Displaced

SWABI, PAKISTAN - JULY 13: A mob of angry IDPs ransack the District Police Officers office, after, according to bystanders, a man from Swat received injuries after being beaten by Police, on asking for his food ration in a queue at the Yar Hussain UNHCR camp in Chota Lahore on July 13, 2009 in Swabi district, Pakistan. As a reaction to the Taliban's advances in late 2008 and early 2009, in late March of 2009 the Pakistan Military launched its offensive against the Taliban in the tribal regions of Swat, Lower Dir and Buner. It is estimated that over 3 million people were displaced because of the fighting. Many Pakistani's fled their homes seeking refuge in family or friends homes, many sleeping in makeshift accommodation. Approximately over 150,000 of these Internally Displaced Person's (IPD's) were able to find refuge in relief camps run by various aid organisations and NGO's. Due to the size of the population of IDP's resources were stretched and often inadequate to cope with the increasing numbers streaming in. IDP's faced harsh living conditions for months in camps before being able to return to their homes. Hundreds of IDPs queued today at the Yar Hussain camp to receive their final two month food rations before leaving the camp and departing for their respective homes. The IDPs were not handed out their rations, and according to bystanders, Police in charge of distribution beat a man after he asked for his ration, sparking an angry mob which ransacked the Camp Directors Office and other rations. The army could not keep back the mob of frustrated IDPs, who carried the man from Swats' injured body on a Charpoi, or makeshift bed, to present to the camp director. The Army then loaded the injured man onto a truck to take to a nearby hospital. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)