Politicizing Relief

Bilal Hussain 

New Delhi and its other relief agencies have again used a calculated approach in responding to the calamity caused by an earthquake (measuring 5.8 on the Richter Scale) that shook the Chenab valley on 1 May 2013. News report quoting calamity victims allege government of ‘partisan approach’. This has prompted the J&K state government to approach the Government of India (GoI) with a demand for relief package for earthquake hit victims of Chenab Valley on the pattern of Leh which was hit by a cloudburst in 2010.

The cloudburst had resulted in loss of lives and huge damage to the property. The GoI had then sanctioned INR 125 crore relief packages for the victims and also announced that all the damaged structures including houses and other institutions like schools, hospitals and government offices would be reconstructed in three months. Why GoI is silent this time and where are the opportunist relief agencies of India? They seem to be in a deep slumber. Partisan approach, discrimination among calamity victims and religious bias during disaster response is all out visible here in incredible India!

Extent of Loss: India Meteorological Department officials believe that the quake was 10 kilometres beneath the earth's surface. The maximum impact of the quake was felt in Doda and Kishtwar districts. According to an official estimates, about 55,000 families have been affected by the earthquake.  The government has so far made count of damage to 50,000 buildings including residential, government, religious, educational and others. At least 1,500 buildings are totally damaged, 11,000 severely and remaining partially.  The losses are still being evaluated as majority of the area does not have road connectivity. One person was killed and about 100 injured in the earthquake. Given that many school buildings were damaged, majority of the injured are school children. At least 28 aftershocks were felt that created panic among 500,000 odd people living in about 10,000 square kilometre area of Doda and Kishtwar districts.

Reports said that a wall of Government Primary School Pootinag of Kishtwar collapsed leading to injuries to four students and one teacher. One student was injured when the wall of Government Higher Secondary school Chatroo collapsed. At least 27 children received minor injuries at Higher Secondary School Gandoh, Higher Secondary School Sinowa and Higher Secondary School Kilotran.

Relief Measures: A total of 3,250 tents have been sent to Doda and Kishtwar districts (2,500 in Doda and 750 in Kishtwar) but "only fifty percent have been distributed so far", a news report said. However, officials both in Doda and Kishtwar districts say, "It takes time to distribute tents and relief in the area which is mostly not connected by road."

Discrimination: According to a report by Zee News, victims of the earthquake from Doda and Kishtwar allege the government is adopting an "unfair and partisan approach" in disbursing relief to them. One of the victims claimed that "even after 18 days of quake hitting the area no relief has reached and the government is adopting partisan approach in giving tents and ration to the affected people," .  However, the administration countered the allegation by remarking that "It is a difficult and mountainous terrain and it takes time to reach the inaccessible areas."

Future: Kashmir is situated in an earthquake-prone region where devastating tremors have wreaked havoc in the past. On Oct 8, 2005, a devastating earthquake killed thousands of people on both sides of Line of Control. The government has to be ready with all mitigatory and rescue measures while dealing with any future eventuality in form of quakes or any natural calamity. While in-place well build disaster management infrastructure is inevitable however, impartiality would be key to any intervention either by governmental or non-governmental agencies.

Dual Standards Of International Aid Agencies

Bilal Hussain

To some it might be geek that religion, ethnicity, political ideology and geographic location are few criteria, which international humanitarian organizations look for before stepping in a calamity, as it might not be case elsewhere but in Kashmir, it is so. At times even organization might take respite in the kind of disaster that has stuck in is natural or manmade, which makes some lives precious over others.

While going through many of organization’s website contents which make mention of words like impartiality, equality, unbiased and many more such terms that gives a sense of transparency and accountability about their works. However, the role played by most of international humanitarian agencies in Kashmir during the continuing siege of over two months, which resulted into humanitarian crisis was more or less that of mute spectators, except few patchy efforts to avoid earning global discredits have raised many questions.

