Despair everywhere in quake-hit areas

I had always wondered why armed separatist movements are popular in Balochistan. I had heard about the grievances of the Baloch people. They haven’t been provided basic necessities like electricity, natural gas, communication infrastructure, like roads, and they have always been deprived of a good education system and decent jobs. But I was of the opinion that people in other parts of the country are not living in an ideal state either. People like me are quite influenced by the propaganda that the separatists are few in number and the tribal system of the province and its notables (sardars) are equally responsible for the backwardness of the common people. I also held the opinion that all problems can be solved by choosing better representatives and with a lower dependence on the tribal system.

A recent journey to Balochistan made me believe in one thing: not to believe in so many things. Deprivation, poverty and most importantly, a long-snatched sense of ownership have brought about a situation where the people of Balochistan are fast becoming strangers to those living in the other three provinces. The September 24 earthquake, I believe, also brought an opportunity for the people of Pakistan to prove that they own Balochistan. But the opportunity is seen to be slipping out of everyone’s hands. All that the people of Balochistan now expect from nature, is mercy. But the irony is that they don’t hope for the same from the people of the rest of Pakistan.

After the earthquake, some journalist friends and I decided to cover the most affected district of Balochistan, i.e., Awaran. Senior journalists, who are in contact with security forces and the Balochistan police, advised us not to travel there independently. We, along with the relief workers, followed only one precautionary measure: not to travel with the security forces. Having a cup of tea at a roadside restaurant in Bella, after a two-and a-half hour drive, I observed that workers of the welfare wing of a religious political party were removing the word ‘Pakistan’ written on their vehicles. Upon asking, they told me that the local workers advised them to do so as the word ‘Pakistan’ is ‘not allowed’ in Awaran district. If they don’t hide it, their vehicles could be attacked.

Security personnel deployed at the first check post of the Frontier Constabulary, on the road going from Bella to Awaran, inquired about our details and the reason for the visit to the area. They also advised us to keep at least half a kilometre distance between the two vehicles so if militants attacked, at least one vehicle would be safe. The District Civil Hospital in Awaran is not more than a building that has two hall-like rooms, each serving as male and female wards, with each of them offering a dozen beds. I think only centuries ago could a building such as this one could have been called a hospital as it did not have any X-ray machine, life-saving drugs, laboratory or paramedical staff. Doctors, who were called from different districts after the earthquake, could only treat those with minor injuries. The hospital doesn’t have any orthopedic surgeon, life saving drugs, antibiotics or painkillers.

The people of Awaran, who were already living in vulnerable conditions, are now homeless as well. They don’t demand any luxuries; only food, water and shelter. An immediate ceasefire can expedite relief work; otherwise, the aftermath of the quake could turn out to be even more disastrous. Welfare organisations, like the Edhi Foundation, need security to enhance their activities to areas still in vulnerable conditions.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2013.

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