A mass exodus out of Pakistan's North Waziristan as army readies ground offensive
- 10 years ago
Out of Pakistan's troubled North Waziristan, comes a mass exodus.
Scores of displaced men, women and children, leaving their homes, only to get stranded at checkpoints like this one.
The military has announced a full-on offensive against a Taliban insurgency.
It's pounding villages and militant hideouts, sending a wave of panicked people spilling into nearby regions and Afghanistan.
Those who stayed behind had until Sunday to get out.
(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) DISPLACED PERSON, SAMI ULLAH, SAYING:
"We demand the government gives an extension to the curfew. The people are still trapped there; the government should give them a chance to get out of there."
Officials say some 350,000 people have been displaced since the operation began a week ago.
At this checkpoint, they've set up a national registration database.
They're refugees now, lining up for rations.
One man says all he got were graham crackers and juice.
(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu
Scores of displaced men, women and children, leaving their homes, only to get stranded at checkpoints like this one.
The military has announced a full-on offensive against a Taliban insurgency.
It's pounding villages and militant hideouts, sending a wave of panicked people spilling into nearby regions and Afghanistan.
Those who stayed behind had until Sunday to get out.
(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) DISPLACED PERSON, SAMI ULLAH, SAYING:
"We demand the government gives an extension to the curfew. The people are still trapped there; the government should give them a chance to get out of there."
Officials say some 350,000 people have been displaced since the operation began a week ago.
At this checkpoint, they've set up a national registration database.
They're refugees now, lining up for rations.
One man says all he got were graham crackers and juice.
(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu