300,000 Set to Die in Pakistan’s Himalayan Winter; Calls for Urgent Shelter

Latest reports have suggested that up to 300,000 Pakistani earthquake survivors may die this winter due to insufficient supplies and aid reaching them.

|PIC1|The huge earthquake that hit the region two months ago now left millions devastated, and killed more than 73,000 people, however, a numbed far larger than this is now under threat from the freezing cold Himalayan winter.

Former Pakistani cricketer, Imran Khan, how is now a politician has stated that hundreds of thousands are still without any kind of food or shelter supplies after being left with nothing from the October earthquake.

Khan has joined the vast criticism surrounding the relief efforts in the country, pointing at the hugely inadequate amounts of money that has been raised and donated by the international community.

Khan commented, “Everyone must realise that shelters have to be taken to these mountainous regions because the people are still exposed.

“Somehow because of the bad weather you are not hearing more tragic news, but it is only a matter of time.”

He continued, “The government of Pakistan needs to have a conference of all those institutions, NGOs and volunteers that are organising the relief work - they must co-ordinate this whole effort.

|AD|“At the moment it's so haphazard, there's a lot of duplication going on, while in other areas no one has got to them still.

“An emergency conference needs to be called immediately and everyone needs to be allocated responsibilities.”

At the beginning of the month World Vision (WV) signed an agreement with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to distribute urgently needed food supplies to an estimated 46,610 Pakistan quake survivors until next spring.

According to reports, the United Nations will devote 50 percent of its total cargo to transport 4,412 metric tons of food – including wheat flour, vegetable oil, lentils, and salt – which will be distributed in Jabbar Panjul, Jaburi, Sachan, Manda Gucha and Jacha, where the bitter Himalayan winter has already set in. About 40 percent of the remaining cargo space will house shelter and other items.

“World Vision is planning to extend the food aid to more families, keeping in mind the miseries of the survivors in this cold weather,” said Isabel Gomes, World Vision Zone Manager.

Adding to the food distress in the region was the timing of the massive South Asia quake, which hit when the maize and wheat harvest was underway. The Food and Agricultural Organisation estimates slightly more than 30 percent of the rice crop and nearly 75 percent of the maize crop have been lost.

As a result, many rural families are struggling from deprivation of their harvest and their inability to cultivate land for the next crop, forcing them to wait until next year to sow new seeds and yet another year to reap the crop. Loss of livestock is another food stress to survivors.

In response to the desperate food needs in the region, WV is distributing food kits containing 20 kilograms of wheat flour, 5 kg of sugar, 3 kg of lentils, 0.5 kg of tea, three litres of cooking oil and two packets of salt to families living in tents in Mansehra town and its adjoining areas.