Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Fides Service) - Winter in Pakistan was late in coming but now it is has arrived with a bang. For three days last week heavy snow fell on people already suffering after serious earthquake on 8 October.
Temperatures below freezing were registered in Muzaffarabad and 13 degrees below freezing were registered in villages at higher altitudes. More snow is expected this week.
UNHCR, charged with managing the camps is at present supporting the Pakistan government and NGOs in 139 camps (26 planned and 113 spontaneous). These camps have a total 137,000 people who lost their homes in the earthquake.
According to UNHCR despite bad weather people are not moving from mountain areas to UNHCR camps in lower valleys. This could be either because earthquake survivors received enough food, shelter and blankets to remain where they are or because the roads are blocked by landslides. What ever the reason UNHCR is on the alert and continues to set up camps for another 50,000 people should it be necessary. Some of the tents collapsed under the weight of snow and some camps were flooded because of unceasing rain.
UNHCR is working with NGOs and the people in the camps to improve the drain system and the solidity of the tents. Recently UNHCR completed the last part of its winter protection campaign distributing over 250,000 blankets, 25,000 plastic sheets and circa 17,000 mattresses to more than 100,000 people in camps. It will soon distribute more blankets and mattresses .
UNHCR will also start distributing 40,000 oil stoves in planned and spontaneous camps. Aware of the danger of tent fires, UNHCR is starting a campaign to inform people how to prevent and deal with fire, with illustrated leaflets to show what may be done and what may not be done with fire in camps. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 9/1/2006 righe 34 parole 430)
