Relief work by army, FC continues despite attacks
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QUETTA: The Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps in collaboration with federal and provincial governments have distributed 1,100 tons of foodstuff and 30,000 tents among earthquake-affected people of Awaran and Kech districts.
Official sources said that though militants had been attacking teams of the army and FC participating in relief work, they had not left the area and had been distributing relief among the quake survivors.
About 1,500 personnel, including army’s male and female doctors, had been taking part in relief operations and distributed relief goods, including 1,100 tons of food items, 30,000 tents, medicines, blankets, mosquito nets and other necessary items among the affected people in Awaran, Tarteej, Malar, Gishkor, Mangoli, Bazdad, Mashkay, Dandar and other areas of Awaran and Kech districts, they said.
Officials of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority said that 12 army helicopters had been participating in the relief operation, adding that 225 sorties had flown so far for Awaran and Kech.
Army doctors received and treated 2,500 ailing people and those injured in the earthquake, some of whom were airlifted to army hospitals.
The Inter Services Public Relations said on Friday that the army’s relief operation was continuing in Awaran and Kech despite incidents of firing by militants.
“The army will continue to provide relief to affected people of Awaran in inaccessible locations relentlessly,” an ISPR spokesman said.
He said militants attacked an army unit in Mashkay area on Sept 28. “The FC troops moving to earthquake-hit area from Panjgur were attacked by militants, resulting in martyrdom of four FC soldiers and injuries to two soldiers on Sept 28. One rocket was fired in an area near Awaran when army troops were providing relied goods to people on Sept 30,” he said, adding that troops also came under attack in Jhalwari and Nokjo areas on Sept 30.
The ISPR spokesman said that on Oct 1, militants fired rockets on army personnel providing relief in Nokjo and Mashkay areas. He said two soldiers embraced martyrdom and three suffered injuries when militants attacked them in Mashkay area on Oct 2. He said militants attacked thrice helicopters engaged in the relief operation.
