PAKISTAN: Army establishes field hospital for Waziristan refugees

Record ID: 610911

  • Title: PAKISTAN: Army establishes field hospital for Waziristan refugees
  • Date: 2nd November 2009
  • Summary: DERA ISMAIL KHAN, PAKISTAN (NOVEMBER 1, 2009) (REUTERS) POLICE CHECKING PEOPLE OUTSIDE STADIUM ESTABLISHED AS RELIEF POINT AND MILITARY HOSPITAL FOR INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS)
  • Embargoed: 17th November 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVACVF1T66CDL5J78RHQBX8QOSZO
  • Story Text: A field hospital, set up by the Medical Corps of Pakistan's military for thousands of people displaced by the security forces' battle against Taliban militants in South Waziristan, started functioning on Sunday (November 1).
    "We have specially come here for the displaced people of Waziristan. We have established an army field hospital for them in which we have surgical, medical, gynaecological and child specialists. We also have laboratory facilities, X-ray and ultra sound facilities," Lt. Colonel Khalid of the Army Medical Corps (AMC) said.
    Hundreds of ailing refugees swarmed to the field hospital.
    "A great number of the patients who are coming to us have skin diseases; many have intestinal problems caused by the water and the change of climate. There is also an increase in kidney ailments because of the heat. Apart from this, people with diabetes and blood pressure are also coming to us," said Captain Adil Hasan, a doctor at the field hospital.
    Patients treated at the newly-established facility said they were very happy to finally have a health care centre.
    "I came here because I had an itching in my ears. I also had a severe backache. The doctor checked me and gave me medicine but of course the cure is in God's hands," said Omar Khan on his way out of the Medical department.
    Pakistani government officials say they have registered more than 133,000 Pakistanis displaced from South and North Waziristan, more than 60,000 of whom were forced to flee in the last two weeks alone.
    With the onset of winter, officials say it is crucial to address the acute needs of the recently displaced, especially food, shelter and health facilities.
    During her recent visit to Pakistan, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged $56 million (U.S. dollars) in additional American support for internally displaced people Pakistan.
    The funds will support the Government of Pakistan's humanitarian relief and early recovery efforts in the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
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