So far 27 camps in six different districts have been set up to give temporary shelter for people fleeing the violence. Still, many people remain in the zones of conflict, trapped due to insecurity and strict curfews. This prevents people from leaving their homes, as well as from seeking food, water and the emergency medical care.

In the midst of the intensified conflict that started in mid-April, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was forced to stop all emergency medical care in the district of Swat in the NWFP. MSF was the only organization supporting the hospital in Mingora, and providing ambulance services in the region. The people no longer have any access to emergency medical care.

Not only have people been forced to flee — leaving their homes and even family members behind — they are now facing new challenges in the camps for displaced people. Rising temperature, reaching scorching heat up to 40 degrees celcius, is making it even more difficult for people to cope in with already difficult situation.

MSF supports a camp for displaced people in Mardan district located 100 km northwest of the capital Islamabad. MSF provides health care, tents, water points for clean water, latrines and non food items. The medical facility that MSF has set up in the Mardan camp features an out-patient department for both men and women. MSF also provides free drugs, 24-hour response to critical patients and referral by ambulance to the nearest hospital. MSF has set up a labour and delivery room with anti-natal and post-natal care.

MSF distributes non-food items to people living in �??unofficial camps’ (in mosques, school buildings and the like) with essentials such as cooking sets, and hygiene and sleeping kits.

MSF's remaining activities in Pakistan-Baluchistan, Kurram Agency and in the Peshawar area- continues to run uninterrupted. MSF supports basic health units in the Peshawar region that is hosting families displaced by the conflict. MSF also supports a camp in Charsadda, and has been distributing non-food items to displaced people in Peshawar, Charsadda and Mardan since August 2008.

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