Six
months have gone by since a deadly earthquake, measuring 7.6
on the Richter scale, killed more than 73,000 people and left
over 3.5 million homeless in a remote and rugged area roughly
the 28,000 square kilometres in size. In many ways, it was one
of the most difficult and challenging relief operations the
humanitarian community, including the Red Cross Red Crescent,
have faced in recent years.
What’s more, the timing of the disaster pitted relief
workers in a race against time to get help to tens of thousands
of people in rural mountain villages before the start of winter.
The rocky and dangerous terrain proved to be a major obstacle
– some roads were only accessible using mules or small
trucks, while other areas were so remote they could only be
reached via helicopter.
Another challenge for the entire humanitarian community was
the shortage of available funding and the slow rate at which
donations trickled in at the beginning. Many organisations were
forced to take financial risks in order to ensure that the delivery
of relief was not interrupted.
Taking all of this into consideration, it’s fair to say
that the relief operation in Pakistan has been a success. However,
considerable challenges still lie ahead and the international
community must be ready and willing to respond to the ongoing
needs of the quake survivors on their road to recovery.
Over the past six months, the Pakistan Red Crescent Society
and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies have delivered 18,000 tonnes of relief supplies by
air, road and foot to more than 740,000 people in Pakistan.
The intense efforts made by the humanitarian community to reach
people in the weeks before and during the winter have paid off.
The resilience of the survivors, the tireless work of Pakistan
Red Crescent volunteers and staff, and the well-coordinated
response of the Pakistani authorities have also played a major
role in preventing a much-feared second wave of deaths due to
illness and exposure to the cold.
Now that spring has arrived and the recovery phase is getting
underway, the focus of our efforts must be on enabling people
to return to where they once lived and helping them to rebuild
their communities. Understandably, they are eager to be able
to provide for their families and send their children back to
school.
The Pakistan government has taken the lead role in reconstructing
homes but houses are not enough to create a community. We must
also provide them with vital public infrastructures such as
water and sanitation facilities, schools, health clinics and
livelihoods – all of which must be done in collaboration
with the affected communities.
Local populations are best-placed to know what their needs will
be and it must be them who lead discussions on what their reconstructed
communities will look like. It’s vital that the recovery
operation take into account local customs and traditions.
The people of northern Pakistan have shown incredible resilience
in the face of this terrible tragedy. In the first few weeks
after the quake, many were so traumatised it was difficult for
them to carry out work of any kind. But they soon started to
help themselves by clearing rubble, and rebuilding their shelters
and livelihoods – something which strengthened the capacity
of the humanitarian community to deliver the necessary relief
and support.
Over the coming months, their resilience will again be tested
as they face the possibility of landslides and flooding due
to heavy rains. Our goal is to continue to support communities,
and provide a safety net for vulnerable groups, as they face
these challenges and take the lead in rebuilding their lives.
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Over
the past six months, the Pakistan Red Crescent Society
and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies have delivered 18,000 tonnes of relief
supplies by air, road and foot to more than 740,000 people
in Pakistan.
(p-PAK0545)
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