Earthquake aid 'in short supply'

By Ayub Tareen
BBC Urdu Service, Ziarat

Reports say some supplies are not getting to those who need them

Relief efforts in Pakistan's earthquake-hit province of Balochistan are being hampered because of a shortage of supplies.

Reports say some aid is not reaching those who need it as it is being stolen by people unaffected by the disaster.

At least 300 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured in the 6.4 magnitude tremor last Wednesday.

Rescuers have spent the days since trying to help tens of thousands of people. Nearly 50,000 lost their homes.

See a map of the affected area

"The main reason is that unaffected people from nearby districts have also arrived to claim the aid," a disaster victim told the BBC Urdu Service.

"The goods are then sold in local markets."

Locals also claim that the relief goods are being distributed on the basis of political affiliation.

This has been denied by the mayor of Ziarat, Dilawar Kakar. Ziarat was the area worst hit by the earthquake.

"All the relief distribution is being done by the army, and not in our control," he said.

Illness

According to government estimates, 120,000 people have been affected by the earthquake.

Most of these are based in the northern district of Ziarat.

Most of the dead and injured were from the Wamwarchoom and Kowas Gharbi sub-districts of Ziarat.

These are the places where the main relief camps have been set up and the relief goods distributed.

Relief workers in the area said the other major problem was the approaching winter.

Doctors in the area say incidents of flu and pneumonia are on the rise, especially among women and children.

They say that the government needs to keep the winter in mind when doling out relief supplies.

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