QUETTA: Relief efforts in Pakistan's earthquake-hit province of Balochistan are being hampered because of a shortage of supplies. Sources said here yesterday some aid is not reaching those who need it as it is being stolen by people unaffected by the disaster.
At least 300 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured in the 6.4 magnitude tremor last Wednesday.
Rescuers have spent the days since trying to help tens of thousands of people. Nearly 50,000 lost their homes.
"The main reason is that unaffected people from nearby districts have also arrived to claim the aid," a disaster victim said. "The goods are then sold in local markets."
Locals also claim that the relief goods are being distributed on the basis of political affiliation. This has been denied by the mayor of Ziarat, Dilawar Kakar. Ziarat was the area worst hit by the earthquake.
"All the relief distribution is being done by the army, and not in our control," he said.
According to government estimates, 120,000 people have been affected by the earthquake. Most of these are based in the northern district of Ziarat.
Most of the dead and injured were from the Wamwarchoom and Kowas Gharbi sub-districts of Ziarat.
These are the places where the main relief camps have been set up and the relief goods distributed. Relief workers in the area said the other major problem was the approaching winter.
Doctors in the area say incidents of flu and pneumonia are on the rise, especially among women and children.
They say that the government needs to keep the winter in mind when doling out relief supplies.
Meanwhile, the United Nations human settlements programme, Habitat, has completed an assessment of the earthquake-affected areas of Balochistan and will soon present its report to the government and humanitarian organisations.
The organisation says that the provincial government needs three storage facilities - two in Ziarat and one in Pishin - each with a capacity to store 10,000 tons of relief goods.
The Balochistan government has sought logistic support and storage facilities from the United Nations and the World Food Programme.
According to the Pakistan Humanitarian Forum, access is difficult but possible even in the most affected union councils of Kawas and Kutch in Ziarat and Khanozai in Pishin.
The PHF says that in addition to winterised tents and blankets, basic tools such as shovel, pick axe, spade, rubber bucket and ropes are needed to remove the rubbles. The assessment was conducted in the union councils of Kawas, Kutch and Khanozai.
A new United Nations assessment report says the affected villages of Wam, Ahmadon, Kawas, Tangian, Zarand, Gogaoi and Kahan urgently need 10,000 tents, 40,000 blankets, 20,000 quilts, 10,000 food packs and warm clothes for one month.
The report estimates that 30% of fruits on trees and ready-to-market fruits have been damaged. The average fruit production of Ziarat is 50,000 tonnes and that of Pishin over 85,000 tonnes.
According to the UN estimate, 35,000 to 40,000 domestic animals, excluding poultry, have been affected by the earthquake. Livestock is the second major source of livelihood and contributes to 40% of household income. - Internews |
