Rehabilitation of quake victims: Recovery plan ready for approval, says NDMA

Plan includes the reconstruction and rehabilitation of every aspect of life including food, shelter, health.

ISLAMABAD:

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Wednesday said an early-recovery plan for the earthquake affected people of Balochistan was ready and just needed approval of the federal government.

“The plan will soon be presented to the federal government. It includes the reconstruction and rehabilitation of every aspect of life including food, shelter, health, agriculture and education,” said the NDMA Member Operations Brig Kamran Zia.

He was briefing Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch about relief activities being carried out by the army, the NDMA and the provincial authorities on Wednesday.

Brig Zia told the chief minister that the early-recovery plan was devised on the basis of assessment of affected areas of Awaran, Malar, Mashkey and other districts. The assessment was carried out by the NDMA in coordination with provincial authorities.



“Army and other law enforcement agencies were involved in the assessment process as other non-governmental organisations were reluctant due to security concerns,” said an NDMA official.

The CM Balochistan assured the NDMA of his government’s complete support in the implementation of the early-recovery plan, said the NDMA spokesperson.

The early recovery plan was the first phase of the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake hit areas. It was to be carried out by the NDMA and it included reconstruction of basic facilities damaged in the disaster and rehabilitation of normal life for the people who were surviving under make-shift tents.

The second part of long-term reconstruction plan would be decided by the provincial government, said the official of the authority.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2013.