Ban sounds alarm on ‘reprehensible’ suicide attack in northwest Pakistan

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned today’s “reprehensible” suicide car bomb attack, reportedly claiming more than 30 lives and injuring dozens of others, at a village market in north-western Pakistan.

According to media reports, the blast occurred near the city of Kohat in North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban reiterated “his rejection of such indiscriminate and reprehensible acts of violence,” extending his condolences to the victims’ families.

In a related development, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today reported that up to 84,000 people have been uprooted by military operations which commenced on 1 September in the Bara area of Khyber Agency, in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

Most of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are sheltering with relatives, while some have rented places to live in other areas, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Pakistani authorities will begin registering the uprooted people – who are in need of food and other supplies – at the end of the month.

In north-western Pakistan, there are still 20 camps housing nearly 140,000 people forced from their homes by recent clashes between Government troops and militants. With winter approaching, UNHCR is currently identifying needs, including upgrading tents and providing warm clothing, in the sites.

OCHA announced today that funding for the $542 million appeal launched in May to fund emergency humanitarian projects of the UN and non-governmental organizations has reached nearly 70 per cent.