March 15, 2008	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 6, 1429

LAHORE, March 14: Four days after the deadly blasts that rocked Lahore, people in the worst-affected areas are still struggling to come to terms with their losses.

Samuel, a driver who works for the Catholic organisation Caritas, located within the striking distance from the blast site, said: “We’re all very traumatised. I have lost my beloved daughter Mirab and one of my sons is still in hospital,” all the while hugging his youngest son who looked visibly distressed.

“Nobody from the government has come to assist in clearing anything, everything is exactly as it was,” he lamented, adding: “Both my sons are having hearing problems, and are in a state of shock. If someone even knocks the door, my youngest gets so scared, he can’t get it out of his mind.”

His house remains in ruins, with the front wall exposed to the elements, though the family struggles on. “We also believe that there is a dead body under the rubble as we can smell its stench,” he said. An incensed neighbour added: “What will it take for us to receive any help? Must the whole building collapse?”

Tens of schoolchildren are thought to have been left deafened by the blasts, but the picture will only become clearer once parents of the children are invited back to collect their bags on Monday, between 8am and 9am.

Sister Parveen Rehmat, principal of the Sacred Heart School which was worst-affected, said that the school had planned to organise psychological therapy as well as “spiritual healing” for its 1,300 pupils and 55 staff when it re-opens on March 25. In spite of the odds, she remained undeterred. “We feel God’s presence with us, and will until the end of time,” she said.

While the classrooms are locked, broken glass lines the floors and rows. Flasks which were dropped on the wayside and rows of school bags placed on desks lay testament to the chaos of that fateful Tuesday morning.

Raymond Rozario, Caritas executive secretary, said that officials from the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) had visited the premises on Thursday to assess damages, but had failed to turn up as promised on Friday.

According to estimates conducted by private contractors, damages for the repairs will come to Rs7 million. “We’ll have to wait and see how much the government will be willing to assist us,” he said.

Asked whether Caritas would consider moving its premises because of ongoing security concerns, he replied: “The FIA should be the ones to move their building – we [Catholics] have been here for 100 years, and we’re not moving.” He added that, until now, no government official had come to offer condolences in their official capacity.

That might change on Saturday (today) when Chief Minister Ijaz Nisar makes an official visit. For everyone here, it’s long overdue.