Uproar over food shortage is a tactic of opponents to create hurdles for govt says Wazir Baig

GBE Monitoring Desk
HUNZA, Jan.28: (Shamsuddin Muahammad): According to an Urdu regional daily, Wazir Baig, newly elected speaker of Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly has said that the government was using its all resources to cope with the challenges following the disaster in Attaabad village. He claimed that re-opening of Khunjerab border aimed at assurance of provision of daily necessities in the besieged are of Upper Hunza due to blockade of Karakorum High Way(KKH), the only land route that link between Central and Upper Hunza. He said that a delegation of local traders will be allowed to go to China to fetch the goods to the masses on affordable prices under the supervision of government departments. He claimed that there is no such issue of food shortage adding that was a political tactic from the opponents decry the efforts of ruling government." The essential goods and medicines are sent Gojal via helicopters on daily basis and water from artificial lake would be released with in fourty days," he added. Daily K2.Urdu

Aftermath calamity

By: Shamsuddin Muhammad

www.gbecho.blogspot.com/

Natural disasters have been an adherent phenomenon of creatures on earth in various forms namely land sliding, earthquake, flooding and break out of infectious diseases. With rapid development in the field of science and technology has made partially capable many developed societies to adopt disaster prevention measures to escape danger while rest of the countries especially developing states like Pakistan are under the mercy of natural disasters. Despite, overwhelming development in European states and US, still, human beings seems still at the mercy of natural forces. American soil, for instance endures disasters almost every next year so is the case for many other; yet, an efficient disaster management authority under effective mechanism help control the emergency situation. Unfortunately, many third world countries like Pakistan, the need for such a programme was first felt on government level when a massive earth quake rock a major portion of Azad Jamu and Kashmir and Northern Areas in October, 2005. Nevertheless, excessive focus of both governmental and nongovernmental organizations to the quake hit areas against influx of foreign aid, many far flung areas remained out of the scene. Such a case was that of Attaabad, an unfortunate village 760 Kilometers away from country's Capital, thirty kilometers from Aliabad, the commercial hub and fifty five kilometers from Karakorum High Way above Sarat village like a hanging garden on a steep slope in Central Hunza.The inhabitants of Ataabad village identified very first cracks in both human residential and cattle houses on top of settlement following a high magnitude earth quack hit the village in 1994, causing to damage some of the cultivated lands. The cracks began to widen due to hydrological factors-water from snow melt and rain entered the cracks leading uneven leveling of land and gradual slope failure. FOCUS and Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) in their reports had marked area highly risk zone and advised population to leave the area on emergency basis. Many families with sound financial back ground managed to migrate while others opted for the old huts beyond the crack limits. Neither political leadership nor bureaucracy took the issue bit seriously and the announcement ahead of poles for pre-relocation of the population later fell victim proved mere a political slogan.
The world experienced two tragic incidents at the beginning of New Year. It was tyranny of history that human beings at some places are mourning for their dears trapped under the rubble in an unfortunate valley, Attaabad; many people remained busy to celebrate inauguration ceremony of Burj-e-Khalifa as world's tallest tower or high rise ever built on surface of earth with extensive fireworks crackling above that lit up Dubai's sky and was depicted as people of Arab met a land mark. There was nothing bad if such energies and resources were also applied to alleviation of poverty, prosperity of science and technology through research and development not just on construction of buildings like that of Great Mughals who left a mixed feelings of their specific mentality. Many may argue that why they should mourn on disaster but we say amidst such situation, such activities can be celebrated simply. With in a week, humanity exposed to another tragic incident when a massive earthquake struck Southern Haiti on January 12, Tuesday, knocking down buildings, power lines and inflicting a catastrophe upon a poorest nation in Western Hemisphere. Media sources reported heavy damage and bodies lying on roads and streets of the country's capital Port-au-Prince. The magnitude, according to the U.S. Geological sources confirmed was 7.0 quakes, one of the most powerful quake hit the area ever was first felt in the early morning. The center of the quake about 15 kilometers southwest of the capital and also felt strongly in eastern Cuba. According to updated reports tens of thousand of people have been buried dead while tens of thousands still buried under the rubble. Every country is making its contribution to the affectees of the unfortunate country but the main problem there is the incidents of looting and theft in many areas of the capital since the first day the aid started to reach. Now let’s revisit the tragic situation in slide hit area when every person held his hands to the mouth hearing the tragic incident on television with in few hours. Apprehension became reality when the whole settlement with in few moments turned into rubble, blocked the water flow on Hunza river and Karakorum High Way, the only land route to connect Upper and central Hunza that led to impinge commercial and civic activities in the whole disconnected part of the region. Some of the NGOs and nearly all communities voluntarily participated like a single family in rescue work while officials have been reported reached on third day.

