Alternative means: Volunteers carry food supplies on mules in Chitral

Army establishes relief camp in Ayun union council

CHITRAL: Volunteers have been forced to carry food supplies to the flood-affected areas on mules, an insider told The Express Tribune.

“Supplies to the areas of Kalash and Rumbur valleys are being taken on 50 to 60 mules every day,” he said. “Moreover, there is no alternative route to access these areas and volunteers have no choice but to travel through these means.”

The journey has been both difficult and dangerous.

“A distance that would have been covered in two hours is now over four hours long,” he said.

However, some volunteers have opted to travel on foot.

“Some of them have formed groups and are walking to the affected areas, carrying food packets on their shoulders,” he said. “The food packages mainly contain flour, sugar, ghee and bread.”

The recent spate of floods in Chitral has triggered widespread damage and destroyed a 26-kilometre-long road in Kalash Valley.

Since the road has broken, food cannot be supplied to locals and it has become progressively difficult for NGOs and the government to conduct relief activities.

Relief efforts

The Pakistan Army has established a relief camp in Ayun union council where people from Rumbur and Kalash valleys come to get food packages, stated an Inter-Services Public Relations statement issued on Friday.

According to the document, the army is carrying out relief work in Karak, Lakki Marwat and Chitral.

“The army and troops of the Frontier Corps, with the help of the district administration, have distributed over 110 tonnes of ration,” read the statement. “Moreover, 378 tents have been provided and medical treatment has been administered to 11,000 patients. The statement added a steel bridge has been set up in Reshun by Frontier Works Organisation whereas rehabilitation work is in progress on 12 link roads leading to Chitral.

“Water tankers have also been provided by Chitral Scouts for the affected population,” it added. Moreover, Pakistan Air Force aircraft carrying relief goods landed in Chitral on Friday. It also evacuated some people stricken by the catastrophe.

(With additional input from ISPR and paf statements)

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2015.