Situation
With snowfall and cold waves, the earthquake victims are facing multiple problems. Their access to road and relief goods is being curtailed due to weather. Climatic changes are also taking place in the affected areas making them more vulnerable to calamities.
According to the Director General of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj. Gen Shaukat Sultan, two lakes have been created by a landslide from a mountain blocking two streams in the Chakkar area of the Hattian Bala tehsil near Muzafarabad. It has posed threat to the people living in scattered houses. The lakes had been formed after the landslides as result of the earthquake blocked the Karli and Tank streams. Gen Sultan told newsmen that due to blockage of rivulets, up-steam water was still flowing and accumulating into the newly created reservoirs and the water level of these lakes was rising that can affect downstream areas of Hattianbala making 12,000 people vulnerable. This is really an alarming situation.
Policy Issues
The issues of land ownership and distribution of compensation are really critical. Actionaids Earquake Relief Program Director Bushra Gohar visited the earthquake hit areas and found that there were a lot of questions around these two specific issues.
On this count, situation is complex as compensation is being given on the basis of land ownership for rebuilding purposes while majority of the affected people were living in their mountain houses built by them on the land of others, the Khans (tribal elders and the rich). Most of them were used to be the tenants of these Khans. There is no clear information available regarding compensation assessment and distribution criteria. Now, it is feared that those who enjoy the land rights can claim compensation. And some cases of political nepotism in compensation assessment and distribution have been reported.
Particularly, women remains behind in getting any complementation as either they traditional own no lands and properties in the earthquake hit areas or they have not national identity cards, ascertaining their existence in the affected areas. Thousands of women, whose husbands have been died, despite being head of the household, are not sure of getting any compensation or a shelter.
Another issue is of the encashment of checks given to the affected people as compensation as the designated branches of the banks ran short of cash.
Actionaid's work
As far as the above mentioned policy issues are concerned Actionaid would continue its policy interventions with the relevant quarters. Actionaid Emergency Relief Program team met in Islamabad today (December 07, 2005) and took stock of its interventions and relief work. All the four field office coordinators and other relevant staff attended the meeting. The meeting decided to ensure visibility of Actionaids work and security to our aid workers to raise their accessibility.
In Mansehra, Actionaid volunteers are doing assessment work. Actionaid is to start distribution of 20,000 Galvanized Iron Sheets (G.I. Sheets) from December 10, 2005 and continue this distribution over a month. Actionaid has set up its store in Oghi in Mansehra. In Batgram area, Actionaid is continuing with its medical camps. Bagh and Muzafarabad offices are to be operated with full strength soon.
Assessment work to provide shelters is on. So far, structures of over 50 houses have been made in collaboration with the community and Actionaid plans to build 200 structures over the next week. With the supply of G. I. Sheets, these houses would be ready to handover to the affected people.
