Nature’s fury leaves permanent scars

Children exposed to the trauma of earthquake devastation are susceptible to psychological problems, drug use, crime, exploitation and human trafficking, a United Nations report has revealed.

The report elaborates on how Women and Children are targets of Human rights violation and are displaced by coercion. Relief supplies play truant with them as does the, services and economic opportunities.

The earthquake also has the potential to increase crime, acts of injustice and poverty in the NWFP and AJK, according to the report, including escalation of human trafficking cases. HIV/AIDS and Substance abuse will also be on the rise as unfortunate fallout of an earthquake.

The report has explained that women, after the earthquake, having led a sheltered life initially, find it very difficult to pick up the threads and rebuild their life. Lack of Employment opportunities also adds to the crisis. "Women's entitlement to property is of particular concern in earthquake-affected areas given the discriminatory inheritance practices," the report said.

UNFPA has also gone on to say how women, disabled after the quake have been forsaken by their families and are left to fend for themselves in hospitals or camps, which has a bearing on their psychosocial health resulting in mental illness and depression. Domestic violence also increases due to the frustration and depression of a setback in their lives.