Earthquake Relief Project
On 8 October a massive earthquake - measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale - struck near the Pakistan-India border, causing widespread devastation and triggering a humanitarian catastrophe. North western Pakistan was the hardest hit. The official death toll stands at over 80,000 but it is feared that without rapid intervention this figure could double in the next few weeks.
Many more could die of hunger, hypothermia and disease in the coming weeks. Damaged infrastructure and the onset of winter means access to areas will become even more of a challenge.
With a strong presence in Pakistan , HELPING HANDS was well-placed to respond quickly to this emergency. Within hours of the disaster our teams were the first at Margalla towers in Islamabad to help provide medical aid to the survivors.
3 new operational hubs/colonies have been opened to enable HELPING HANDS to distribute supplies effectively and reach the affected population, these colonies are based in:
- Rangla in Bagh
- Jhangi in Abbotabad
- Ayub Medical Complex Abbotabad
The mentioned colonies are used as sanctuaries for the destitute. Food, shelter, blankets, daily amenities and clothing is provided by HELPING HANDS to an extent of 1100 people. 250 trucks of relief goods, tents, medicine, blankets, clothing and food items have been dispatched so far. 1287 litres of
water has been transported to the camps for drinking and sanitary purposes.
The camps are also used as field hospitals. Teams of General Physicians, Orthopedics Surgeons and Dermatologists from Pakistan, USA, UK and Australia are serving at the camps the medicine and full pre-op care to patients is provided free of charge by HELPING HANDS. Moreover 3 ambulances are also deployed at the field hospital to commence the emergency patients to the camps HELPING HANDS is working closely with other agencies and the Government of Pakistan to respond swiftly and efficiently to this emergency.
Helping Hands leading role in recent earthquake in Northern Pakistan
Helping Hands formulate a 3 phase work plan in recent earthquake in Northern Pakistan
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1st phase was emergency and relief, 2nd
phase establishment of tent villages and continued distribution of
food supplies, medicine and other relief goods.
3rd phase was the establishment of permanent Shelter
Homes, long term Education and Health projects. Organization
established 412 Shelters Homes, 04 Shelter Home Villages in
Chattar 2 & Gugdar, District Bagh and Meera Bulla & Pateeka,
District Muzaffarbad AJK.
Organization established Medical camps in Ayub Medical complex
Abbotabad and in Rangla Bagh AJK, equipped with all modern and
necessary medical facilities and professional medical staff. More
than 25 volunteer and relief worker teams participated in relief
operation.
Helpings Hands activities were acknowledged by the national and
International media, relief and welfare organizations, government
and foreign representatives
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Report on “Organization’s Activities in Recent Earthquake in Abbotabad , NWFP Pakistan.”
Background
Earthquake affecting a large area of land and damaged assets,
livelihood severely in eight districts in two regions, namely
Abbot Abad, Bat gram, Mansehra and Shangla in NWFP and Muzafarabd,
Bagh and Poonch in Azad Kashmir. The earthquake caused extensive
loss of life and physical damage.
In this earthquake, more than 73,000 people lost their lives and
almost 70,000 people had serious injuries. Out of 73,000 deaths
about 35000 were children who died in educational institutions.
Most of the schools, colleges, hospitals and government
administration buildings were destroyed and require immediate and
serious attention.
Profile of Abbotabad
Abbotabad is a district of the north western frontier province of
Pakistan. It is high mountain area. Abbotabad is about 120
kilometers from Islamabad. In recent earthquake Abbotabad was very
badly affected. Road, schools, hospitals and all infrastructures
were destroyed. Thousands of people died in Abbotabad in recent
earthquake.
Helping Hands leading role in recent earthquake in Northern
Pakistan
Helping Hands formulated a 3 phase work plan in recent earthquake
in Northern Pakistan
- Emergency and relief
- Establishment of tent villages, medical and food relief
- Establishment of permanent Shelter Homes, long term Education and Health projects
Volunteers and relief workers from all parts of the country
joined the organization in its activities. Hundreds of volunteers
joined the Helping Hands at its Rawalpindi railway station desk;
they were brought to the Helping Hands Office and then sent in the
form of teams to the different earthquake hit areas. Different
teams had been formed and then sent to Balakot, Abbotabad, Neelam
Valley (Patika, Nokot, Balsehri, and Davli Sayyadian), Jehlum
Valley (Gari Dopatta, Meera Bulla, Hattian Bala, Gujar Bandi and
Bakot) and in Bagh (Dhirkot, Bagh city, Chattar 2 and Gugdar) in
different timings and areas. Hundreds of volunteers and relief
workers of the organization provided their services in rescue,
relief and rehabilitation process in these areas.
Organization established thousands of tent villages in earthquake
affected areas. Provided medical and food relief.
