Over 8,00,000 people displaced in military offensive

Over 8,00,000 people have been displaced so far due to Pakistan military's ongoing offensive against Taliban militants in the troubled North Waziristan province, authorities said today.
Among the 8,33, 274 displaced, 2,48,633 are women and 3,61,459 are children, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Disaster Management Authority agency said.
These displaced people are part of 66,726 families, it added.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also held a meeting with his finance minister Ishaq Dar today and discussed the issue of displaced people.
Dar briefed the premier about release of funds for the assistance of these people, according to private Dunya TV.

Sharif last month announced an assistance of Rs 40,000 to each of the affected family.

The government is also providing shelter, food, water and medicines to these people.
Arrangements have also been made to give fodder and vaccines to thousands of displaced cattle.
Operation Zarb-e-Azb (Sword of Prophet) was launched on June 15 against local and foreign militants who used the tribal region as a safe haven to train and launch attacks in the country and across the border in Afghanistan.
Defence minister Khawaja Asif yesterday said that 400 militants and 20 soldiers have been killed since the launch of the operation.

During his visit to the trouble region yesterday, Army chief General Raheel Sharif said that "terrorists will be chased and hunted down across the country till their final elimination.