PESHAWAR, Nov 23: The National Commission for Human Development has appealed for providing more shelters to quake-affected people as the winter season is approaching. The appeal was made by NCHD senior general manager (operations) Aftab Alam Khan during his visit to Balakot and Garhi Habib Ullah on Wednesday.

He was accompanied by the ex-chairman, Muslim Majlis of Staten Island, USA, Dr Abd-ur-Rehman, social worker Mohammad Haleem Khan and NCHD District General Manager Riaz Hassan Khan.

Mr Aftab said that the NCHD had provided 70 shelters to affected people in Devli Jabbar. “NCHD volunteers are helping the people in installing these shelters. We are planning to provide more shelters with the help of the Majlis,” he said.

Mr Aftab said that donations from the Majlis and other donors would be properly utilized. “The volunteers of the NCHD have compiled a data of the affected people who will be helped on priority basis,” he said

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rehman said that his organization was planning to donate $130,000 to the quake victims and had already donated $42,000 to them.

“Now we are planning to address needs of the affected communities so that future strategy could be chalked out,” he said.

He said that due to coming winter, the affected people were in dire need of shelters. “Tents can not protect them against winter as rain and snowfall is approaching. The NCHD and the Majlis will now focus on shelters to ensure timely protection of the affected people,” he added.