The World Health Organization warns about 2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northwest Pakistan's Swat Valley are at increased risk of getting ill during the upcoming monsoon season, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported Friday.

WHO said it may not be able to help all those in need because of lack of funds. The monsoon season is looming. And, for many of the 2 million people in conflict-ridden Swat who were forced to flee their homes, this could spell trouble.

WHO Assistant Director-General Eric Laroche said there is likely to be an upsurge of diseases during the upcoming rainy season. He said he expects outbreaks of water-borne diseases, particularly diarrhea, acute respiratory infections and malaria.

"We need to be pre-positioning drugs against diarrhea, drugs against pneumonia, drugs against malaria and soon, mosquito nets. Everything is geared toward treating these diseases," he said.

But, money is a problem. Laroche said WHO has received only 2 million U.S. dollars of its 10 million appeal for essential drugs. He said lack of money will make it very difficult to contain disease outbreaks.

About 2 million people fled their homes during the ongoing drive against militants. About 200,000 of them, or 10 percent, are in camps. The other 90 percent are staying with family and friends.

Laroche said he is most worried about that group, the 90 percent or 1.8 million IDPs living with host families.

He said the camps are well run and have health-care facilities for treating the sick and injured. He said such care is not available for the people living in private homes.

Laroche said the over-crowded conditions in host families will lead to a lot of health problems and increased disease. He said a major challenge facing WHO is to try to reach these people and provide them with preventive care to ward off disease. And, if that fails, he said health workers must be able to provide sick people with life-saving treatment.

Source: Xinhua