Aid agencies, such as World Vision, have been emphasizing delivery of tents, blankets and food to remote mountain villages before snowfall, expected in two weeks. In the affected areas of Azad Kashmir and North Western Frontiers Province (NWFP), an international development agency helping in Pakistan, ActionAid International, has already reported many survivors dying due to the cold with the onset of winter. Moreover, the meteorological forecasts are warning of extreme cold spells in the region in the next few days, with snowfalls already evident in higher altitude ActionAid noted.
“The weather is really deteriorating and it’s becoming much more difficult. The good days are now really being used,” Jakob Kellenberger, president of International Committee of the Red Cross, said to reporters. “We used the good weather as much as we can to reach places which cannot reach by road.”
Aware of the limited time available, Christian agencies are expediting rescue aids to more than 800,000 people still homeless after nearly four weeks following the historic quake. Although relief workers are striving to provide winter supplies to all in need, they acknowledge the challenges they face, in particular, noting the large area affected and the length of time required to reconstruct the region.
“The worst part is yet to come. This disaster is going to be with us for months,” said Dineen Tupa, sub-regional director for World Vision Central Asia. “The world does not understand this tragedy. In terms of magnitude, there are 30 times more people affected here than in Bam (Iran). And in its own way, this disaster is more awful than the tsunami because of the cold weather and because access is a major obstacle.”
Church World Service (CWS) and its partner agencies, members of Action by Churches Together (ACT), are other Christian organizations rushing to beat winter. CWS and partners have been the largest donors of shelter and food packages in the North West Frontier Province, distributing thus far 3,185 shelter kits that will house 22,295 individuals and providing food packages for almost 18,000 people. In total, 62,075 tents have been delivered to Pakistan by CWS and partners.
“To prevent a second wave of winter-related deaths, we need more relief supplies and technical teams,” U.N. Refugee Pakistan Representative Guenet Guebre Christos said.
As a result of the magnitude and impact of the disaster, the United Nation on Oct. 26 increased its request for aid from US$313 million to US$550 million in Geneva reported the Financial Times of London. Moreover, an agreement between World Vision and the U.N. World Food Program is currently in discussion and could be finalized in the next few days reported World Vision International. The agreement would see World Vision implementing blanket feeding to a target group of 70,000 people over six months.
Michelle Vu
Christian Today Correspondent