United Nations Radio

UNICEF is deeply concerned about the condition of thousands of children displaced by conflict in north-western Pakistan.

Displaced people in Pakistan

Nearly half of the two million displaced people in the region are children. The UN children's agency is especially concerned that some 700,000 children may not have schools to go back to in September, because those schools are currently occupied by the displaced people. UNICEF's spokesperson in Geneva Veronique Taveau says the agency has managed to provide schooling and recreational activities for children housed in the camps, but is worried about those who are staying with host families.

Taveau: Because we know that some of those families and some of those children - they are lacking almost everything, like potable water, drinking water, hygiene and schooling and it's very difficult for us to be able to reach them.

UNICEF is working closely with the government of Pakistan and other partners to vaccinate children, to provide safe drinking water and to treat children at risk of malnutrition. While malnutrition rates are low at present, the agency says sustained support is needed to prevent the situation from deteriorating rapidly.

For UN Radio, I'm Bissera Kostova.

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