By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – According to a Pakistani NGO Al Khidmat, over 65,000 civilians have been displaced by the fighting between the Taliban and government forces in Lower Dir district of the North West Frontier Province, Pakistan.  Al Khidmat has been helping these people without assistance from the government.

“There is no sign that the central Pakistan government has prepared for the exodus of civilians,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific director. “As the military operations spread, most likely to Swat next, the government has to ensure that the fleeing civilians have adequate food, shelter, and healthcare.”

The hospital in Timergara has reported that 13 civilians have been killed as a result of the fighting.  Eyewitnesses say that over 30 houses have been destroyed.  Casualties and damage have been the result of helicopters gunfire and heavy artillery that have been fired upon the village.

“Jets dropped bombs three times,” said a villager. “There was smoke and dust; I could not tell if they hit houses. We packed our things and then started moving because we thought they might hit us as well.”

Yet the number of civilans displaced is growing, especially due to the government’s offensive launched to recapture the neighboring Buner district from Taliban control.

Despite the number of casualties and property damage, civilians are grateful for the military’s presence.  “People are happy with the operation because the government gave them a deadline to leave and the people are saying that the Taliban really want to take over Tarbela Dam and Islamabad,” said Yaqoub Khan, a local farmer.  “If they had not come, the Taliban would have established positions here in this village by now,” he said.

General Abbas said that the army was concerned about the civilians. “Our constraint is that we are launching an operation in an area where militants have held the local population hostage,” he said. “We are trying to ensure there is minimum collateral damage and minimum displacement of local people.”

For more information please see:

Amnesty International – Pakistan Displacement Crisis Worsens as Fighting Spreads – 30 April 2009

Business Standard – Swat Peace Deal ‘Practically Dead’ Say Taliban – 1 May 2009

New York Times – Civilians Flee as Pakistani Forces Hit Resistance – 29 April 2009