October 09, 2007	Tuesday	Ramazan 26, 1428

MANSEHRA, Oct 8: Thousands of quake victims took to the streets on Monday in protest against the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority’s (Erra) delay in completing school, health and road projects in the NWFP.

On the second anniversary of the October 8, 2005, quake tragedy, survivors from Balakot, Garlat and adjacent areas blocked the Mansehra-Balakot road near the Hassa-bridge for over two hours.

Some local NGOs, including the Umer Asghar Foundation took part in the protest.

Addressing the protesters, Nazim Garlat Munir Hussein Lughamani, former nazim Balakot Sajjad Ahmad and Temur Raza said that even on the second anniversary, the government and Erra had yet to settle around 40 per cent families.

They commended the world community for its generosity but alleged that most funds had been embezzled and only a small amount was being spent on quake victims.

About 2,500 school buildings were destroyed or damaged in the quake but only a hundred buildings had been reconstructed. Many schools were still being run in make-shift tents, they said. They said that only ten per cent of the destroyed and damaged healthcare buildings had been built.

Housing compensation for most families had been withheld without specifying any reason, they added.