UNICEF is deeply concerned about thousands of children who have been displaced by conflict, or who remain in affected areas, in north-western Pakistan.

Nearly 50 per cent of the estimated 2 million displaced are children. Many are in urgent need of health and educational services, nutritional support, access to clean water and sanitation as well as protection. Their situation has been made even worse by the harsh summer temperatures they are experiencing.

UNICEF is especially concerned that some 700,000 children are due to start the new school year in September in over 3,000 schools that are currently occupied by 150,000 internally displaced people (IDPs). If these schools are not vacated and rehabilitated soon, the education of all these children will be interrupted. Some of these children could even drop out of the education system permanently.