With rapid increase in the number of domestic refugees, who have been forced to flee their homes in the North West Frontier Province and other tribal areas of Pakistan due to the increasing influence of the Taliban, the United Nations has announced to ramp up its humanitarian relief operation in the country.

In collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority, UN agencies and their partners have started work on providing assistance to around 1,000 families escaping Buner and Dir districts to the Jalozai Camp, home to some 100,000 Afghan refugees before it was closed down last year, the world body said yesterday.