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WV assists victims of Kashmir crossfire
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19 December 2002
World Vision this week began relief operations for refugees caught
in the crossfire in Kashmir
Indian and Pakistani military units continue to trade shell and gunfire
in the disputed region forcing local people from their homes
World Vision India associate director Raju Bhagwat said even though the
Indian army had pulled back from the border, the planting of minefields
and regular shelling made the area inhospitable.
World Vision’s first relief operations have involved the distribution
of tents and food to the displaced.
One refugee Balakram Sharma now living in a tent in a camp at Samba with
his wife and three children said he once counted 150 bullet holes in his
former home. One of the shots narrowly missed killing one of his children.
Mr Sharma vowed he would never return to his house adding that the land
he farmed was mined and therefore unusable.
World Vision is providing 558 of the most needy families with relief
kits. Each kit contains 5kg of wheat flour, 3kg of lentils, 4kg of edible
mustard oil, and a tent
Operations Manager Balhan Sagar said World Vision was targeting the most
needy families for assistance.
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