834,000 civilians displaced in Pakistan due to Swat operation : UN

Islamabad, May 15 (ANI): The Swat military operation against the Taliban and other extremist groups in the region has displaced over 834,000 civilians till now, the United Nations has said.

"Some 834,000 IDPs (internally displaced people) have been registered so far. This is a massive, massive displacement in the world today," the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres said.

The number of refugees has shot up drastically by about 163,000 since Wednesday, as the military intensified its offensive leaving thousands of civilians homeless.

Guterres, who visited a refugee camp in Swabi District of the region, appealed the international community to help Pakistan, as it is facing one of the worst crises in its history.

"Pakistan is passing through a difficult period. The international community should come forward and help Pakistan. I cannot give a figure but they need a lot of help," the Dawn quoted Guterres, as saying.

UN refugee agency spokeswoman, Ariane Rummery said that 835,226 people have been now registered since May 2.

The Human Rights Watch has already warned that with more than 1.3 million people displaced, Pakistan is facing its biggest movement of people after it parted away from India in 1947.The partition had witnessed migration of millions or people between both the countries. (ANI)