Two years on: Kohistan earthquake victims threaten agitation unless compensated
Victims claim only five per cent were given handouts, 2,600 families still waiting
A 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Sunday. PHOTO: FILE
KOHISTAN:
Earthquake victims from different parts of Kohistan on Tuesday threatened to stage protests if the government failed to start reconstruction of their houses and pay them compensation for their loss.
While addressing a press conference in Dasu, local tribal elder Waliullah, and former union nazim Ehsanul Haq told that over 70 per cent of kacha houses were damaged during the earthquake of Oct 26, 2015 in which 12 villagers were killed and dozens sustained injuries. They disclosed that after assessment of losses by government authorities, only five per cent had been be compensated against their collateral loss while 2600 families were still deprived of their right.
They said that despite repeated requests, the provincial government has yet to disburse the compensation money, due to which the poor villagers were facing worst time while living in partially damaged houses and their lives were at risk due to weather and dilapidated condition of houses.
They told that some of the villagers have rebuilt their houses on their own, but the majority was still waiting for government support as they were unable to bear the expenses of reconstruction.
They said the provincial government has now planned to use the Rs450 million meant for compensating earthquake victims in Kohistan for different uplift schemes. They warned that if the earthquake victims were not paid and funds were used on political grounds, the victims would stage protests against the provincial government.
According to sources at the Kohistan District Tehsildar’s office over 3,000 shacks were either partially or fully damaged during the earthquake and about 300 people have received their compensation cheques. The sources added that process of disbursement of cheques to other victims was under way.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2017.
Earthquake victims from different parts of Kohistan on Tuesday threatened to stage protests if the government failed to start reconstruction of their houses and pay them compensation for their loss.
While addressing a press conference in Dasu, local tribal elder Waliullah, and former union nazim Ehsanul Haq told that over 70 per cent of kacha houses were damaged during the earthquake of Oct 26, 2015 in which 12 villagers were killed and dozens sustained injuries. They disclosed that after assessment of losses by government authorities, only five per cent had been be compensated against their collateral loss while 2600 families were still deprived of their right.
They said that despite repeated requests, the provincial government has yet to disburse the compensation money, due to which the poor villagers were facing worst time while living in partially damaged houses and their lives were at risk due to weather and dilapidated condition of houses.
They told that some of the villagers have rebuilt their houses on their own, but the majority was still waiting for government support as they were unable to bear the expenses of reconstruction.
They said the provincial government has now planned to use the Rs450 million meant for compensating earthquake victims in Kohistan for different uplift schemes. They warned that if the earthquake victims were not paid and funds were used on political grounds, the victims would stage protests against the provincial government.
According to sources at the Kohistan District Tehsildar’s office over 3,000 shacks were either partially or fully damaged during the earthquake and about 300 people have received their compensation cheques. The sources added that process of disbursement of cheques to other victims was under way.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2017.