The Muslim Hands International (MHI), a UK based non-governmental organisation, has constructed over 100 shelter homes in Chamankot and Rahimkot of district Bagh, Azad Kashmir.
These shelter homes were constructed to provide accommodation to 100 displaced families both in Chamankot and Rahimkot. It is race against time and we want to provide as many shelters as possible to the people before snowfall, said Country Director MHI, Syed Zia-un-Noor Shah.
Giving the details, he said that Muslim Hands was constructing over 2,000 shelter homes only in district Bagh. Apart from Bagh, he said they were also constructing shelter homes in other district of AJK and NWFP. "We were the first to initiate shelter homes project in different areas of NWFP and AJK and would build more than 6,000 shelters for the displaced families," he added.
He feared more casualties during snowfalls if the people living at high altitudes were not provided shelters in time.
Zia-un-Noor underlined the need of a joint and co-ordinated effort both by NGOs and governmental agencies to protect people from looming snowfall.
"The government should involve NGOs, communities and local politicians to further speed up its relief operation. It is an uphill task and the government alone can not accomplish it," he added.
Shelter homes are urgent need of the people in quake affected areas to avert another wave of deaths in the Himalayan mountains.
He asked the other NGOs and government to pay more attention on providing shelters rather than food, as tents are not viable option in the snowy season.