Analysis of prefabricated houses as a shelter solution in the areas of northern Pakistan affected by October 08, 2005 earthquake
Munir Ahmed 1 and Himmayatullah Khan 2
1Government College Balakot, Comsats Institute of Information Technology Abbottabad, NWFP, Pakistan
2Institute of Development Studies, Agricultural University, Peshawar, NWFP, Pakistan
An earthquake is natural disaster. Inadequate Housing structures can cause loss of human and material assets in a disaster. Poor housing, non resilience and non seismic resistance housing was the major cause of high death toll and complete destruction of physical infrastructure by the October 08, 2005 earthquake. After occurrence of this natural calamity, prefabricated houses were initiated as a shelter solution, especially for the Red Zone area of Balakot. Although prefabricated houses are established solution of shelter for seismic endangered areas, this solution needs the complete knowledge of social life and cultural values as well as the meteorological features of the areas concerned. The present study was conducted in the prefabricated housing area of Red Zone at Balakot. We noted total dissatisfaction of the population with the prefabricated houses. A number of factors were found to be responsible for this: low quality of material used; on-professional and unskilled workmanship; unnecessary interference by the local government; least community participation; lack of security perspectives; cultural adaptability and climatic suitability; and risk of quick damage.
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