Much more has been written on incident, federal government has made arrangements for displaced families in temporary camp and the high ups of ruling party has ensured their due support to the disaster hit people. The damage was so unimaginable that it out-manure even expert engineers of the country. People who were satisfy with the relief for disaster hit villages are now annoyed with the pace of work undergoing or the release of water from a huge artificial formed lake which has blocked the all means of transportation and supply of basic commodities of life. Where calamity has laimed dozens of lives and property damage, it served to increased difficulties and panic among the inhabitants of the low lying villages of Upper Hunza like Ayeenabad, Nazimabad,Shishkat, Gulmit, Husani. Hundreds of kanal of land is sinking along Hunza river as the water level is rising by 4 feet every twenty four hours. Similarly, according to recent reports on post disaster situation is even more alarming which apprehends the sudden ebullition of lake due to strong pressure on western shore that blocked the passage can reduce many settlements,bridges and land routes from Ganish to Gilgit city. The reports also places emphasis on line departs to ensure the stock of commodities to cater the needs of population in case of emergency. On the other hand, those working on release of water have a single machine to clear more than two miles long rubble with risk of further slope failure southward. With out any doubt , there are many difficulties that regional government is facing in terms of lack of equipment and technology but many people express reservations on apathetic role and interest in release of water and KKH blockade. Besides this there are reports of nepotism and prejudice in air lift facility shown by some of the officials which is not a good news for many of us. Fortunately, as a result of efforts of local leadership and intelligentsia, the opening of Khunjerab border has served an alternative to provide necessities of life to the far-flung valleys in Gojal, Upper Hunza. Majority of NGOs and governmental organizations, in case of a tragic incident always emphasize on physical response like provision of necessities of life like water, food ,Shelter, health and clothing. Yet the many negative impacts of such disaster emerge later as a human response in terms of socio-economic and psychological issues. The only middle school that once served as an early base for male and female students has been perished and students preparing for secondary and higher secondary examinations are among the sufferers. Chief Minister, on Sunday has pledged to extend his full support in relief processes for disaster hit people of the area, which is a good move to win hearts of the poor masses. We hope that both political leadership and beaurocracy will start thinking out of box and start play a public centered role through using available resources to convert difficulties into opportunities and help reduce the feelings of depression. At the same time, we expect government of akistan shall make its contribution according to the capacity in the relief of the poor masses of Haiti as a human responsibility towards others on earth.




The writer is a freelance writer, researcher and editor of VoH,GBEcho and Alshams. He can be contacted via: jaashams@gmail.com

AC Usman rejects allegations of favoritism saying arguments are baseless and highly discouraging

GBE Watch
HUNZA, Jan 27: Muhammad Usman, Assistant Commissioner sub division Hunza,has rejected the allegation of favortism and inhumane attitude towards commuters against the facility by choppers of NDMA. “The news published regarding me in an online regional portal is highly discouraging and unbearable because being a son of the soil I am trying my level best to facilitate the local community”, said the Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Usman talking to the the portal on phone. As a response to a news item published in portal on 25th January,a day earlier, he said, “till today none of my friends or family members visited me in Gulmit as I am myself living in a single room of Chinese Camp”, he further said. “I was flying to Gilgit on the same day and on the request of the pilots four people from Gojal volunteered to give space for an elder women patient with three others with whom I don’t had any relationship”, he explained. “As sympathy I paid the four volunteers 100 rupees each from my pocket so that they would not bear the burden of the ticket from Aliabad to
Gilgit”, he added.
On the other hand, representatives of the relief committee in Gojal has applauded the role of the Mr.Usman in relief operations. “He extends all possible support to the committee and facilitates the local community”, they said, Pamir Times reported.

Rupani donates for Attaabad disaster relief fund

Press release
HUNZA, Altit, Aliabad, Jan. 26: According to a press release, delegation led by Wazir Baig, speakerof GBLA, a member board of trustee of Rupani Rupani Foundation and other officials called on officials of Ismaili Regional Council for Hunza on at Baltit where they offered the invoice of donation for the disaster hit population of Attaabad village. Masaidullah Baig,assistant Cheif Executive Officer and Tika Khan, secretary Ismaili regional council for Hunza, Mutabiat Shah, technocrat member GBLA and others. were also present on the occasion. Dr. Khuwaja Khan, president Ismail Regional council thanked Rupani for their contribution of Rs. 0.2 million to the Attaabad Disaster Relief Fund. Delegation also visited temporary camps at Altit and Aliabad and recited Fatiha for deceased.
Coutesy: VoH