November 18, 2002	Monday	Ramazan 12, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: The affected people of the earthquakes, which jolted three valleys of Diamir district in the Northern Areas in the first week of this month, are facing great hardships due to non-availability of clean drinking water, fuel and non-existence of sanitation facilities at their camps, says a report of the United Nations Children’s Fund issued here on Sunday.

In the aftermath of the series of earthquakes which jolted the Tatoo, Jal, and Muthatt valleys on Nov 2 and 3, causing considerable loss of life and leaving thousands homeless, Unicef sent an assessment team to the area and provided supplies to the quake-hit people at the makeshift camps set up at Gonar Farm, 28km from Chilas, towards Gilgit, says the report.

“With winter setting in, they are particularly vulnerable,” says Carroll Long, Unicef representative.

The Unicef team, headed by Dr Tameez Ahmad, undertook an assessment of the situation, provided relief assistance to the affected families, including 350 jerricans for storing drinking water, 20,000 water purification tablets, which may last for 35 days and 10 emergency health kits, she said, adding more purifications will be needed.

These supplies were distributed through the district government officials.

“The earthquakes left as many as 11 people dead, 35 to 40 people with serious injuries and up to 4,000 people homeless. Hundreds of livestock were killed and the earthquakes triggered a number of landslides along the Karakoram Highway, which severely hindered relief efforts. The cold weather in the area is making the relief effort difficult,” said Dr Ahmad.

The Muttath and Tattoo valleys in Diamir, about 60km from Gilgit, were the worst-hit areas. These valleys, comprising 14 villages, have a total population of 3,127 people. So far more than half have been evacuated to the camp, said Dr Ahmad.

“In the camp sanitation facilities are practically non-existent. We saw human waste strewn just a few feet away from the tents,” he said.

In addition, the water being supplied to the camp residents was tested and it was found to be contaminated.

Unicef has provided 3,000-feet pipes to bring water from a stream source to the camp and in partnership with the Northern Areas public works department, construction of toilets and bathing places has begun in the camp on a priority basis to prevent diseases like diarrhoea.

The government is also planning to establish a park for children who have been left homeless to help alleviate their trauma.

The Northern Areas administration believes that the affected people will remain at the camp for at least up to four months. “This means they have to brave the severe winter season from December through February when the temperature drops below freezing point,” said the deputy commissioner of Diamir, Mohammad Ali.