Millions Still Shelterless in Pakistan; Winter Temperatures Plummet
World Vision is urgently pushing to get shelters to the millions in Pakistan still left living in the open air as temperatures drop.
World Vision is urgently pushing to get shelters to the millions in Pakistan still left living in the open air as temperatures drop.
Tents, tarpaulins, and blankets are urgently needed as relief organizations fear a second wave of deaths will occur if October quake survivors are left defenseless against the harsh winter. It is estimated that three million people are still without shelters and 150,000 people in remote mountain villages have not yet been reached.
Steve Matthews, World Vision (WV) communications manager said temperatures can drop to 14 degrees Fahrenheit in mountainous regions.
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“Children are especially vulnerable, and acute respiratory infections, leading to pneumonia, are becoming more common in quake-affected areas," he said.
Meanwhile, local community leaders are calling for more substantial shelters than the tents, which they describe as a preliminary measure.
"We need zinc sheets for building shelters. We will also need to warm the tents to save our children from death. Already a few children have died from severe cold and pneumonia," said Anwarul Haq, leader of the Jabouri Union Council representing 44 remote villages in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province, according to WV.
Although WV hopes to supply thousands of shelter kits, containing sheeting, nails, wire, and cutters for added protection, Matthews said that the global relief agency was facing financial restrictions with less than $10 million committed to World Vision’s quake relief effort. In comparison, the South Asia Tsunami raised $100 million in four weeks.
Thus far, WV has provided relief supplies to more than 1,800 families in 99 villages, primarily in the Mansehra area of the North West Frontier Province. Supplies include winterized tents, blankets, cooking pots, quilts, and jerry cans.
