AAI RESPONCE
Winter has arrived. The international
community is loosing in the race against time coming in as a slow second
to Mother Nature as the harsh weather begins to settle in. Area access
roads are blocked. Icy and treacherous conditions have made already difficult
journeys an extreme challenge. At present, AAI's camp is virtually inaccessible.
Weather conditions have begun to drastically hamper relief efforts in remote
and isolated communities.
Shelter material remains insufficient to meet the needs of the affected populations of the area. AAI with local partnership has successfully implemented the IRAS emergency shelter program. In consultation and with tremendous support from our local partners AAI is forging the path in shelter design and construction. Initially, AAI has made 1000 homes available. Daily, AAI's Director of Operations, Frank Tyler, meets with business executives in an effort to collaborate locally for materials and funding which will allow AAI to continue mobilizing and building suitable shelters. Along with providing essential living conditions, AAI notably is providing the most basic preventative health approach. Shelter, when adequate to combat extreme conditions will serve as the first line of defence and most appropriate mechanism to prevent respiratory illness and other cold weather related health threats.
Reports of death and despair begin to flood into the AAI office as three more shelter experts begin to ready for their fated drop into the harsh conditions of the Himalayas . Effectively the race against time is in the hands of AAI's shelter team of 4 men. Without shelter the morbidity and mortality rates will skyrocket.
AAI continues to provide hands on basic health care in emergent situations while moving into a more mentoring role with local medical personnel. AAI doctors and nurses are vigorously moving toward training and enhancing systems with the local dispensers at Hallen Shamalli, Soli, Pallangi, Gugdar, Tangari, Buhdal, Bhata-Kot and Mirch-Kot in an effort to give back a sense of autonomy and effectively leave a sustainable system founded on the legacy of knowledge.
SITUATION
The Ministry of Health and partnered organizations met yesterday in an effort to prioritize the international aid communities approach to this unprecedented disaster and aftermath. The priorities at this time include but are not limited to; establishing shelter, disease surveillance, re-establishing primary health care facilities, and identifying female health care providers. With an alarming 80% of health facilities destroyed or damaged beyond use the tasks at hand provide a real challenge.
Another area of concern, expected to worsen with the onset of wet weather, is communicable disease. The Chief of Public Health recently reported that Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever has killed one doctor in Karachi . Blood samples have been urgently dispatched and the medical community remains on high alert. An alarming increase of cases of acute water diarrhoea was detected in one of the spontaneous camp settlements in Muzaffarabad and is now believed to be contained. With the weather drastically worsening and aid becoming more difficult in remote regions many of the fears regarding outbreak and deadly respiratory illnesses have turned from fears to reality.
CONCLUSION
With temperatures plummeting to -15=B0 Celsius in the highest settlements coupled with the recent snow fall, the tasks at hand have become increasingly urgent.
AAI continues to work with members of the local population, government and military to provide medical and shelter assistance to the affected population living in the conflict zone situated along the militarised Line of Control. AAI continues to be the only NGO in the extreme zones. The team has been briefed and is thoroughly prepared to meet this challenge and prevail.
Prepared by:
Sasha Poll
Medical Coordinator
Australian Aid International