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The Unicef Pakistan has almost exhausted its contingency funds and stocks of relief goods and has appealed for an additional $41.4 million for providing immediate assistance to people displaced by fighting in parts of the NWFP.

Working in cooperation with the government, United Nations, and the partners, Unicef is providing drinking water, nutrition, health support, education and protection to children and families wherever possible.  Read more... (208 words, 1 image, estimated 50 secs reading time)

According to reports, tens of thousands of refugees from the fighting in the NWFP have already been languishing for months in fetid camps in the province, ‘providing rich pickings for Taliban recruiters.’

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Nearly 2.4 million people have registered with provincial authorities after fleeing an anti-Taliban military offensive this month in northwest Pakistan as reported by the UN and government officials

Ariane Rummery, spokeswoman for the UNHCR, said they had been given the figure by the North West Frontier Province authorities and expected the number to fluctuate after cross checks are carried out in the coming days.  Read more... (139 words, 1 image, estimated 33 secs reading time)

Serendip has been among the first production companies in Pakistan to perceive the vast potential for social change- using the medium of documentary video. They specialize in producing development-oriented films that raise vital issues in education, human rights, health, gender, and environment.  Read more... (215 words, 1 image, estimated 52 secs reading time)

IDPs Camp

The total number of internally displaced families has reached 344,143 according to NWFP Information Minister Iftikhar Hussain, adding this meant there were over 2.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs).  Read more... (165 words, 1 image, estimated 40 secs reading time)

Whilst huge numbers of people are continuing to flee from Swat Valley and other conflict-hit areas in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), a few are heading back in the other direction to tend to their crops.  Read more... (387 words, 1 image, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)

Waiting for food

The UN plans to issue on Friday another Flash Appeal for more funds to care for the displaced people. At a news briefing in New York, spokesperson Marie Okabe gave no figure for the amount being sought, saying it will be based on the needs of the UN agencies engaged in the relief work. Soon after the Pakistani military launched operations to flush out Taliban militants, the UN called for $150 million to meet humanitarian needs of the tens of thousands of fleeing civilians.  Read more... (380 words, 1 image, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)

A refugee

Hillary Clinton enabled every American with a cellphone to help some two million Pakistanis driven from their homes in and around the Swat Valley in the battle against the Taliban. A quick text message from your personal phone sends in a $5 donation. This is in addition to the $100-million U.S. government aid package Clinton went to the White House to announce on Tuesday.  Read more... (141 words, 1 image, estimated 34 secs reading time)

BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA) and OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA) has published the report called Fact Sheet #7, Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 about the current prevailing swat crisis and US assistance for it. The last report was published on 14 May 2009. Both reports show a huge difference in terms of increasing number of refugees registering in the camps. Almost 2 million people had flee from the northern areas of Pakistan and now living in tents.  Read more... (734 words, 0 images, estimated 2:56 mins reading time)