UN revises assistance for Swat IDP's by over a million

Islamabad, Oct.4 (ANI): The United Nations has revised the assistance for the internally displaced persons (IDPs), who left their homes due to a military operation in Swat and Malakand, by over a million.

"The assistance level is above our earlier estimates. We revised it from 543 to 680 million dollar," UN Humanitarian Coordinator Martin Mogwanja said.

"We have so far received 68 percent of the actual assessment, yet much more is needed to be done," he added.

Interacting with media persons in a press conference, Mogwanja said about 1.65 million people have returned to their homes in the Swat Valley while over a million were still residing in rehabilitation camps across the region as the situation still is not conducive enough for them to return.

Reacting to reports that the Pakistan Army was preparing to launch an all out offensive in the South Waziristan, Mogwanja said the UN expects another 170,000 people to be displaced from Waziristan if the military operation is expanded to that region.

"We also expect more IDPs from this area if the operation is expanded. We have set up a mergence hub for this purpose in Bhakkar," The Daily Times quoted Mogwanja, as saying. (ANI)