Earthquake heartbreak (From Bucks Free Press)

Earthquake heartbreak

9:17am Monday 5th December 2005 in News By staff reporter

A WYCOMBE magistrate has promised to deliver temporary shelters to desperate survivors of the Pakistan earthquake who face the prospect of freezing to death.

But Arif Hussain, of Wooburn Moor, warns much more is needed to prevent hundreds more villagers from dying as sub-zero temperatures take hold.

Bucks Free Press reporter Benedict Moore-Bridger travelled with Mr Hussain to the stricken country.

They met up with High Wycombe resident Mahnaz Ayub, who flew out to the country after her father was hospitalised when his house collapsed on top of him.

Villagers in the north of the stricken country face a race against time if they are to survive, as there are not enough shelters to accommodate those displaced by the earthquake through the winter months.

And not only have they had to cope with sub-zero temperatures, but people trapped in rubble have become prey for scavenging wild animals such as jackals and snow leopards.

Most buildings in the region have been completely destroyed, with families living in tents near their former homes.

Mr Hussain and his friend Kausar Iqbal, who lives in Islamabad, have also set up a "tent city" to help hundreds of families who have travelled from the worst affected areas in the north-west frontier province of Kashmir.

More than 500 people have been housed in tents in the warmer climes of Islamabad, and a doctor visits the camp every other day.

A primary school has also been set up to help keep children occupied and take their minds of the recent horrors.

Father-of-three Mr Hussain, 40, pleaded with Bucks residents to "dig deep" and help support his Five Pillars charity by giving generously.

"If you believe in God this is a great way of showing compassion and help relieve people's suffering. There are children with amputated limbs, orphans, people who have lost everything: if this does not make you want to help I don't know what will."

Mr Hussain said he wants to go out again in a few months to distribute money he hopes to have collected.

Our reporter has been speaking to survivors, some of whom have relatives in High Wycombe, as they attempt to rebuild their lives after the disaster.