- Free ambulance services were provided to the affected people in all areas
- Free medicines and medical services were provided to the injured Persons
- Besides short term field medical camps, organization established Medical camps in Ayub Medical complex Abbotabad and in Rangla Bagh AJK, equipped with all modern and necessary medical facilities and professional medical staff.
Emergency and Food Relief in Abbotabad, NWFP
Summary of Emergency and Food Relief in Abbotabad, NWFP
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Medical Camp in Ayub Medical Complex Abbotabad
In recent earthquake almost 70,000 people of northern Pakistan
have serious injuries. After the earthquake, a large number of
people who had fractures and injuries started reaching at Ayub
Medical Complex Abbotabad. These people had severe injuries and
were also suffered in mental stress due to this severe natural
disaster.
In these hard and tough conditions Helping Hands for the needy
ensured to provide every possible assistance and cooperation to
the administration of the Ayub Medical Complex Abbotabad.
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Meanwhile a cycle of after shocks started the people who were
already in fear and mental stress, refused to stay under the
building of Ayub Medical Complex and came out in the green lawns
of the Complex.
In these extreme and intense circumstances, there was a need of
quick and sensible action.
Helping Hands immediately arranged and installed 75 tents fully equipped with all medical facilities in the surroundings of the Ayub Medical Complex Abbotabad to set up a Medical Camp.
Organization arranged 11 medical doctors, paramedical staff and
medicines in this medical camp.
Organization provided medical relief to these affected people and
managed food and accommodation to the patient and his attendant in
every medical tent. Those people who had minor injuries, after
providing proper and enough treatment they had been discharged to
admit other patients in those medical tents.
In some the cases people had got complexities and infections in
their wounds because they did not have proper and timely
treatment.
Organization’s medical doctors arranged surgeries and provided
proper treatment to rescue those people from permanent
disabilities and limbs.
Before the arrangement of Helping Hands medical camp, due to the
unavailability of proper medical care and look after, many people
were thinking that they will be in permanent disabilities due to
the loss of their limbs. But in Helping Hands medical camp these
people got appropriate medical facilities and care which enabled
them to lead their lives in a healthy way. The successful
surgeries by the Helping Hands medical doctors saved their limbs.
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Kashmiri Leader Yaseen Malik, British Muslim MP Sarwar, Ayyaz Meer (famous Journalist) and representatives of the national & International organizations and media groups visited this Medical Camp in Ayub Medical Complex Abbotabad; they acknowledged and appreciated organization’s efforts in this Medical Camp.
Limb Loss Project in Abbotabad, NWFP
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In northern Pakistan’s earthquake, a large number of people lost
their hands, arms and legs and there are so many cases of severe
injuries of spinal cord, head and legs, as a result many people
have permanent disabilities.
Considering the severity of the problem, Helping Hands Worldwide decided to start
a project on immediate basis to support to those people who had
lost their limbs. For this purpose organization started a project
with the collaboration “Limb Loss
Foundation”. This project was started for artificial limb fitting
to the amputees in Abbotabad (NWFP), Pakistan. Official records
show that the number of amputees in recent earthquake is 600-700.
Organization dealt around 250 amputees and 100 orthopedic cases so
far.
Arrangements have been made to fit the modern modular artificial
limbs to all amputees, completely free of cost.
Organization took the responsibility to provide artificial limbs
to the amputees. This project was the ray of hope for those people
who were thinking that they will be dependant on others throughout
their lives.
After artificial limb fitting, they are now leading independent
and happy life. Now they are working, walking and eating without
any help and dependency.
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Helping Hands, with the cooperation of the partner organization (Limb Loss Foundation), is establishing a “Centre of Excellence” in Pakistan which is in its final stages. This centre will assess the specific needs of the amputees. It is expected that this effort will be very beneficial for those who have lost their limbs and it will be a great and real achievement and success to take the people out from the darkness and to bring them towards the light and happiness of the life.
Report on “Organization’s Activities in Recent Earthquake in District Bagh, Azad Kashmir.”
Background
The affected areas were the five districts of North West Frontier Province and four districts of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. More than 73,000 people lost their lives out of those 35,000 were children who were attending schools at that time. Most of the civil society infrastructure such as schools, colleges and hospitals were destroyed and require immediate attention.
Profile of Bagh, AJK
Bagh was one of the unfortunate districts of Azad Jammu and
Kashmir to be devastated by the earthquake. Bagh, the district
headquarters of district Bagh is 100 Kilometers from Muzaffarabad
via Kohallah & 80 Kilometers via Suddhen Gali, 205 Kilometers from
Islamabad and 48 kilometers from Rawalakot. The well recognized
“Haji Peer Pass " is about 32 kilometers from Bagh City linked
with metalled road. Bagh district as a whole is rich in variegated
natural beauty. Topographically this district falls into
mountainous zone. Bagh city, the district headquarter is situated
at the confluence of two mini rivers – Malwani and Mall which flow
all the year round. . The climate of the district is moderate in
summer while winters tend to be quite cold.
