Orphanage caught between military, Taliban

MINGORA, Pakistan, May 6 (UPI) -- About 80 boys and 20 employees in an orphanage were trapped during a battle between Pakistani troops and the Taliban Wednesday, the facility's director said.

The children were trapped in the four-story facility in Mingora, a town in Pakistan's Swat Valley and the scene of recent intense military-militant battles, CNN reported.

Muhammad Ali, the orphanage's director, said there was enough food to last two more days.

Ali said he asked the military and the Taliban to not the attack the orphanage, about 65 yards from the military headquarters in Mingora.

The orphanage usually houses and educates about 250 boys, but about 170 orphans were taken to other locations, CNN reported. Some 450 other children attend the facility's school as day students.

An estimated 40,000 people fled Mingora in northwestern Pakistan as military clashes with Taliban fighters continued Wednesday, district coordination officer Khushhal Khan said.

Local officials Tuesday ordered the evacuation for the Swat area in advance of an anticipated push by Pakistani military.