Srinagar: An international humanitarian
medical aid organisation has begun providing "psychological
assistance" to victims of violence in the restive Kashmir
Valley after over three weeks.
The Medicine Sans Frontiers (MSF) had stopped its work on
September 12 due to deteriorating law and order situation in
the Valley.
"Despite the continuing tense situation, MSF counsellors
have re-started visiting patients in the hospitals in Srinagar
and are offering on the spot psychological assistance to
victims of violence and their families," communication officer
of MSF, Majid Pandit, said today.
"We are dealing with a population already heavily
traumatised by over two decades of violence, and people are
continuing to suffer psychologically," Maria Veerart, MSF's
Mental Health Officer in Kashmir, said.
MSF is extremely concerned that the recent violence may
only increase mental health needs in the Valley, she said.
More than 100 people have been killed and several
hundreds including security force personnel injured in the
four-month long unrest.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, October 05, 2010, 19:23