Govt trying to meet winter challenges in quake zone: ISPR

ISLAMABAD—All out efforts are being made to meet winter challenges in quake hit areas, DG ISPR Major General Shaukat Sultan has said.
He said, “We were already aware of the winter challenges. That is why we laid down priorities to start from the heights and come down to low altitude.” The people have been given winterized tents living above five thousands (5000) feet height. Over forty thousands shelters of CGI sheets were also provided to them, he Sultan said.
To a question he said, “We have reached everywhere in quake hit areas.” The UN as well as the World Bank have consensus about the damage. “The figure which the government has given of those killed in the quake is not ambiguous. It did so after having worked out the list and the compensation is also being paid in view of this list.” If someone claims that he has not been compensated for death of his relative, he can contact the camp nearby. This number has been given after complete survey. The representatives from World Bank and international agencies also joined the survey. They visited door to door to compile this figure, he replied to a question.He said, this is the era of the media and everything is on the record. There is a difference between response and actual build-up of the area. “As far as response is concerned, it started in the first half an hour. Our helicopters took off within half an hour,” he added. He said, in first twenty-four hours the Muzaffarabad road was opened.
Agencies add: Most of the tents given to survivors of the South Asia earthquake in October are not designed for winter conditions, a leading aid agency says. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says the issue of shelter “is becoming more critical”. About three million people lost their homes in the quake which Pakistan says left some 73,000 dead. The IOM is leading the operation to distribute emergency shelter to the survivors of the disaster. Relief organisations have long been appealing for ‘winterised’ tents designed to withstand the cold of a Himalayan winter.—APP/Agencies.