UNICEF to revive schools in quake-hit northern areas of Pakistan
Pakistan Times National News Desk

GILGIT: Various aid agencies working in quake-hit areas are fighting tooth and nail to win the battle against natural calamities, the chilly winter and lethal diseases that pose a constant threat to people living in tents and other makeshift arrangements in the areas.

The Maira Camp, a tent village in Shangla district, NWFP, is one of the places where more than 350 families have taken shelter following the devastating earthquake that left more than 70,000 dead and thousands others injured besides rendering thousands of people homeless in Kashmir and NWFP.

An official said that the about five thousand people from the worst hit Allai village were registered in the camp, fully equipped with various aid agencies under the overall supervision of Pakistan Army.

Major Shehzad Ibrahim, the in charge of the camp said that with manpower of nearly 100 Jawans, the Pakistan Army reached Maira on October 30 and chalked out a comprehensive plan next day to set up a tent village in the area. Spread over 37,000 square kilometres, with more than 320 tents erected, the Maira Camp is now a complete village by any standard of definitions.

Clean drinking water, a school, dry food, a public call office, play ground and much more is available round the clock to the residents, he added.

Major Shehzad said that the representatives from Unicef, UNHCR, WFP, Save the Children, CRS, USAID, IUM, German-Austrian Red Cross, Solidarity NGO, Al Khidmat Trust and many other regional NGOs are doing a lot, but quietly without any fanfare with the sole purpose to help the deserving in this hour of national tragedy.

At least 100 students were present on the first day to celebrate the resumption of education.●