The man has power over
everything except nature, and when the nature strikes, it leaves a permanent
scar and vivid memories. In continuation to previous post that depicts the
worse condition of victims of earthquake 2015 that shook Martung -sub tehsil of
Shangla district. People in Shangla were digging through the rubble and were
searching for the signs of life. Many of them awaited help which has been
difficult to get.
The drop in temperature and roads covered with snow
makes it impossible to access small villages webbed around the district. The
children and women spent nights under sky and freezing due to plunging
temperature. Fear and panic have gripped the residents as people came out of
their houses that were destroyed, crops and means of livelihood shattered.
In such stances, HOPE-
an NGO in Pakistan under the leadership of Dr. Mubina
Agboatwalla- Child specialist in Karachi with its disaster management team made
efforts to approach the people in need. Local CBO’s and authorized personals
were taken into loop in order to reach the maximum number of affectees.
The relief funds consisted of blankets that were distributed
among 500 people to protect from cold. Mainly children were
protected from cold and disease like pneumonia and bronchitis.
As the means of
livelihood and income generation were affected and winter had set in, the
affectees now needed to wait for another 6 months before the next crop would be
made. Hence, there was an urgent need of food otherwise malnutrition would set
in. Thus, dry food in the form of lentils, rice, wheat, sugar, and oil in
packets provided in one bag per family with one month of supply of dry ration
was distributed among 300 people.
The local Nazim of Martung also took part in the relief
operation and was pleased with the efforts and disaster management of HOPE.