November 26, 2007	Monday	Ziqa’ad 15, 1428

TIMERGARA, Nov 25: Hundreds of people displaced by the ongoing fighting in Swat have been forced to live in the open in Malakand and some parts of Dir Lower district for two days because of curfew restrictions.

People started leaving the affected areas on Saturday after the provincial government announced that it had set up a relief camp for displaced people in Risalpur.

The authorities imposed curfew in Malakand region on Saturday with a relaxation of just three hours. The curfew was to be lifted on Sunday but it was extended, forcing hundreds of people to spend another night in the open.

People from Asbanr, Gul Abad, Shawa and Kithiari in Adenzai tehsil of the district arranged food and provided temporary shelters to the displaced who were trying to go to Charsada.

On Sunday, District Coordination Officer of the Dir Lower Dr Attaur Rahman visited the area and vacated the building of the government college in Gul Abad and the Asbanr High School to accommodate the displaced families.

The DCO told newsmen that the district administration was trying to set up a camp in Gul Abad where people could stay overnight before leaving for the permanent camp.

An old man said he did not understand why security forces were asking people to leave their homes when curfew restrictions were not being relaxed.

A man from Tazagram told Dawn local people were looking after the displaced people for two days.