Refugees In Pakistan Need Urgent Support

By Gilbert Mercier, NEWS JUNKIE POST

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has appealed again, on July 3rd, to the international community for additional funds to provide urgent assistance to people displaced by fighting in North-West Pakistan. Over 50 percent of the 2.5 Million refugees are children, and UNICEF Pakistan has almost exhausted its supplies and funding.

Since the large attack from the Pakistani army started in the Swat Valley,the  number of  refugees has reached 2.5 Million since May. They are in camps, arriving with few possessions, and in urgent need of clean water, clothing, food, shelter & health care. Some humanitarian organization, such as Doctors Without Borders, are also expressing grave concerns regarding disease  such as cholera spreading within  the camps.

Theses displaced have added to the 500,000 people who had been previously displaced by conflict in Pakistan. Further, estimates suggest that tens of thousand of people are still trapped in conflict areas; They are trying to survive despite inadequate supplies of food, water and basic medical aid.

Yesterday, July 3rd, UNICEF expressed deep concerns about the condition of thousands of children who have been displaced  by conflict, or who remain in affected areas of North Western Pakistan. The speed & magnitude of the conflict has stretched the capacity of the government, most communities and humanitarian actors to the limit.

UNICEF’s Director of Emergency programmes, Mr. Arsenault added:” In Pakistan, we face a unique humanitarian challenge, since the vast majority of the displaced are seeking shelter in host communities which are far more difficult to reach with basic services than the camps.”

This is the full July 3rd’s press release from UNICEF.