Quake-hit people desperate for shelters, medicines

Posted by Kashif Aziz
January 14, 2007

Survivors of the Oct 2005 earthquake in Balakot are facing extreme hardships due to the freezing temperature in the area. They are living through the hardest days and looking for a miracle to end their miseries, said journalist Shahjehan Khan, who still lives in a damaged tent in the town.

The number of patients has increased due to the inclement weather conditions.

There is one hospital in the town constructed by the Paktel company, but the patients remain unattended due to the absence of doctors and paramedical staff.

The provincial government has not provided doctors and the staff for the hospital. In the entire Balakot area, a junior paramedic takes care of the patients, but he too visits the area occasionally.

Two lady doctors worked there for an NGO and referred most of the delivery cases to Mansehra, but they also have left the area.

More than a dozen field hospitals were set up by different national and foreign organisations, but after their departure no one knew where the equipment and machinery has gone.

The situation has particularly worsened for wounded and those patients who needed long orthopaedic treatment and they have to go to other parts of the country.

The ERRA and PERRA had made tall claims to ensure early provision of shelters and many times photo sessions were held in Balakot, but only 15 shelters could be seen in the area.

It was claimed that the Saudi Arabian government would provide 5,000 shelters to earthquake-hit people before the start of current winter.

With the winter almost half over, no chance existed to get shelters, said Prof Muneer Swati, who had lost more than 35 members of his family.

Prof Muneer is disappointed with the treatment given to them by officials concerned as he belongs to the area which falls in the “red zone”.

They were earlier told that they would be settled in Islamabad, then it was announced that a new model Balakot city would be set up at Bikryal, but they were shaken by an announcement by the federal and provincial governments that no sufficient land was available at Bikryal for the project.

The idea of setting up the new model city in Bikryal may either be shifted to some other place, and the people would be required to cut size of houses to small flats.

They are ready for all as they can not wait more and can not live in damaged tents where they could not lit the fire inside due to cases of fire breaking out in the tents.

Others said that the government has made the people beggars as they have to move to get food and eatable items and find some building material to build sheds for their families.

They can not either start their businesses or do some work to earn livelihood and live with respect and honour, the survivors said.

The situation worsened due to high prices of essential food items and the people could not get fuel for cooking and heating their tents to survive the cold season.

The second instalment for construction of houses was also not given to maximum number of survivors, while many flaws and false claims were alleged to have been made in the distribution of the first instalment of the monetary aid and the most deserving people were left out.

Source: DAWN

Aftermath

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One Response to “Quake-hit people desperate for shelters, medicines”

  1. 1
    KRDF Says:
    April 17th, 2007 at 4:08 pm

    Kashmir Earthquake….An Over View

    On Saturday 8th October 2005, A devastating earthquake hit Kashmir and northern Pakistan resulting in whole cities such as Balakot, Muzaffarabad, Bagh and other small villages being razed to the ground. Over 80000 deaths, Over 200000 injured, Over 600000 houses collapsed, 3.3 million people made homeless.

    On seeing such devastation, it was decided to set up an emergency Relief Committee known as the Jammu Kashmir Relief Committee (JKRC) now known as Kashmir Relief and Development Foundation (KRDF) in order to help the victims of this tremendous tragedy never known before or experienced in the whole history of Jammu Kashmir.

    Emergency relief camps were set up by JKRC in all the major cities of Azad Jammu Kashmir and JKRC volunteers worked around the clock to help the earthquake victims. This included distribution of tents, food supplies, clothing and shelter that was provided by JKRC with the help of individuals and various organisations
    Rebuilding and reconstruction Phase.

    KRDF a UK registered charity has done the following projects with the help of other NGOs.

    Projects Done
    Namnotta School (Rawalakot)
    Kamsar Camp School Plan (Muzaffarabad)
    Vocational Training Centre Kathiely Muzaffarabad
    Vocational Training Centre Dawarian, Neelum Valley
    Vocational Training Centre Khaigala, Rawalakot
    Vocational Training Centre Seena Daman, Jhelum Valley
    5 Vocational Training Centres (Jointly run with KET)
    Ilm Ki Shamah Jalayey Rakho (Educational Programme)
    Tent Cities in Bagh

    Future & Current Projects

    Secondary School in Muzaffarabad
    High School in Muzaffarabad
    10 more Vocational Training Centers in Azad Kashmir
    Two Health Centers
    Ambulances for immediate medical treatment

    __________________________________________________________
    Kashmir Relief & Development Foundation (KRDF)
    Registered Charity in England and Wales No. 1114625
    63 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, London E17 4SA
    Phone :-+44 203 042 5470 Email: – info@krdf.net Web: -www.krdf.net

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