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UNHCR provides heaters, fire-safety training in relief camps

January 16, 2006

ISLAMABAD, January 16 (UNHCR) - The UN refugee agency has started the second phase of its winterization drive by distributing heaters and kerosene to help people stay warm in relief camps amid rain and snow in the quake-devastated north of Pakistan.

On Sunday, families in two camps in the Siran Valley near Mansehra received heating stoves and kerosene from UNHCR, the lead agency for camp management in the UN earthquake relief effort.

"This new heater is a life saver," said Mohammad Ibrar, chairman of the social welfare committee at New Bhogarmang camp, as he huddled with his family around the heater donated by World Vision. At more than 1,200 metres above sea level, the camp and its 75 families have been struggling through sub-zero temperatures at night.

Another 132 families in nearby Old Bhogarmang camp also received heaters and kerosene over the weekend. UNHCR plans to complete this phase of winterization in eight camps in the Siran Valley this week, supplementing earlier distributions of tents, blankets, plastic sheets and mattresses.

To minimize the risk of tent fires, leaflets on fire safety and prevention were distributed along with the heaters. Community fire safety teams have also been set up to sensitise camp dwellers on appropriate use of heaters and what to do should a fire break out.

"Most of them already know how to manage fire - they cook with fire and use it for heating," said Markus Lampus, a logistics officer from German NGO THW (Technisches Hilfswerk) training the fire-fighting squad in New Bhogarmang camp. "Today's training emphasized specific points about using kerosene and ensuring that children are also included in fire and kerosene safety awareness."

In New Bhogarmang, the fire-fighting team is headed by Mohammed Arshad, a Pakistan army veteran with a lot of experience in fire-fighting. "When it comes to fire prevention, the most basic and important thing is that the families take care where they place the heater and ensure that children are kept away from it," he said. "If there is a fire, we'll use our experience with sand and clay to put out the fire, as well as fire extinguishers provided by THW/UNHCR, which are particularly useful if the fire is dispersed."

Similar stove distributions and fire safety training are taking place in 144 camps in the quake zone, including in Abbotabad, Mansehra, Balakot, Batagram, Bagh and Muzaffarabad. UNHCR has set aside 40,000 stoves for heating, and will continue to provide kerosene for heating throughout the winter.