NWFP Assembly wants control of quake aid
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2005\10\18\story_18-10-2005_pg1_5
- MPAs unhappy with distribution of relief supplies
By Zakir Hassnain
PESHAWAR: The NWFP Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Monday demanding the federal government hand over all foreign and domestic donations for Frontier quake victims to the provincial government for relief work.
Both government and opposition lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with the aid distribution mechanism, saying it was not reaching many people desperate for relief in inaccessible areas.
Abdul Akbar Khan, parliamentary leader of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), moved the resolution which thanked foreign governments and foreign and domestic organisations for their aid contributions and demanded the central government give all foreign and domestic aid to the Frontier government, as well as compensation for the hospitals, schools, basic health units, roads and other infrastructure destroyed in the affected areas.
Mr Khan said the government was ill-prepared to handle the quake, despite it being well known that the area was prone to earthquakes. He said rehabilitation was the job of the provincial government and so the federal government should give it financial assistance to rebuild people’s lives and the damaged infrastructure.
Maulana Nizamuddin of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) said aid was not reaching shelterless people in Shangla. “They need food, water, tents and medicines and the provincial and the federal government and the NGOs are not paying them any attention,” he said.
Nadir Shah of the MMA complained that aid from the central and provincial government was not reaching many people who were sleeping in the open without basic needs. “At least 500,000 to 600,000 tents are needed to save the affectees from torrential rains and coming snow,” he said.
The US, the World Bank and other foreign donors had given plenty of aid but it had not reached the people who needed it. “Money is coming but there is no distribution. People are looting aid and some are stocking it in their homes,” said Bashir Ahmed Bilour, parliamentary leader of the Awami National Party (ANP). Mr Bilour said the provincial government had not given any grant to hospitals treating the injured.
Riffat Akbar Swati of the PPP-Sherpao said Afghan refugees and Kohistanis were looting relief goods. “They also attacked us and we handed them over to the army,” she said. Opposition leader Shahzada Gustasip said there was plenty of aid but no distribution mechanism. He said the last deadly earthquake in the region destroyed Bisham, in the same area, but the government had not learnt from that. Anwar Kamal Marwat, parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), criticised the lack of management of aid distribution. Another MMA woman member said aid had still not reached 500 villages. She accused the army of “not helping in rehabilitation”.