PESHAWAR, Aug 6: Minister of State and Chairman National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) Dr Nasim Ashraf on Sunday said that the women relief cell established by the NCHD would remain till the re-settlement of flood-affected people.

He was talking to the women and children at the Women Relief Cell in the Government Post-Graduate College, established by the NCHD for women and children of the flood-affected areas.

A total of 40 families, comprising of more than 160 women and children, are being provided with shelter, free cooked food, clean drinking water, health facilities and other basic necessities of life.

Dr Ashraf was accompanied by District Nazim Himayatullah Mayar.

Dr Ashraf said that women had been affected the most by the floods and both children and women would be provided with every possible support.

He said that a full-time lady doctor had also been engaged in the relief cell.

He said: “Men are stronger and can bear hardships while women have less courage to bear such disasters.”

He said that due to this reason the NCHD had decided to establish a women relief cell as soon as the flood hit the city on Saturday evening.”

Hailing the efforts of volunteers of the NCHD, he said: “The volunteers have played a vital role in the searching of dead bodies, which is commendable. We hope the volunteers will continue in the same spirit in the coming days.”

Addressing the gathering, District Nazim Himayatullah Mayar said that the initiative of the NCHD for establishing a women relief cell was a tremendous idea.

Earlier, while briefing the minister of state and chairman, NCHD, Senior General Manager Aftab Alam said that the NCHD had established two medical camps and two relief cells on an emergency basis on Saturday evening.

He said that volunteers of the NCHD had actively participated in searching for the bodies in deep water and recovering women and children from their damaged houses through boats.