Post Earthquake Details of Bagh's population is as follows:
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Helping Hands Activities in Earthquake Affected Areas
Helping Hands performed its activities in affected areas of NWFP & AJK. Organization provided food and emergency, medical facilities, tent villages and establishments of permanent shelter homes.
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Mr. Muhammad Farooq Bahwal Haq Shah personally visited and
supervised all the relief activities of the organization in the
affected areas. He spent time with the grievous people, consoled
them and ensured that in this hour of need all the nation is with
them and all possible efforts will be made to provide relief and
to help them out in this emergency situation.
Chairman of the organization visited to the affected areas many
times and spent a lot of time with the people of these areas.
Helping Hands team and volunteers gently and courteously executed
rescue and relief activities in quite gracious atmosphere to make
the people happy and to share their grief and sorrow. Playing
activities had been organized for the children in different areas
to take them out from psychological and mental stress.
Organization tried its level best to provide all available and
possible services and relief items to these helpless and deserving
people. Helpings Hands activities were acknowledged by the
national and International media, relief and welfare
organizations, government and foreign representatives.
Emergency and Food Relief Operation
Emergency and food relief operation details of different areas are as under:
Summary of Emergency and Food Relief in District Bagh, AJK
(Bagh City, Gugdar, Plungi, Chattar 2, Dhalli & Dhir kot).
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Summary of Emergency and Food Relief in Rangla Dist. Bagh, AJK
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Medical Relief Operation
Helping Hands arranged medical camps in the affected areas to provide medical relief to the affected people of these areas. Professional doctors and paramedical staff provided their services in these medical camps.
Medical camps were arranged in Rangla Bagh, Balakot, Jhangi, Bagh city and Abbotabad.
Medical Camp in Rangla, Bagh AJK
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Helping Hands for the needy was the only team operating at RANGLA. The said location is completely destroyed. A field hospital (in tents) is established which is serving the community round the clock. A team of 8 doctors, paramedics, and trained volunteers were stationed at the hospital. 50 tents also sanctuary to the destitute. The food supplies and medicine were sent regularly. Satellite Phone was also available at the site for coordination and effective communication. The camp was established on October 11 and operated till third week of November.
Helping Hands Shelter Homes Village Project in Bagh, AJK
Helping Hands Worldwide tried its level best to provide immediate and every possible assistance to the people of affected areas. Organization started its work in earthquake affected areas of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and NWFP in 3 phases.
Ist Phase was emergency and relief activities, 2nd phase establishment of tent villages in all earthquake hit areas and 3rd phase is the establishment of Shelter Homes, Educational Institutions and Basic Health Units.
Organization established 412 Shelter Homes in affected areas of NWFP & AJK.These Shelter Homes were established at different places of the affected areas.
After considerable surveys, organization established Shelter Homes Villages for the most deserving and needy people. 2 Shelter Homes Villages were established in District Bagh, Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
Shelter Homes Village Project in Chattar 2, District Bagh, AJK
Organization established third Shelter Homes Village in Chattar 2, Bagh, Azad Kashmir
In this village 43 Shelter Homes were allotted to the affected people of earthquake. Details are as follows:
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Shelter Homes distribution in BaghCity, AJK
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Shelter Homes distribution in Dhir Kot, District Bagh, AJK
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Shelter Homes distribution in (Plungi) Forward Kahota, District Bagh, AJK
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Shelter Homes distribution in Dholi, District Bagh, AJK
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Report on “Organization’s Activities in Recent Earthquake in Balakot N.W.F.P. Pakistan”
Background
On October 8, 2005 at 08:52 hours a powerful earthquake struck the northern part of Pakistan causing major destruction and playing havoc with millions of lives. The affected areas were the five districts of North West Frontier Province and four districts of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. More than 73,000 people lost their lives out of those 35,000 were children who were attending schools at that time. Most of the civil society infrastructure such as schools, colleges and hospitals were destroyed and require immediate attention.
Profile of Balakot, N.W.F.P, Pakistan
Balakot is one of the most beautiful valley of N.W.F.P. Pakistan, which was badly destroyed in recent earthquake. It was almost completely demolished on 8th October 2005. Balakot is about 200 kilometers from Islamabad. Schools, roads, hospital and all civil society infrastructures have been destroyed.
Helping Hands Activities in Balakot, N.W.F.P. Pakistan
Helping Hands performed its activities in affected areas of NWFP & AJK. Organization provided food and emergency, medical facilities, tent villages and establishments of permanent shelter homes.
Emergency and Food Relief in Balakot, NWFP
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Shelter Homes distribution in Balakot, N.W.F.P. Pakistan
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