Worried Pakistan quake survivors return home

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan, April 8 (Reuters) Six months after a devastating earthquake hit northern Pakistan, many survivors are returning to their native land but with an uncertain future.

More than 73,000 people died and about 3 million became homeless in the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that hit Pakistani Kashmir and adjoining North West Frontier Province on October 8.

A big relief effort, helped by an unusually warm winter, prevented a second wave of death among the survivors and around 30,000 people are preparing to return to their villages after spending the winter in tent encampments.

But many survivors sounded apprehensive as they prepared to return home.

"There is no change in my life. I feel as if I am still where I was on day one of the earthquake." The earthquake was one of the worst disasters to hit Pakistan in its 57-year history.

In some cases entire villages were wiped out by avalanches or were reduced to rubble.

International agencies and the government responded rapidly to the crisis, setting up emergency camps and sending in vital equipment like tents, medical supplies, food and water.

International donors pledged about 6.4 billion dollars for relief and reconstruction work in the devastated zones.

Six months on, the emergency relief phase is almost over and focus is shifting towards reconstruction.

President Pervez Musharraf performed the ground breaking ceremony at a school in the quake-hit region.

"We will reconstruct the homes, health, education facilities and infrastructure better than before," official Associated Press of Pakistan quoted him as telling survivors in the town of Mansehra in the North West Frontier Province.

While the government is chalking out plans to reconstruct the devastated region, many people are reluctant to return to their mountainous region.

But some say it was much better to return to devastated homes than to stay in squalid camps.

"I know it will be difficult to live in the village ... but I want to return. I am carrying my tent with me. I will erect it on my land," 28-year-old Mazhar Elahi said as he boarded a cab along with his wife and three children.

Speaking at a news conference in Islamabad, Jan Vandemoortele, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Pakistan, said major challenges in the coming months were road accessibility in remote areas, potential landslides and assistance for vulnerable people.

"It will be a long haul before the affected people can return to their normal lives." Sardar Mohammad Nawaz, head of the official agency responsible for managing the camps, CMO, said the government plans to provide alternative places to people whose houses have been wiped out or whose houses are in high-risk areas.

More than 1,800 aftershocks have been recorded since Oct. 8 and more tremors are expected until May.

Reuters