As the first heavy rains and snowfall heralded the early arrival of
winter this weekend, IOM Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) continued
disaster preparedness training for vulnerable communities in
high-altitude areas of northern Pakistan.

RRTs reported several roads blocked by landslides and snow,
including access roads to the Neelum valley, where the October 2005
earthquake sheered away mountain sides and left them highly
unstable.

Landslides were also reported in Chinari village in the Jhelum
valley of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and on the main road
leading to the Kaghan valley near Ghanool, 57 kilometres from
Mansehra in NWFP.

But despite the weather, the RRT based in the Neelum valley
provided first aid and first response training to more than 150
villagers in Chattar, Doga and Mera Mand Garan in the Heer Kutli
union council through the weekend. Similar sessions will be held in
Muslimabad and Batmang villages this week.

“We are cautiously optimistic that the people will be much
better prepared to cope with disasters this winter,” says
John Sampson, the manager of the RRT project, which is funded by
American International Group Disaster Relief Fund.

To increase the pool of disaster first responders this winter,
the RRT programme also plans to train staff of relevant government
departments, some UN agencies and NGOs active in earthquake
affected areas.

For more information, please contact:

Saleem Rehmat

IOM Pakistan

Tel +92 3008565967

E-mail: "mailto:srehmat@iom.int">srehmat@iom.int