ISLAMABAD, Nov 27: The Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) has set up legal aid centres in 18 tehsils of the nine affected districts of NWFP and AJK to provide free assistance to the most vulnerable groups in dealing with various legal matters, documentation issues and other miscellaneous problems.

Speaking at a workshop on sensitising lawyers and other civil society members to the newly established legal aid centres in the quake-affected areas, Erra Deputy Chairman

Lt-Gen Nadeem Ahmed said these centres had been established in collaboration with the Pakistan government, Asian Development Bank and the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Lt-Gen Nadeem said though all the people of affected areas suffered a great deal at the hands of October 8, 2005 quake, still most vulnerable groups were the worst hit. These include widows who head a family, orphans, disabled, landless and the elderly.

He said although every affected person was important, addressing the needs of most vulnerable was a priority for Erra.

He said there was a need for understanding the psyche of the affected people as they were traumatised and their expectation level was high.

Lt-Gen Ahmed stressed the need for effective cooperation and regular interaction between stakeholders for the formulation of more relevant and productive policies.

He said that this responsibility had an increasingly humanitarian side as the accomplished task also received the blessings and prayers of the bereaved and distressed masses.

He pointed out that the quake survivors faced various legal and documentary issues, which arose from the loss of documents, such as property titles, birth, death, marriage and disability certificates, court records, and bank accounts and pension documents.

To cater to the needs of such people, the legal aid centres are being established to provide absolutely free legal aid to these people.

These centres will legally empower these people to assert their rights.