IOM Pakistan is to receive USD 5.1 million from Saudi Public
Assistance for Pakistan Earthquake Victims (SPAPEV) to provide
transitional shelters for 1,000 earthquake-displaced families in
Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PAK).

"This agreement will ensure that families who have yet to secure
land for permanent housing will be provided with transitional
homes," said IOM Regional Representative for West and Central Asia,
Hassan Abdel Moneim Mostafa.

The Saudi-funded project will import pre-fabricated houses from
China to house 1,000 families in Muzaffarabad and Bagh – the
two districts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PAK) worst affected
by the 2005 earthquake.

IOM is already constructing 1,200 medium-term shelters in
Muzaffarabad – the PAK capital – with funding from the
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
(Sida). 

The Sida-funded shelters, approved by Pakistan’s
Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) are
earthquake resistant and mobile.  

"When the occupants are eventually allocated permanent land by
the government, the structures will be dismantled, relocated and
reassembled," says Abdel Moneim Mostafa.

For further information, please contact:

Maha Qazi

IOM Islamabad

Tel:  +92.300.8526599

E-mail: "mailto:mqazi@iom.int">mqazi@iom.int