MARDAN, Aug 19: More than 10,000 families, displaced from Bajaur due to the military operation against militants, have taken shelter in different areas of Mardan, where they complain of having no basic necessities of life.

They have taken refuge in government schools, under-construction and deserted buildings and relatives’ houses.

A number of displaced people told this correspondent that they had been provided succour only by the locals.

They alleged that officials of the education department were asking them to leave the schools because summer vacations were about to end.

They complained that most of their children and elders were sick and suffering from fever, but they had no money to purchase medicines for them.

Meanwhile, officials of the district government said they had collected data of the displaced people from the Bajaur Agency, who would be provided food and shelter.

The affected people, however, expressed concern over the lack of facilities in the relief camps established by both the provincial and district governments. They complained that even drinking water was not available in the camps let alone food and other facilities.

Local people of Mardan Khas, led by Nazim Ajmal Khan, have warned that if the displaced people were forced to vacate the school buildings, they would protest against the administration.

Mardan Tehsil Nazim Ihsanullah Bacha has started a campaign for collecting donations and appealed to locals to contribute to the fund for the displaced people. He said he was planning to establish a camp for the people of Bajaur where they would have facilities of proper shelter, food and drinking water.

SHOT DEAD: Three women and a man were killed in different areas of Mardan over domestic and property disputes.