, AFP, 9 April 2010

EXCERPT: "More than 200,000 civilians have fled a military offensive and violence in Pakistani tribal districts near the Afghan border, where gunfights on Friday killed up to 24 militants, officials said. The United Nations said the mass exodus began in November from the districts of Orakzai and Kurram, which have been hit by Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked militancy as well as sectarian violence. Pakistan launched a punishing assault against Taliban militants in Orakzai last month and the operation entered its 17th day on Friday. 'More than 35,000 families or approximately 210,000 individuals from Orakzai and Kurram have been registered as internally displaced persons (IDPs) since November last year,' UN refugee agency spokeswoman Ariane Rummery told AFP. She said of the 35,000 families, 16,376 had been registered as IDPs since February, mostly in the northwestern towns of Hangu and Kohat."

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Related articles:
Orakzai Agency operation responsible for increased IDP influx, The Daily Times, 5 April 2010

Related maps:
[pdf], UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs via the Human Security Gateway, 19 March 2010

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