By Rienk van Velzen - MEER Communications Director
World Vision will begin using airdrops and donkey trains on Saturday to move relief supplies through implementing partners to many of the 100,000 people trapped by storms and avalanches in the remote, upper Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP).
This provision of relief supplies follows a rapid assessment of the situation by World Vision Pakistan staff.
Bulldozers provided by World Vision have cleared 29 kilometres of roads clogged by the heaviest snowfall in 30 years.
"Weather permitting, we will have airdrops of relief items by helicopter and the use of donkeys to reach the most inaccessible areas," said Sigurd Hanson, head of programmes for World Vision in Pakistan.
World Vision has been working with three local partners -- Caravan, CWS Pakistan and Sarhad Rural Support Programme -- in three districts: Upper Swat, Mansehra and Battegram. At least half a million people are affected by this climatic disaster. There are 286 known dead and thousands missing. Snowfall continues as relief and rescue efforts are being carried out.
"A rapid assessment by our staff revealed a much more serious humanitarian crisis than earlier anticipated. We must stress that many areas have not been heard from because they are totally inaccessible by land routes," said Hanson.
The mountainous areas of the three districts are cut off. Roads are impassable because of heavy snows, avalanches and landslides. According to the Relief Commissioner for NWFP, more than 5,000 dwellings were partially damaged or destroyed (Daily "Aaj", Peshawar, February 16, 2005). Food and medicines are in short supply.
World Vision aims to provide food, fuel, quilts and blankets to some 5,000 families. Another agency is handling temporary shelter in the form of tents. The third phase of World Vision's intervention will be medical care and protection for children and women.
"Given the great human needs, we are continuing to appeal for additional assistance and funding, says Sigurd Hanson, who estimates this first emergency assistance will cost US$360,000.
After years of drought-like conditions, heavy rains and snowfall hit Pakistan in January 2005 and continued into February, causing particular havoc to upper NWFP. Torrential rains and snow destroyed standing crops resulting in food shortages.
World Vision has been working in Battagaram and Mansehra districts since last year, rehabilitating schools and health facilities damaged in an earthquake.