ISLAMABAD, March 6: The earthquake survivors on Tuesday rejected the reconstruction policy of the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra) as they said the policy had lost its utility because of repeated surveys and demands for bribe specially from the families headed by women.

They were speaking at a roundtable discussion organised by the ActionAid in collaboration with Shirkat Gah, Women’s Resource Centre on “Earthquake in Pakistan and its impact on women, natural resources.” A report based on a research on the subject carried out in Mansehra and Muzaffarabad was also launched on the occasion.

The speakers said a large number of people who had constructed their houses were not being paid the second instalment on one pretext or the other and were being asked to pay Rs10,000 to “qualify” for the compensation amount.

They said some of the people who were forced to live in tents had built their houses, some of them, by borrowing money from their relatives and friends, but were now being punished for completing their houses as the Erra had refused to pay compensation to them.

They said the Erra had promised to provide building material at cheaper rates at the union council level, but regretted that the promise was never fulfilled.

The speakers demanded immediate restoration of all public facilities in the quake-hit areas and regretted that while schools and hospitals were being built, the government was looking towards international donors for the running cost, shrugging off its responsibility.

Participants of the meeting also expressed concern over the unabated wood cutting in the quake-hit areas and called for launching afforestation scheme to obviate environmental threats.

It was suggested to provide two saplings to every under construction household under a campaign to save environment. The report evolving around the lives of women in rural areas of Muzaffarabad and Mansehra after the deadly October 2005 earthquake said the psychological scars caused by the earthquake will take even longer to heal than the years it will take to rebuild the areas devastated by the quake.

In many places the family unit has been destroyed, leaving behind orphans, widows and shattered households. There is a sense of loss, and frustration which had affected the mental and emotional health of the quake survivors.

The earthquake damaged the natural resource base and affected the water systems. In Mansehra, the depth of water in wells receded, while the springs either dried up or were blocked by landslides.

This led to greater stress on the women whose access to their usual water sources had been affected. Similarly, in Muzaffarabad the water sources had been polluted by debris and mud from destroyed houses and landslides. Women’s workload increased since they have to spend longer hours accessing and fetching water.

This is compounded by the fact that the villages are located on high mountain ridges, over difficult terrain, with a few roads leading to the villages. The land that was used for cultivation before the earthquake was now being used to rehabilitate displaced families. This means crops have not been planted, and there may be a food shortage, thus disrupting planting and harvesting of crops.

A significant effect of the earthquake is the fear expressed by women about going into the forest to collect wood. The woman in Muzaffarabad and Mansehra had stopped going into the forest, because they were afraid of another earthquake. This has restricted their mobility, and has had a psychological effect on them.

Another devastating effect was the loss of livestock, since most of the animals were killed or wounded. This has had a severe impact on the nutrition needs at the household level, depriving the family of dairy products.

According to the report a change in social relations had also taken place, and women and men had become depressed, isolated, and intolerant of each other. The social network between families, and extended relations had been broken. Women had suffered severe physical and mental trauma in terms of injuries and illness.

In Mansehra, communities living in isolated settlements were identified. These were situated on high mountain ridges, and cut off from communication.

The priorities identified by the women and men are financial assistance to rebuild their houses, restoration of local water systems, availability of livestock, alternative sources of fuel, rebuilding of roads to improve access and communication, rebuilding of destroyed schools and hospitals. The report also called for health facilities, sanitation, and waste disposal systems.