Pakistan

Unforgiving sky only cover for survivors in Mohmand

Locals say no aid has reached them yet

Photo: Mureeb Mohmand/our Correspondent October 27, 2015

A child plays in Pandyali amid things rescued from houses damaged in the earthquake. PHOTOS: MUREEB MOHMAND/EXPRESS

PANDYALI: For people living in Pandyali and Danishkol in Mohmand Agency, Monday’s reverberations first shook the ground beneath their feet and then stole the roof from their heads. Inhabitants of over 40 houses in Danishkol—some destroyed some partially damaged—had no choice but to sleep under the naked winter sky as no tents or relief reached them till this report was filed.

Over 400 houses in the agency have been impacted, some razed to the ground, others in need of repair work. The administration, khasadar officials and Frontier Corps are collecting data of damaged infrastructure.

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Hardest hit, sans aid

Pandyali and Danishkol are two of the most affected areas in the agency.

Debris from homes in Pandyali. PHOTOS: MUREEB MOHMAND/EXPRESS

“The houses were made of mud; they were badly damaged,” rights activist Rahim Shah told The Express Tribune on Tuesday. “Only khasadar officials have surveyed the village but no relief goods have been supplied yet,” said Shah, who is from Muhammadi Kor, Pandyali.

“Portions of my mud house have been damaged,” said Rabia Bibi in Pandyali. “Although the house is still standing, it is not possible for us to live here – it might collapse in case of rain or aftershocks.”

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It can all fall down

Chaman Gul said his forefathers made the houses in the village with stones from nearby mountains. “All the rooms [in my house] have not collapsed but we cannot sleep inside as we fear the walls might cave in on us.” He also said no relief has been sent by the government.

“We are in the low-income bracket; most of us are farmers or daily labourers. How will we afford to rebuild or repair?” asked Gul.

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Irshad, also a resident of Pandyali, was busy repairing one of the rooms damaged in his house. He said he knew it would be dangerous to live there but he also knew he had no other option but to make repairs and stick it out as there was no more money to rebuild. “We can only rebuild if someone gives us financial assistance.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2015.