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UNHCR provides heaters, fire-safety training in relief camps
16 January 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.
Media Contact: Ms. Vivian Tan, Mobile: 0300 500 1133
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