‘Shelter a major problem for quake affectees’

MUZAFFARABAD—With severe winter fast approaching, shelter has become a major problem for survivors of the October 8 earthquake with many still forced to live under the open sky for non-availability of tents. Many survivors have moved to tent villages or to other cities. Rescue workers and donor agencies say that there is a dire need to import tents from other countries to meet the requirement.
“We have asked our government to send more tents here,” said Tina Pliar, a rescue worker from Canada. Ms Pliar, who specializes in disaster management, told journalists: “It’s the biggest human tragedy I have ever seen. Delay in providing tents and blankets can cause major problems”. She suggested it would be better to keep the survivors away from quake-hit areas. “I don’t know why they want to stick to their places. This can cause diseases and other problems for the people and also for the government”.
Other relief workers here agreed that it was a major human tragedy in recent history. “Though conditions in Kabul, Iraq and some other parts are not good, but they are all man made. This is an act of God,” said Mr Rukhian Estevave, an Estonian worker. Foreign relief workers, however, suggest that massive machinery and manpower is needed to clear the debris of collapsed houses. “It’s a huge operation that we need here.—INP