Visit report by LUMS (Lahore University of Management Sciences) team.
VISIT TO KASHMIR. BAGH, KURUM KHAR, DIR COT AND HUB CHOWKI.
OCT. 15TH AND 16TH 2005.
Dr. Nasir Afghan?Professor at LUMS.
Mr. Ali Raja?? LUMS alumni, civil engineer, contractor.
Mr. Shahid Khan?NGO. Indus Earth Trust. CEO.
This was a 2 day intensive visit to assess the reality on the ground for ourselves and conclude the most appropriate way of providing physical comfort before and after the winter, to the areas most affected by the earth quake.
Our interest was to identify a small community with whom we could be the most affective in social mobilization and rebuilding homes, using earth quake resistant structural methods.
To this end we traveled to three areas higher than Bagh, which had been badly affected by the Earthquake.
Our analysis on the social level indicates that it is imperative that all assistance, no matter what form, is channeled either through NGOs who know the area and/or have good networking, OR through the army. The latter is extremely well organized and dedicated to the relief operation. They also have personnel who are equipped and trained to reach remote villages, which can only be accessed by foot. Their input to this relief cannot be over emphasized.
There is complete chaos in Bagh as truck after truck is dumping their goods either on the roadside or any field they can find. Trucks are being stopped en route and goods distributed to people, thus holding up traffic for hours. These are drivers who have been hired to go to Bagh, issue the goods and return for the next consignment. Obviously they are either ignoring their instructions to deliver specifically to NGOs/Army or have been given inadequate instructions from the source.
We came across mile upon mile of relief trucks from Pakistan, UK (Bradford, Leicester, Manchester) and Germany. Doctors from Turkey, Malaysia and Sweden. Mobile clinics and of course Idi ambulances.
Unfortunately we saw no evidence of Kashmirs either helping themselves or helping fellow Kasmiris that have suffered because of this disaster. In speaking to others there also appears no evidence of Kasmiri politicians helping their people.
Brother not helping brother (specific example), communities watching rescue efforts being conducted by either the army, volunteers from Pakistan or foreign aid workers. The Govt.college in Bagh has been completely destroyed. Yesterday- 16 th Oct- I saw and filmed only 6 army personnel trying to bring out the bodies of 25 students that are still buried in the classrooms. This college is 5 minutes walk from the main bazaar- which is intact and full of people. Not a single Kashmiri was there to assist the army except for one teacher. No one from the community helped to bury any dead body that was not known to them. They lay there for days, until the army or Idi buried them.
Categorically, from the time we were there, no out break of plague or cholera has been reported, as has been in the media.
The best NGOs we came across in the area, are Islamic Relief who have been there for many years and NRSP.
LUMS has established a camp in the Bagh army camp with 22 students from their Mountain Treking Team. These young men under the leadership of Dr. Shoaib Khan (professor at LUMS), have provided invaluable service by reaching villages on foot, given assistance to survivors and provided accurate in the field information ? an aspect that is often overlooked. They are distributing corrugated metal sheets, tents, medicines, blankets and warm clothing before the snows come. LUMS is also considering a long term rehabilitation programme somewhere in Kashmir.
URGENT NEED.
Our assessment is that in the mountains no one- at least to the three communities we spoke- is willing to leave their destroyed homes. Land and property is almost sacred to these people. All the timber that has been used to build these houses can be reused, furniture can repaired and most important all their worldly possessions are buried under the collapsed roof. These people will guard their destroyed homes through the winter and start rebuilding in the spring- March. In our opinion very few, if any, will come to live in the relief tent camps being set up at great expense.
* Blankets and warm clothing.
* Gas cylinders with cooking ring.
* Flash lights.
* Lanterns.
* Snow falls up to 3-4 ft deep. Admittedly tents are better than nothing, but only the really well built ones will be able to with stand the snow load.
* Corrugated metal sheeting, to enable the villagers to at least build one room themselves to pass the winter. The villagers are asking for these NOW so that they can build themselves the walls needed for this room. There is plenty of material that they can be salvaged from their destroyed homes to do this.
[8-10 ( 3'x12') sheets will provide a roof for a room 10'x 8'. Costing approx. $13.5/Rs.800/sheet.]
* Most of the villagers have already stocked up for food to see them through the 3 months of harsh winter. This is routine every year. Some requested atta (wheat) and rice.
WHAT IS NOT NEEDED.
Owing to a lack of understanding of what the communities really need, the media and NGOs- who are not operating here- have provided information which is inaccurate.
In any disaster it is very important to get accurate advise and where not available than go and check it yourself.
In many ways we have altered our thinking in the way we will provide both long and short term relief by this visit.
* Bottled water. We saw many places- roads, fields- where crates upon crates of mineral water have been thrown. The people here get their water from streams which are healthier and have genuine minerals in them. Bottled water is being used for washing clothes and vehicles. In time they will find there way to the market for sale to tourists.
* Old clothing. Completely abandoned by the road side in stacks. Only sweaters are needed. Other clothing is of no use. They have been rejected.
* Food of any type except rice and atta.
* There are plenty of medicines with the right people (doctors, health field workers, clinics, field hospitals). Sending these without it being specifically ear marked for a medical official/clinic/field hospital will lead to waste. We saw many examples of cardboard boxes lying in fields with the contents strewn on the ground. Syringes, drips for transfusion, heavy duty antibiotics, panadol, stomach ailments medicines, cough mixtures, bandages, swabs, ointments. Not only will these become an environmental hazard but are dangerous. It is only a matter of time before children start playing with these items. Puncture themselves or swallow something that will create great harm.
* The point here is that well meaning individuals are spending time and money in doing the wrong things BY NOT FINDING OUT THE CORRECT WAY of delivery.
OUR CONCLUSIONS.
* These communities need very specific help both in the short and long term..
* Contact NGOs/army working in the area and listen to what they advise.
* If anyone is a large donor and not affiliated with an NGO, than go yourself to the field and make your own assessment. Take people who know this business with you.
* In the short term provide items that we have identified in the NEED list. (There are bound to be others.)
* Be careful in the delivery system. Tents which we had ear marked for a specific location, being sent by another NGO, were high jacked along the way and very sadly the driver and doctor accompanying were killed. Choose your routes very carefully and have sufficient man power to provide protection. Most of the trucks we saw had 3-5 people traveling in the truck. Send with army convoy or definitely travel in groups.
* The most important aspect of providing assistance will be the long term re habilitation, re construction programme. Carefully choose the area you feel most comfortable in. Do not enter an area where you have no experience yourself or are not being advised by experienced people in the field.
* Donate money to ONLY those organisations/ institutions you know will deliver.
* Be aware; there are bandits are out there to take what they can- goods, money- and prevent your resources from ever reaching its target. It's a cruel world.
Shahid Khan.
CEO.
Indus Earth Trust.