PoK earthquake: No relief for victims after 12 years

People in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are angry with the government's sluggish attitude in compensating the victims of 2005 earthquake.

A protest was held in the Muzaffarabad city under the banner of J&K Students' Liberation Front (JKSLF) as protestors accused Islamabad of fraud in distributing relief to the victims.

In an estimate, more than $5.4 billion in aid arrived from all around the world, but even after 12 years of the disaster the victim families have failed to receive any help from the government.

The severe earthquake in October 2005 killed over 80,000 people and destroyed property worth millions of dollars.

The protesters said the federal government and the Government of Azad Kashmir looted money, which was provided by the international community for the relief and rehabilitation of the quake-ravaged region.

They demanded an action against Lieutenant-General Nadeem Ahmad, who was the Chief Military Coordinator for the Military Wing of the Federal Relief Commission (FRC) at the time of the calamity.

Ishtiyaq Hussain, leader of All Party National Alliance in PoK said, "The people are still homeless, dozens of government hospitals still remain in ruins. Those who went missing because of the earthquake, still remain untraced. The promises made by the government fail to get fulfilled".

As another winter season is approaching, the earthquake-affected families in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have no option but to wait until any assistance reaches them.

-ANI