Asia Pacific News
A displaced woman from the Swat valley cooks outside her tent at the Jalozai refugee camp near Peshawar, Pakistan.
SINGAPORE: The offensive in Swat Valley in Pakistan has sparked an exodus of people.
About three million of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are sheltering in more than 20 camps - south of the battle zone - creating a humanitarian crisis.
Channel NewsAsia spoke with Pakistan's Defence Secretary, Lieutenant-General Syed Athar Ali, on the sidelines of the Shangri-La dialogue - a regional defence conference in Singapore.
Lt-Gen Syed Athar Ali said: "I think this is a big issue and a big challenge not only for the military but also for the government ... the government has taken certain concrete measures, giving hard cash to these individuals and the families so that they can sustain themselves without really depending on others."
He said the government had also set up more than 20 camps in adjoining areas and some in far-flung areas to assist them with the tools to construct temporary shelters.
Lt-Gen Syed Athar Ali said: "UNHCR has come in a big way to assist in the camp management and all. Then the national response from all over the country has been overwhelming in terms of food, in terms of shelter, in terms of clothes, in terms of bedding, utensils and all those things which are required to manage the IDPs in the camps.
"I think there has been an overwhelming response from the general public also. Some of the important international actors have also pledged money and donated it but only restricted to the pledges now. We hope that money comes in quickly so that it can be utilised to alleviate the problems and sufferings of the IDPs.
"I think the subsequent management of these areas, the provision of civic amenities, the rebuilding and restoration of the houses and the movement of the IDPs - assisting and facilitating them to go back into their homes - will remain the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies, including the army and the police."
On the next phase in terms of military operations, Lt-Gen Syed Athar Ali said: "One would have to see as to what is the future course of action of the remnants of the militants and Talibans ... depending on what kind of threat it emanates from them and what area, that will definitely be communicated to the political government who in concert with the law enforcement agencies will make a political decision for subsequent actions and the military will act accordingly." -
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