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| Pakistan mobilising for displaced | Pakistan mobilising for displaced |
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| Authorities in Pakistan say they are mobilising to receive as many as half a million people displaced by fighting in the Swat Valley. | Authorities in Pakistan say they are mobilising to receive as many as half a million people displaced by fighting in the Swat Valley. |
| A minister in North West Frontier Province told the BBC that officials were trying to deal with one of the world's "huge" internal displacements. | A minister in North West Frontier Province told the BBC that officials were trying to deal with one of the world's "huge" internal displacements. |
| Pakistan's president has promised all-out war against militants in the area. | Pakistan's president has promised all-out war against militants in the area. |
| The army said its "full-scale" assault had killed more than 170 militants in 24 hours, with the loss of 10 troops. | The army said its "full-scale" assault had killed more than 170 militants in 24 hours, with the loss of 10 troops. |
| It accused the Taleban of trying to stop civilians leaving the area. | It accused the Taleban of trying to stop civilians leaving the area. |
| The government signed a peace agreement with the Swat Taleban in February, allowing Sharia law to be locally imposed. | The government signed a peace agreement with the Swat Taleban in February, allowing Sharia law to be locally imposed. |
| But in the face of territorial advances by emboldened Taleban forces, the strategy came under increasing fire from Washington, a key ally. See a map of the region | But in the face of territorial advances by emboldened Taleban forces, the strategy came under increasing fire from Washington, a key ally. See a map of the region |
| As jets and helicopters pounded targets in the valley, the UN said it was threatening to become one of the world's biggest displacement crises. | As jets and helicopters pounded targets in the valley, the UN said it was threatening to become one of the world's biggest displacement crises. |
| 'Complex situation' | 'Complex situation' |
| The Pakistani offensive against militants has already displaced some 200,000 people, while a further 300,000 are estimated to be on the move or about to flee, the UN says. | The Pakistani offensive against militants has already displaced some 200,000 people, while a further 300,000 are estimated to be on the move or about to flee, the UN says. |
| Cynicism among Swat refugees | Cynicism among Swat refugees |
| Sitara Imran, minister for social welfare in North West Frontier Province, called the exodus "one of the huge displacements, internal displacements in the world". | Sitara Imran, minister for social welfare in North West Frontier Province, called the exodus "one of the huge displacements, internal displacements in the world". |
| "We are preparing ourselves with the help of the federal government, we asked international donors," she told the BBC's Newshour programme. | "We are preparing ourselves with the help of the federal government, we asked international donors," she told the BBC's Newshour programme. |
| She said all her department's doctors and social welfare staff had been mobilised and that holidays had been suspended as they worked to prepare for the influx. | She said all her department's doctors and social welfare staff had been mobilised and that holidays had been suspended as they worked to prepare for the influx. |
| "The whole Swat is coming out from [the Swat Valley] so, naturally, it is a very difficult and complex situation," she said. | "The whole Swat is coming out from [the Swat Valley] so, naturally, it is a very difficult and complex situation," she said. |
| Despite now-abandoned attempts to secure a peace deal in and around Swat, the area - close to the border with Afghanistan - has long been riven by tensions. | |
| Some 550,000 people had already been displaced by fighting since August, before the current crisis, the UN refugee agency said. | Some 550,000 people had already been displaced by fighting since August, before the current crisis, the UN refugee agency said. |
| Those displaced over recent days have been forced to flee with very little preparation, aid workers say, with families often separated, and doctors in displaced camps report widespread psychological trauma. | Those displaced over recent days have been forced to flee with very little preparation, aid workers say, with families often separated, and doctors in displaced camps report widespread psychological trauma. |
| 'On the run' | 'On the run' |
| The US says the militants in the area pose a direct threat to its security, and has demanded they be confronted. | The US says the militants in the area pose a direct threat to its security, and has demanded they be confronted. |
| In an interview during a visit to Washington, President Asif Ali Zardari confirmed on Friday that Pakistan wanted to "eliminate" the militants it is fighting. | In an interview during a visit to Washington, President Asif Ali Zardari confirmed on Friday that Pakistan wanted to "eliminate" the militants it is fighting. |
| "This is an offensive - this is war," he told PBS television. "If they kill our soldiers, then we do the same." | "This is an offensive - this is war," he told PBS television. "If they kill our soldiers, then we do the same." |
| Militant strongholds were hit from the air on Friday as troops conducted operations on the ground. | Militant strongholds were hit from the air on Friday as troops conducted operations on the ground. |
| Pakistani forces have vowed to eliminate militants | Pakistani forces have vowed to eliminate militants |
| Pakistani military spokesman Gen Athar Abbas said troops had killed 143 rebels in Swat, 25 in Lower Dir and six in Buner, losing seven soldiers in Swat and three in Lower Dir. | Pakistani military spokesman Gen Athar Abbas said troops had killed 143 rebels in Swat, 25 in Lower Dir and six in Buner, losing seven soldiers in Swat and three in Lower Dir. |
| Militants were "on the run and trying to block the exodus of civilians from the area", he said. | Militants were "on the run and trying to block the exodus of civilians from the area", he said. |
| Earlier, he told the BBC the military's objective was to eliminate some 4-5,000 militants from the Swat Valley and neighbouring districts of Dir and Buner. | Earlier, he told the BBC the military's objective was to eliminate some 4-5,000 militants from the Swat Valley and neighbouring districts of Dir and Buner. |
| The Pakistani military says it is trying to help displaced civilians by establishing camps where they can seek shelter. | The Pakistani military says it is trying to help displaced civilians by establishing camps where they can seek shelter. |
| But reports suggest many thousands of civilians under threat from the fighting are unwilling or unable to move. | But reports suggest many thousands of civilians under threat from the fighting are unwilling or unable to move. |
| Roads have been blocked or reportedly mined by the rebels. | Roads have been blocked or reportedly mined by the rebels. |
| The Pakistani military has also imposed an indefinite curfew over swathes of the region. | The Pakistani military has also imposed an indefinite curfew over swathes of the region. |
| A local journalist in Mingora told the BBC that electricity and water had been shut down and markets had been closed since Thursday. There was, the journalist said, a real threat of food shortages in the coming days. | A local journalist in Mingora told the BBC that electricity and water had been shut down and markets had been closed since Thursday. There was, the journalist said, a real threat of food shortages in the coming days. |
| While the army accuses the Taleban of holding the people left in the Swat Valley hostage, those who have escaped blame both sides for the conflict and the dire position of the civilians caught between them, correspondents say. | While the army accuses the Taleban of holding the people left in the Swat Valley hostage, those who have escaped blame both sides for the conflict and the dire position of the civilians caught between them, correspondents say. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |
| Have you been affected by the fighting in the region? Have you been displaced? Send us your comments and stories using the form below. | Have you been affected by the fighting in the region? Have you been displaced? Send us your comments and stories using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |