ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: President Asif Ali Zardari has ordered emergency arrangements to provide temporary shelter to the people affected by Wednesday’s earthquake in Balochistan before the onset of winter.

Presiding over a meeting of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) held at the Aiwan-i-Sadr to review the pace of relief work, the president said that people should be provided corrugated sheets and financial assistance to build temporary shelters so that they were not forced to migrate to other areas because of severe winter.

President Zardari was informed that three medical teams and one field hospital were providing medical aid to around 3,375 people. Fifteen helicopters were carrying out relief work and damage assessment was being made by aerial and ground reconnaissance teams.

The meeting was also informed that 8,185 blankets, 4,300 tents, 5,600 jackets, 4,000 plastic mats, 1,000 sleeping bags and 10,000 ration packs with stoves were being distributed in the affected areas.Highlighting the disaster management strategy for the next five years, NDMA Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Farooq Ahmad Khan said the authority had been able to mobilise donors to support capacity building programmes costing over $46 million.

The United Nations Development Programme for Pakistan and the Economic Affairs Division have signed an agreement for the purpose.