IDPs in Pak face appalling conditions; can't access aid

Over two million civilians, who have fled fighting between security forces and the Taliban in northwest Pakistan, are in "appalling" conditions, do not have any access to government aid and are being treated as second-class citizens, a top rights group has said.     

Nearly 90 per cent of the displaced people do not have any access to organised camps run by the government and live in extremely overcrowded conditions with host communities or in existing slums and abandoned buildings, Amnesty International has said.     

"The Pakistani government has to ensure that the millions of displaced people, and their hosts, get the required assistance," said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific Director, in a press release issued here.     

"As the fighting expands to North and South Waziristan, a displacement crisis that the government had said would last only for weeks, looks set to go on for months, with no relief in sight for the millions of displaced people."     

"The vast majority of displaced people are living outside the registered camps where aid agencies are giving shelter, food and water to those in need," Zarifi added.     

"People who lost everything as a result of the fighting are now being treated as second-class citizens in their own country."

"The central and local governments must ensure that all internally displaced Pakistanis are treated in accordance with the UN guiding principles on internal displacement and have adequate food, water and shelter," Zarifi said.