'Siege intensifies humanitarian crises in Kashmir’

Social Experts Call For Immediate Humanitarian Aid

BILAL HUSSAIN

Under siege for four weeks, Kashmir’s humanitarian crisis continues unabated, state government too is doing little to relieve it and provide much need essentials to people. Locals here say they are facing shortage of critical commodities including medicines. The situation here calls for international humanitarian organization to step in, provide the much need support to ease out commoner in Kashmir, humanitarians here believe.
Many experts from the developmental sectors urge for humanitarian intervention to end or either reduce the suffering of the population within the state. “The goal of humanitarian intervention is not that of annexation, but minimization of the suffering of civilians in the state,” they add.
Marketplaces in the Valley witnessed some business for about two and half day since June 25, 2010. Most of the markets remained closed in protest against killings of at least 17 youths, mostly teenagers and injuries to hundreds of civilians in Kashmir. Pertinently, state government also brought in the army to help them to calm the situation.
Expert in humanitarian crises and professor at University of Kashmir, Bashir Ahmad Dabla told Kashmir Times that when people and children in particular are not getting first aid and medicines that is starting point for humanitarian crisis. It has already started here. “Patient doesn’t have access to the medicines. There are reports that in hospitals stocks have got exhausted,” laments Prof Dabla. Kashmir badly needs humanitarian aid in these tough times, he appeals “International humanitarian organization should step in and provide the much needed aid”.
While citing a heartrending incident Prof Dabla said that recently there was a news report on TV channel wherein it was reported that the dead body of 6 hour old infant was kept in a paper cardboard for two days and baby’s parents were not allowed to move for burial.
So far none of the International organizations have started any kind of aid here. “It only Kashmiri culture of keeping some stock of food grains in their homes that has saved them up till now,” Prof Dabla said. He urged humanitarian organizations to provide the much needed aid. International organizations who operating here should immediately do their bit and government should allow them to do it, he pleads.
Markets are out of essential stocks as the traders haven’t taken a fresh supply from past four weeks. President, Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers' Federation (KTMF), Mohammad Sadiq Baqal said that from past four weeks almost all traders across valley haven’t taken any fresh supplies.
Even as the effect on the supplies to the Valley in the initial days of the strike was little, transporters and traders here said the impact there after was severe, and could worsen if the restrictions and protest goes on unabatedly.
The strike badly affected the imports to the Valley. "On an average over 100 trucks daily come to the Valley with vegetables and fruits," said a local transporter, it is “a crisis situation for Kashmir” now.
Besides a severe shortage of stocked food items like rice, flour, pulses, sugar, and many other commodities residents are having a tough time in procuring daily items like milk, bread, and vegetables. “From past so many days I am looking for baby powder milk for my eight month old infant but none of my attempts could fetch me it,” said a desperate father of a child, Basharat Ahmad.
Many unscrupulous distributors and stockiest, according to some customers, have started dumping the commodities to sell them at high prices. In normal times thousands of trucks enter the valley through Srinagar-Jammu highway, but since the restrictions and protests have begun the supply has been disrupted.