Wednesday, October 12, 2005
IAK - Update 1
Remote villages close to the LoC are still facing a grim situation with no food or shelter after 5 days of the quake. A survivor was recovered from beneath the rubble in the village of Chappar on Wednesday. In Kamal Kote, aid finally trickled in on Tuesday.
The town of Uri has started receiving aid in trucks and military transporters. However, this aid cannot reach the town of Bagh just 4 kms away and on the other side of the LoC because of political reasons. Pakistani authorities have allegedly ruled out allowing Indian troops to carry out relief works in P.A.K. Even so, there is one incident reported by a couple of sources that Indian soldiers crossing over to P.A.K. to retrieve Pakistani guards stuck in a bunker. It was later clarified that Indian soldiers only crossed over unarmed to hand over some tools. In other news, six Indian soldiers carrying aid on foot to a village near the Kashmiri town of Tandgar have been killed in a landslide.
Even while there are reports of aid reaching the town of Uri and the military's willingness to help survivors on the other side of the LoC, there are reports of desperate conditions in villages around Uri. For example the hamlet of Gawalan - 15kms from Uri - received no aid so far. Same situation in nearby villages that are not very accessible.
There are reports that JKLF is doing relief work in Uri and JKLF chairman Yasin Malik is stationed in Uri for 4 days to oversee relief operations by his group. But what about the above hamlets? Who's taking care of them?
Meanwhile, U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator said that "the global emergency relief system is overstretched, needs coordination and has less than half the funds needed". He said that nations need to draw their own national disaster plans to avoid delays. Some Himalayan communities will likely have to wait 2-3 weeks before they receive aid. The delay in aid is causing frustation resulting in attacks on relief personnel and among survivors.
Earlier, relief efforts were hampered by torrential rains. The weather has cleared up now allowing movement of helicopters delivering aid.
There is a serious threat of epidemic disease disaster during rotting remains and water-borne diseases. Also a huge problem is non-treatment of the injured. The coming winter is another big worry. Even pregnant women are being forced to sleep in the open.
The town of Uri has started receiving aid in trucks and military transporters. However, this aid cannot reach the town of Bagh just 4 kms away and on the other side of the LoC because of political reasons. Pakistani authorities have allegedly ruled out allowing Indian troops to carry out relief works in P.A.K. Even so, there is one incident reported by a couple of sources that Indian soldiers crossing over to P.A.K. to retrieve Pakistani guards stuck in a bunker. It was later clarified that Indian soldiers only crossed over unarmed to hand over some tools. In other news, six Indian soldiers carrying aid on foot to a village near the Kashmiri town of Tandgar have been killed in a landslide.
Even while there are reports of aid reaching the town of Uri and the military's willingness to help survivors on the other side of the LoC, there are reports of desperate conditions in villages around Uri. For example the hamlet of Gawalan - 15kms from Uri - received no aid so far. Same situation in nearby villages that are not very accessible.
There are reports that JKLF is doing relief work in Uri and JKLF chairman Yasin Malik is stationed in Uri for 4 days to oversee relief operations by his group. But what about the above hamlets? Who's taking care of them?
Meanwhile, U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator said that "the global emergency relief system is overstretched, needs coordination and has less than half the funds needed". He said that nations need to draw their own national disaster plans to avoid delays. Some Himalayan communities will likely have to wait 2-3 weeks before they receive aid. The delay in aid is causing frustation resulting in attacks on relief personnel and among survivors.
Earlier, relief efforts were hampered by torrential rains. The weather has cleared up now allowing movement of helicopters delivering aid.
There is a serious threat of epidemic disease disaster during rotting remains and water-borne diseases. Also a huge problem is non-treatment of the injured. The coming winter is another big worry. Even pregnant women are being forced to sleep in the open.
