Kashmir snow does not stop NATO engineers

Background NATO delivers aid to Pakistan Multimedia 03/01/2006 - SHAPE Photos of the British Engineers in Kashmir

As the earthquake ravaged population of Kashmir shivered in the winter snow, British Engineers, made their way up the mountains to the isolated village of Dhal Khazian to build winter shelters.

The Devon based 59 Independent Engineers are Britain's commitment to the Multinational Engineer Battalion of the NATO Land Component Command in the aftermath of October's earthquake. Based in the Kashmir town of Bagh they have been tasked with building winter shelters for destroyed schools and clinics in isolated mountain villages. Working above the snow line for three to four nights at a time, they live in tents designed for the Artic. They were chosen for these tasks, because they are trained to live and work in cold weather and mountain environments.

NATO engineers were deployed to Pakistan at the beginning of December and have since constructed 48 shelters using multi terrain vehicles, helicopters and their feet to reach some of the isolated village locations. The engineers expect to keep helping in the earthquake area well into January. The earthquake relief operation is being coordinated by the Pakistan military who are liaising with NATO to target relief effort projects.

The current project in Dhal Khazian is to combine six winter shelters to construct a school for 250 girls. The Troop Commander at the location, Lieutenant David Stead RE, said, "The winter conditions are really starting to bite now. It is not pleasant to be working and living in this sort of weather, but that is why we are here. All the men are trained and know how to cope in these conditions."