The
Pakistan Red Crescent has recently completed an extraordinary
logistical feat in providing assistance to over 127,000 people
in snow-laden northern Pakistan, despite freezing temperatures,
impassable roads and even the threat of snow leopards.
Since January, a team of 50 Red Crescent relief workers, supported
by the International Federation and the United Nations Humanitarian
Air Service (UNHAS), has shifted 942 tonnes of relief materials
to remote quake-affected areas. The supplies were distributed
to over 18,000 families in the North West Frontier Province
and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
As part of a “warm shelter solution” to help vulnerable
quake-affected families get through a second winter, families
were given a variety of items including corrugated galvanized
iron sheets, tarpaulins, shelter repair kits, quilts, blankets,
stoves and shawls.
Several of the distribution points were at a high altitude and
affected by heavy snow. The teams often had to negotiate treacherous,
unsealed dirt tracks by jeep, and then trek for several hours
up steep inclines to reach their locations.
UNHAS helicopters were used to airlift relief items to the most
remote locations. A total of 56 chopper rotations delivered
142.5 tonnes of supplies during a nine-week period. These deliveries
were supported by Pakistan Red Crescent volunteers and workers,
who would camp up in the mountains for several days until the
distributions were finished.
According to Muhammad Basheer, who led the team receiving helicopter
drops at the remote village of Gantar in the Allai Valley, staff
and volunteers were undeterred by the harsh conditions.
“We stayed in a house which had no doors or windows…
It was chilly out there during the night,” says Basheer.
“I was also warned by the locals about snow leopards and
bears, which was a bit nerve-wracking since I used to guard
the relief items during night.
“But in general, we were all very satisfied since we were
working for the people who were left homeless… It makes
you motivated and happy that you are serving humanity,”
he adds.
The bitter cold led to an upsurge in respiratory infections
for people in the mountains and Pakistan Red Crescent staff
and volunteers also faced health problems. Some of the teams
had to rely on melted snow for water until supplies were able
to be airlifted to them and several fell ill. Jamil ur Rehman,
one of the field team members, said nearly all of his colleagues
experienced sickness and two had to be hospitalized.
The harsh weather was not the only challenge. The conservative
culture in some communities towards humanitarian organizations
was also a barrier to be overcome, according to Ifran Hameed,
a Pakistan Red Crescent field officer in the Allai Valley.
“It was all about changing the perception of people towards
us… Nobody had worked with these remote communities before,
so the people were hesitant,” he says. “We first
had to talk with the clerics and village elders to gain their
trust in our work.”
The teams gained that trust and the winter assistance operation
was completed.
It was the latest step by the Pakistan Red Crescent and International
Federation in assisting quake survivors on the road to recovery.
Meanwhile, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes continue,
with ongoing assistance being provided in the areas of basic
health care, water and sanitation, the rebuilding of schools
and health clinics, as well as livelihoods support.
For the tired but satisfied members of the Red Crescent’s
“winter ops” team it’s a job well done. The
International Federation’s relief officer in Pakistan,
Shakeel Malik, says they deserve a lot of credit for their successful
efforts under such trying and treacherous circumstances.
“The field officers took the lead and the volunteers followed
them… It was indeed one of the best examples of teamwork
I’ve seen, which made this operation a success.”
|
 |
 |
|
|
More
than 133,000 sheets of corrugated galvanized iron were
distributed to around 13,000 families in just nine weeks.
The sheeting is used to reinforce traditional wood homes
and can also be used as roofing material to keep out the
snow. (Photo: IFRC) (p15473)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Some
remote communities had rarely dealt with humanitarian
and non-governmental organizations before, so it was a
big challenge to gain their trust (Photo: Colin Chaperon/American
Red Cross) (p15475)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The
field teams often had to trek for several hours to get
to their distribution points. (Photo: Colin Chaperon/American
Red Cross) (p15476)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Pakistan
Red Crescent field team members head off to unload more
relief items from a United Nations Humanitarian Air Service
chopper high up in the Allai Valley (Photo: IFRC) (p15474)
|
|
News
