Emma Varley, a medical anthropologist whose area of research examines the impact sectarian conflict in northern Pakistan has on maternal healthcare in the region, is also currently in Gilgit. “There is no water, no electricity, barely any milk, no meat, no cylinder gas to cook – basically everything has collapsed,” said Varley in a phone interview with Dawn.com. Water supply is extremely short, with many resorting to using tap water which has been polluted by sewage water, leading to dysentery, especially among the children.