The recent natural calamity that took away over a hundred lives and left many without houses caught immediate attention of the international humanitarian agencies and instantaneous relief poured in Ladakh region, which amply showed how apt and speedy the agencies are and is worth ‘appreciation’. Even, both state and New Delhi governments too stepped in and started providing much needed aid. Then what is going wrong when it comes to Kashmir, where manmade disaster took so far 62 lives, left thousands injured and tens of thousands are kept under siege, which devoid them from accessing basic amenities of life. Apparently, it seems humanitarian agencies don’t want to offer services to the people with different ‘political ideology’ in Kashmir as that of state hence keeping out. Then is it that international humanitarian agencies by offering generous relief in one place and by not delivering it to others in the same state are trying to please government.

In my earlier report on prevailing humanitarian crisis situation in Kashmir and the role of international relief organizations operating in valley while talking to most of them I could feel sense of reluctance when it came to stepping in these troubled times. Most of them said that they don’t have this and that relief measures in their mandate in the valley, while the same organizations do lots more globally than they do here. Agreed, they can’t do every other thing here in the valley but then what is needed from relief organizations is to tailor their operation in accordance to the need of place particular in these difficult times.

Due to the ongoing curfew, restrictions and protests following the recent civilian killings by troopers, markets in the valley remained closed from past two months. Traders haven’t been able to open their shops and couldn't place fresh orders. Poor sections in Kashmir particularly from urban areas don’t have even money to make purchase of essentials to manage their livings. Isn’t it high time for humanitarian agencies to provide them relief and ensure their survival, what are these agencies waiting for?

Pertinent to mention, the death toll by the Indian troopers in the fresh cycle of protests that started on June 11, 2010 has gone up to 62 as on Aug 20, 2010. The victims include 26 teenagers – two among them 9 year old – and two girls.

Traders too here maintain that older stock is still lying with them and is not exhausted. It is case with one and all traders here particularly from the downtown area. Due to ongoing curfew, people couldn’t move out of their home and are unable to earn few bucks to purchase essentials. The situation calls for aid agencies, at least to provide them basic supplies for livings.

Even as the effect on the supplies—medicines, food items, and other essential commodities— to the Valley in the initial days of the strike was little, transporters and traders here believe the impact there after was severe, and could worsen if the curfew goes on unabatedly.

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. On an average over 100 trucks daily come to the Valley with commodities, the continuing curfew and protests has turned it into a crisis situation for Kashmir.

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 such is the condition prevalent in the valley. How long will aid agencies act as mute spectators?

Moreover many unscrupulous distributors and stockiest, according to some customers, have started dumping the commodities to sell them at high prices. The disruption in the supply has added to the inflation and the prices of commodities have gone up many folds. The prolonged protests throughout the valley and restriction in downtown in Srinagar could cause major problems as the Kashmir is dependent on the food and other essential imports from outside.

If reports are to be believed then since June 11, 2010 there are tens of hundreds of people who have received injuries, the agencies should provide them medical assistance, and where ever needed support should be extended to their families as in most cases they were bread winner of their families. Life saving ambulances, which state hospitals are devoid of, could be possible intervention by aid agencies for each district. The valley is severely in need of medical trauma centers at district level wherein conflict hit patients could be treated and precious human lives could be saved, here the agencies could play a role. There is much more that aid agencies can do and should do in the crisis which engulfs whole Kashmir.

To mention, there are few global humanitarian aid organizations operating in Kashmir: Actionaid International, Médecins Sans Frontières [MSF], Handicap International [HI], Save The Children [STC], International Committee of the Red Cross [ICRC] to name a few. Most of these organizations have been doing (if at all) little from past two months of siege in the valley to reach out to the people and provide them with necessary aid.

This is high time for the international aid organizations to step in and start providing much needed relief to denizens of Kashmir without any prejudice on basis of politics, religion and location who are under cordon. Hope donors agencies too would take note of it and ensure proper measures in providing assistance to humanitarian crisis in Kashmir.

