On the eve of the first anniversary of the South Asia earthquake, thousands of frustrated survivors marched on the Pakistan government in Islamabad to demand help to rebuild their homes, write Shafqat Munir and Danny Mazliah.
More than three thousand survivors descended on the Prime Minister's office chanting slogans and accusing the Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) of corruption and delays in processing payments.
A further thousand protestors were detained on the outskirts of Islamabad.
President Musharraf has promised to provide every homeless survivor with compensation to rebuild their homes and on Saturday (October 7) appealed to the world community for another US$ 800 million in additional aid.
Compensation payments delayed
But according to the crowd who wore black and red arm bands, symbolizing mourning and revolution and waved banners attacking the government – the money is not coming through.
Most blame the policies of the Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), set up by the government immediately after the earthquake.
"I have lost my legs. My wife has been bed ridden since the earthquake. But we have received no compensation. I have five children yet we are still living in a tent, which is impossible to live in," says 50-year-old Waris Khan, from Mansehra.
"I want to tell the government that I have applied months ago, but have had no response. I need help."
People called on the government to explain why they had not received any money, but no one from the government appeared, despite an hour long sit-in in front of the Prime Ministers office, which also houses ERRA, by protesters who were fasting for Ramadan and sweltering under the hot sun.
The protesters, who came from all over the affected area, were demanding full participation in policies affecting their lives and livelihoods, and also in overseeing their implementation.
Focus on the poor and the vulnerable
According to ActionAid, which he
lped transport the protesters to the capital, current policies should take into account the concerns repeatedly raised by survivors and favor the poor and the vulnerable.
Busha Gohar, project director of Actionaids Earthquake Relief Programme said:
"People from the earthquake affected areas have gathered in Islamabad to protest against the continuous intimidation by the assessment team, long procedural delays, rampant corruption in assessment and distribution of housing subsidies, compensation and cash grants."
Throughout the rally, protesters chanted slogans directed against ERRA and accused the body of cheating affected people.
They also demanded that ERRA should hand over the mandate for reconstruction to the civilian administration and demilitarize all earthquake related operations.
photo : © Shafqat Munir / ActionAid
