PESHAWAR: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in consultation with the district administrations has identified 178 places for setting up relief camps, where approximately 2.4 million people can be accommodated in case of an emergency.

According to a notification, camp sites have been identified as a precautionary measure to provide immediate relief to the affected areas in case of natural disasters and emergencies.

A statement issued here said that the relief camps would be set up in Mardan, Swabi, South Waziristan, Tank, Peshawar, Mohmand, Khyber,

Lakki Marwat, North Waziristan, Bajuar, Upper Chitral, Malakand, Haripur, Abbottabad, Kohat, Orakzai, Hangu, Kurram and Karak.

Such places will not only offer accommodation facilities to the people, but also extend healthcare and ration, besides having makeshift schools to facilitate the children to continue their education.

The statement said in order to shift the affected people to safe places, the administration of each district would have to inform people well before such step.

It said the district administrations will hold review meetings in January each year to either establish camp on the same site or select another place and then inform the people and the authorities concerned regarding such measure.

Meanwhile, the PDMA has notified 106 places in the designated 19 districts to set up relief camps.

In October last year, it had notified 74 places in 16 districts.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2020