International Aid Organization’s slow response concerns experts

‘Humanitarian Crisis in Kashmir’

BILAL HUSSAIN

The current humanitarian crisis in the valley has raised many eyebrows over the sluggish response of international humanitarian organization in Kashmir; experts have started questioning about their workings.
There are few global humanitarian aid organizations operating in Kashmir: Actionaid International, Médecins Sans Frontières [MSF], Handicap International [HI], Save The Children [STC], International Committee of the Red Cross [ICRC] to name a few. “Most of these organizations have been doing (if at all) little from past four weeks of siege in the valley to reach out to the people and provide them with necessary aid,” said a humanitarian worker.
Professor at University of Kashmir, Bashir Ahmad Dabla told Kashmir Times earlier 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 without any delay and provide the much needed aid”.
While citing a mandate of Médecins Sans Frontières an expert in the field said that MSF provides assistances to population in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters, to victims of armed conflict, which is their global mandate. “They have been providing psycho social assistance to victims here. People need them most now,” an expert suggests.
Giving an overview of MSF’s operations in Kashmir Sasha Matthews, Project Coordinator MSF said, “Over 20 years of conflict have affected the population of Kashmir. In 2001 MSF intervened and started operations in the valley since then we have been providing mental health support to the affected populace. We work in the government run hospitals and do have our own setups as well.”
“MFS is concerned about the prevalent situation here and has initiated the internal assessments of the condition to see to what extent the MSF can intervene. So far, we have approached local community, medicos, hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies to have their inputs,” Matthews added.
Meanwhile, Actionaid International has been working here in the Valley from past many years. “They too are missing on the ground in the present crisis,” said an expert. “We don’t work directly in emergencies more of our work is based on providing psycho-social care to the affected families here. Except Srinagar, we work in six districts of Kashmir. We don’t work directly here but through partner local organizations. So far we have done nothing in the present situation. At present we are only collecting data,” said Shoiab Afara, Project Manager, Actionaid International in Kashmir.
Likewise, Handicap International has been working in India since 1988 and from past year started their operation in Kashmir as well, too seems to have limited their work during normal situations in the state. One of their mandates is to help people with disabilities to access decent employment and therefore improve their social status and economic situation. “How many of disabled people of Kashmir due to ongoing armed conflict have HI provided aid or either provided employment?” Experts ask.
Hundreds of youth have received multiple injuries in the on going protest and many among them are disabled now. “None among the HI team have so far visited any of disabled youth either at hospitals or even have gone to their home,” he claims. Despite several attempts, HI team couldn’t be contacted for their comments.
Another international organization, Save The Children, which works in conflict and disasters situations around globe focusing on children believes that children are the most vulnerable to abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence following an emergency. Save the Children has a dedicated team as part of Child protection in Emergency (CPiE) and they respond to all major emergencies in India, “what about Kashmir? What have they done so far for Kashmiri children here from past over four weeks? Experts here ask. To this STC Project Head Kashmir Sharief said that they are working in more than 100 villages in the valley. “We will be soon focusing our work to downtown area as well,” he adds. With regard to the current crises Sharief said that STC would soon evaluate situation.
Likewise International Committee of the Red Cross [ICRC] whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict. “ICRC delegates ensure that medical services or food aid are provided according to needs to detainees, especially vulnerable groups of civilians or the general population, including in occupied territories,” their website ,mentions. Experts here demand active role of ICRC as over hundreds of detainees from past few weeks are denied food and medicines in the police stations.
Appreciating the recent allocation of two million Euros ($2.52 million) by European Union (EU) in humanitarian aid for the people affected by the present situation in Jammu and Kashmir, their role doesn’t end here only, an expert believes. “EU should stress more on monitoring in J&K and should ensure that funds be utilized in the programs that should benefit deserving most rather than paying hefty sums to staff and spending heavily on administrations,” an expert suggested.
Pertinently, 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.
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. The siege 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.

'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.