For the hundreds of thousands displaced by the fighting in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, there has been very little actual assistance from both international NGOs and the Pakistani government itself. The numbers are mind-boggling: 200,000 additional internally displaced persons (IDPs) pouring in everyday into refugee camps.

Pakistani military forces are deep in battle with the Taliban in Buner, the Swat valley and Malakand, and will soon ‘expand its offensive to Waziristan to the south.’ The government soldiers have already captured the town of Sultanwas, a Taliban stronghold in Buner district. The Pakistani army tallies the Taliban deaths at more than 1,057 over a span of the 4-week military offensive.

More refugees displaced from the fighting are expected to run to welfare villages and shelters. Presently, there are two million displaced people badly needing aid. The government of Pakistan is now asking international donors for immediate relief efforts, especially from those ‘who are committed to fighting terrorism.’

There have been pledges from foreign donors in the amount of $224 million to help the displaced, including the $110 million pledged on Tuesday by the United States. USAID also immediately sent air-conditioned tents and 120,000 pre-packed meals. The challenge now is in the need to feed all 2 million people packed in refugee camps for at least four months.

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Via Al Jazeera