As winter rain and snow begin to fall in Pakistan, the new concern of fire hazards arise as quake survivors try to keep warm in their make-shift homes.
Tents have been one of the highest priorities for quake survivors in Pakistan, but relief workers in Pakistan report that tent fires have broken out in several parts of the country, and in some cases, even killing the people inside the tents.
"Our aid teams have already seen fire in a tent in Balakot. And in Maiddan, two children died tragically in the past few days from a tent fire and others have been injured," reported Marvin Parvez, the Church World Service (CWS) Pakistan-Afghanistan Regional Director, from Islamabad on Nov. 28.
The Pakistan-Afghanistan director noted that many of the emergency tents aren’t winterized, forcing people to light fires inside the tents to keep warm.
"Of course we're all working night and day to provide as quickly as we can whatever temporary shelter we can get from governments' and aid organizations' contributions," Parvez noted. "But we're highly concerned for people's safety in tent environments. Many of these survivors have never lived in tents, have no knowledge of the fire hazards facing them, and they're not being given basic fire prevention instructions or any kind of fire extinguishing equipment," said Parvez. "It only takes one candle."
In response, CWS is urging all non-government organizations (NGOs) to address the “two-edged sword” of Pakistan quake survivors living in tents. NGO workers are asked to “work together to at least give the survivors basic safety instructions.”
Moreover, from the CWS office in Washington, D.C., Emergency Response Program Director Donna J. Derr noted a further dilemma.
"There are no hand-held fire extinguishers in the affected areas, as are available for commercial and household use in some other countries,” she said.
"For extreme and complex disaster sites in frigid climates like Northern Kashmir, certain basic fire-extinguishing aids should be as much a part of tent or shelter supplies as the heating equipment that's also now needed to protect Pakistan's vulnerable survivors from winter's killing cold," Derr added.
The program director said CWS is pursuing alternative shelter options and heating equipment to solve fire hazard concerns.
"There are no perfect solutions and none seem quick enough or in sufficient quantity to accomplish the unprecedented task at hand," reported Parvez to CWS, eyeing the descending Himalayan winter.
Up to 8 inches of snow fell Sunday in some higher Himalayan elevations.
"Now, with snow and freezing rain already falling, canvas tents are wet and offer even less protection from the cold," says Parvez. “How will families keep warm if they can't light a fire?"
Michelle Vu
Christian Today Correspondent