Swat refugees facing dire hardships

MINGORA, Pakistan, June 1 (UPI) -- Millions of civilians displaced by the fighting in Pakistan's Swat Valley are facing a dire humanitarian situation, International Red Cross officials say.

Arriving in Swat for the first time since fierce fighting broke out between government forces and Taliban militants, Red Cross officials said the 2 million refugees need urgent help, CNN reported.

"The people of Swat need greater humanitarian protection and assistance immediately," Pascal Cuttat, head of the organization's delegation in Pakistan, told the U.S. broadcaster. "The ICRC will do its utmost to meet those needs without delay. Given what we have already seen on the ground, we are mobilizing additional resources, but safe and unimpeded access to the area remains essential for our teams to deliver."

Relief officials said many of the refugees fled their homes on foot without shoes and have fallen ill from exposure to heat and sun, with children and infants particularly hard hit.

"People have been blocked for weeks," the ICRC's Daniel O'Malley told CNN. "There is no running water, no electricity, and food is scarce. There is no fuel left for generators and most medical facilities in the district are no longer functioning."