The United Nations said Monday it had suspended food handouts in tribal district of Bajaur after more than 40 people were killed in the country's first female suicide bombing. The decision affects nearly 300,000 people who depend on general rations from the World Food Programme (WFP) after being affected by years of fighting between soldiers and Taliban militants.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack in part of semi-autonomous tribal belt, which Washington considers al Qaeda's chief global nexus and is subject to a covert American drone campaign. "WFP has temporarily suspended food distribution in Bajaur following the attack at a police checkpoint several hundred metres away from WFP's food distribution point," spokeswoman Jackie Dent told AFP.
"We are talking with the district authorities and hoping to resume the distribution as soon as possible." "Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our beneficiaries and staff, and we are committed to continue assisting the people of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas as they work to rebuild their lives," Dent said.
WFP has this year provided assistance to an estimated 2.6 million people in the north-west who have left their homes, come back trying to rebuild their lives afterwards or affected by systemic violence in the north-west. The agency also provides rations to approximately 294,000 internally displaced people in Bajaur, where the Pakistani military has been fighting against Taliban militants since August 2008.