PAKISTAN: Pessimism reigns as quake families struggle to rebuild lives

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

BATTAGRAM, 23 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - Snow has begun to recede from lower-lying villages in areas around the quake-devastated town of Battagram. But, despite the help residents have received and the fact that most families have been able to survive the long, hard winter of the north, many remain pessimistic as to how they will rebuild their lives.

Of the 325,000 inhabitants of Battagram district in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) at least 177,150 people were directly affected by the 8 October quake, which killed over 80,000, devastated the local economy and rendered millions homeless in the process.

"We will start rebuilding our house in a few weeks. The snows should have gone by then," Asif Jan, 35, told IRIN.

Asif and his family, including three children, have been living in one of the informal camp villages near Battagram since the quake, but he now plans to return to his village, located some 10 km away, to begin reconstructing his fallen home.

But while a second tranche of funds from the Pakistani government for this purpose was expected soon, the question on Asif's mind is: "What will happen next?"

In the desperately poor district of Battagram, where the unemployment rate is high, and the literacy rate is just 19 percent – well below the national average of 50 percent – most people depend on their livestock and small pieces of land for their livelihoods.

However, many animals died in the 7.6 magnitude quake, land was damaged and the harvest for the year largely destroyed, since the shelters under which it was stored collapsed in most places. Asif lost a buffalo, and at least 10 goats – a devastating blow to the family.

"We have become beggars. Totally dependent on handouts and food delivered to us by foreigners," lamented Salim Khan, in his 60s, as he gazes out sadly over the mountains that surround Battagram. For the intensely proud and independent people of the area, their plight is difficult – and in many ways humiliating.

"Even our women and children stand in queues to receive bread or other rations. I never thought I would see this day," Salim said. He himself has worked for over 40 years as a stone crusher at construction sites and says: "I still work each day. But many men here no longer want to labour. They want everything just given to them. Their dignity has gone and when you lose your dignity, you lose everything."

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