IRIN
PAKISTAN: Frustration at quake camps
22 December 2005


[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United 
Nations]

BALAKOT, 22 December (IRIN) - Patience seems to have run out among some 
earthquake survivors in Balakot, at the lip of the Kaghan Valley in 
Pakistan's mountainous North West Frontier Province (NWFP). Many of 
those living in the tents dotted across the devastated landscape of the 
town are angry, and make no attempt to hide it.

"Just look at the situation here. People are dying of the cold, the 
living conditions are filthy and no one is helping us," said Aziz 
Hussain, his shrill tones swiftly drawing a small crowd that gathers 
around him. Many nod sympathetically as he adds, "I just don't 
understand what is happening to all the money we hear is coming in. It's 
certainly not being used here."

Many survivors of the 8 October quake say they are now desperate. An 
aged woman hugs a small grandchild close to her as she sits close by her 
tent. Despite the fact that the sun is shining, the icy breeze has a 
chilling effect - especially with many quake survivors still lacking 
sufficient warm clothing, bedding, and adequate tents or heating 
arrangements.

Nearly 10 weeks after the quake, many victims are still in a miserable 
state, with the arrival of winter having added immensely to the 
hardships they face. Often cooking fires or oil stoves offer the only 
source of warmth, with families huddled around them through much of the 
day.

Poor sanitation, a lack of toilets and an absence of cooking 
arrangements add to the stench that lingers around many camps, with 
rotting rubbish lying in heaps in some areas. The conditions are ideal 
for disease to spread and diarrhoea, pneumonia, scabies and lice 
infestations are common.

"My children have not had a bath for nearly three weeks at least. The 
best I can do is clean them with wet washcloths. There is never enough 
hot water and I can't possibly bathe them in cold water as I did until a 
few weeks ago," said Unaiza Bibi, 27, the mother of three children under 
eight years old.

With matted hair, welts indicating scabies visible on their arms and 
perpetually runny noses, the children show the effects of the conditions 
in which they live and there seems little hope that there will be much 
improvement before spring next year. "We can only hope we will stay 
alive till then," Unaiza said.

Balakot, a town that was once home to nearly 300,000 people, located 
some 220 km north of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, was one of the 
areas worst hit by the quake. Even now, barely a few buildings peek out 
above the ground, while makeshift shelters of every shape, size and 
description have cropped up across the area.

Rubble has been partially cleared, but large piles of it still lie in 
some areas. Since the earliest days of the quake, the town has been a 
focal point for the relief effort, with aid supplies and volunteers 
pouring in. The fact that despite this, the situation remains so bleak 
is testimony to the immense difficulties involved in helping the 
survivors of the quake, and also a reminder of the need for the aid 
effort to continue.

A few days ago, Jan Vandemoortele, the UN's humanitarian aid coordinator 
in Pakistan, warned after visiting camps in Pakistan-administered 
Kashmir that the onset of winter and snows could lead to clashes at 
camps as people became increasingly frustrated. "We are preparing 
ourselves for the worst, because it could be ugly," Vandermoortele said, 
while maintaining that preparations for any situation that might arise 
were fully in place.

Some local NGOs operating in Balakot have packed up and withdrawn, 
citing resource constraints as the reason why they are unable to 
continue their relief efforts. The perception that the outside world may 
be deserting them has added to the panic among some survivors based in 
the Balakot area. Families across the region have now started to 
stockpile what they can in fear that the delivery of goods may dry up 
over coming weeks.

In some cases, local police have had to move in to calm the situation. 
Further north from Balakot, in the mountains of the Kaghan and Allai 
valleys, conditions are said to be worse, even though the World Food 
Programme (WFP) has rapidly delivered stocks for winter to people who 
have opted to remain close to their homes. Many of the villages are 
already inaccessible.

The focus of aid has now shifted to people based at camps and at lower 
altitudes. Efforts are on to try and expand facilities available at tent 
villages and to provide better protection from the cold. Waterproof 
sheets are being distributed and many local and international groups are 
racing to help set up shelters before snow covers the ground and blocks 
off roads to villages located in the mountain valleys.

"People have shown great fortitude and immense patience since the quake. 
But there is a limit to how long they can suffer in silence. Their anger 
is quite understandable," I A Rehman, Director of the Human Rights 
Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), said.


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New photos and articles are added daily.


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