Swat Crisis

According to latest news there had been significant increase in the Taliban casualties and considerable ground has been occupied by Pakistani Army. Security Forces have cleared Sultanwas after intense clashes while 80 terrorists were killed during clearance of the area, Director General ISPR Major General Athar Abass said in a media briefing on Operation Rah-e-Rast, here on Wednesday. The Director General ISPR said that during the clearance of Sultanwas, the security forces encountered seven IEDs which were effectively defused. Sultanwas was main stronghold of terrorist-miscreants in Buner, where they have made concrete underground bunkers and ammunition dumps.
Meanwhile in Washington addressing to Congress Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said United States (US) not only supports the democratic government of Pakistan but it also is in favour of military offensive against the militants besides making long-term investments in the Pakistani people. She said “We’re supporting the Pakistani military as they take on the extremists who confront their country’s stability,’ she said. ‘We’re making long-term investments in Pakistan’s people and the democratically elected government through targeted humanitarian assistance.”
On the other hand according to my sources in Islamabad ,number of people coming to refugee camps are increasing and to date more than six hundred thousand people have been registered but the actual numbers are at least twice of what have been reported. In other words we are looking at a displaced population of 1.2 million .According to many aid agencies it is the largest displacement of people Pakistan has suffered as result of manmade conflict. The situation in the camps is quite worse. There is no sign that government is making any efforts to improve the condition. Most of the camps are run by local humanitarian organisations and people. Due to the unavailability of tents people are sleeping on the ground as a result of which various skin diseases are spreading in the camps. According to some reports in some camps due to the unavailability of lady doctors delivery cases has been handled by male doctors.
The camps are vey cramped ,they have been pitched up on the planes and the weather at the moment is very hot. These condition will become worse as soon as the monsoon rains kicks in. Majority of these camps are situated in areas which will be flooded in the coming monsoon season and that could further deteriorate the situation.