ISLAMABAD, April 1: Around 43,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in Maidan area of Tirah Valley, Khyber Agency, over the past two weeks because of escalation of hostilities between militant groups in the tribal region, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (Ocha) said on Monday.

According to figures released by the Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA), around 10 per cent of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) have taken refuge in Kurram Agency and the rest in Hangu, Kohat, Nowshera and Peshawar. Most in Peshawar are expected to live in off-camp locations and some with previously displaced families.

Around 46% of these people are children and 33% women, says the FDMA, emphasising the importance of humanitarian assistance for the IDPs expected to stay in camps for six months.

Authorities estimate around 60,000 people from 10,000 families in different villages of Maidan may have been affected.

The IDPs need food, shelter, security and sanitation and health services.

Registration in New Durrani camp is under way with the process to commence in off-camp locations soon, says Ocha.

Local authorities and humanitarian partners are jointly addressing security concerns for the safe delivery of relief aid. They plan to provide one-month ration and non-food items to 43,000 people staying in three off-camp locations.