December 18, 2002	Wednesday	Shawwal 13, 1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, Dec 17: The German embassy has decided to provide water-proof tents with floor mattings to at least 600 quake- affected families of Astor Valley.

Alexander Knippetr, an official in the counsellor section of the German embassy, responded to an appeal drawing the German government’s attention towards the human disaster in the quake- hit areas in Astor Valley in Northern Areas, Dawn has learnt.

Thousands of people in the quake-hit areas, including Fairy Meadows, Mothat, Dishkin, Torbling, are struggling to survive the harsh weather conditions with little hope of relief.

Despite the fact that the Pakistan Army carried out probably the biggest rescue/relief operation in Asia by air-lifting people trapped in inaccessible areas, the people are still facing a hard time.

The government and other agencies did their best to minimise the sufferings of these people, but their efforts fell short. Najeeb Ahmed Khan, a young man from Astor Valley, who operates a trekking and mountain expedition business from Islamabad, approached the German embassy for help, which immediately responded.

Mr Knippetr accompanied Najeeb Khan to the Astor Valley. The two travelled by road upto Jaglot through Chillas, and since it was impossible to move any further by road, the army officials engaged in rescue and relief operations helped them continue their journey.

With the assistance of Gen Nadeem, the brigade commander and Col Basharat Naqvi, Mr Knippetr and Najeeb Khan were flown to all the affected areas through a helicopter to help them assess the situation on ground.

It was during these visits that the two realised that the tents provided to the people were hardly suitable to provide any protection against the harsh climatic conditions.

The people complained that the tents were ineffective against snow, rain or gusty winds. Most of these tents were torn apart by the strong winds.

In a situation where the tremors are still being felt and almost all the houses either collapsed or damaged, people are not ready at all to spend nights inside what is left of their homes.