Families displaced by war lament 'loss' of Ramadan in camps

ICHRIAN, Pakistan: As the Muslim month of Ramadan begins, tens of thousands of Pakistanis forced to flee their homes by war against the Taliban will have no choice but to languish in camps or host families over the religious period.

Forced from their homes by fighting in the northwest, most after government forces launched an offensive against Taliban militants in Swat in April, the refugees created one of the largest internal displacements in recent times.

While many have managed to return home after the military cleared most of the former tourist valley in North West Frontier Province of militants, others still shelter in displacement camps and with communities, too fearful to go back home and restart their lives.