Concerns over health conditions in north

Concerns are growing over deteriorating health conditions in northern parts of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) after two months of torrential rains and record snowfall in the isolated region. "As the roads are opening and inner areas are getting more accessible, health concerns are increasing. Intense weather has caused huge displacement of people. Food supplies are short and sanitary conditions are unsatisfactory in these areas," Dr Quaid Saeed, an emergency medical officer working with the NWFP provincial branch of the World Health Organization (WHO), told IRIN in the Pakistani capital Islamabad. In NWFP, more than 24,000 houses are reported destroyed and over 65,000 have been badly damaged across northern districts, according to provincial relief authorities. "The distribution of relief supplies in remote areas is getting better as the road network is becoming clear of snow. However, populations are stranded in a few districts of Kohistan, Dir and Swat, but there number is not too large," Saeed said. Meanwhile, weather conditions are deteriorating again, with forecasts of more rain and snowfall in the northern areas of Pakistan over next few days, according to the national meteorological department. "The widespread rains of relatively lower intensity are also expected in central and northern areas over the weekend. However, the overall situation will improve by the start of next week," Muhammad Hanif, a meteorologist at the country's national meteorological office, told IRIN in Islamabad. "Chest infection among children is on the increase in the districts of Swat and Shangla, while there are also a few reports about skin diseases prevailing in the area," the WHO medical officer said. To cope up with the threat of any disease outbreak, the UN health agency has set up five disease surveillance centres in the district of Shangla, while six has been set up in Swat to obtain weekly health updates. "We want to extend the surveillance system to all of the disaster-affected districts to have a comprehensive picture of health conditions," the medical official said. Another area of concern for relief authorities is the limited supply of tents and blankets being sent to the affected region in the wake of the unexpected, intense and prolonged winter. The Pakistani Red Crescent has launched an urgent national appeal to meet the need.