as saying.

Redmond said UN High Commissioner for Refugees would ramp up its relief work in northwestern Pakistan, where security has deteriorated sharply since last year.

Around 3,000 families are already given shelter by the UN run camps, and they will be expanded to provide shelter to more people. The relief trucks carrying blankets, buckets, plastic sheeting, soap, and kitchen sets have been deployed to the region.

"UNHCR is encouraged by the safe arrival and return of the first UN convoy of supplies to this dangerous region of Pakistan where curfews and general insecurity hamper relief efforts," Redmond said, while addressing a press conference in Geneva.

Redmond also said the UNHCR had no news about John Solecki, the American head of UN office in Quetta, who was abducted last week after gunmen ambushed his car and shot dead his driver. (ANI)