sponsored by late Nariman K Irani & his wife Franey An...

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50 sponsored by late Nariman K Irani & his wife Franey In August 2010, epic floods inundated vast expanses of Pakistan in the worst natural disaster in the country’s recent history. The floods displaced an estimated 20 million individuals, damaged 5 million homes, submerged 5,000 miles of roads, and washed away 7,000 schools and 400 health facilities that will take years to rebuild. As the media coverage of more recent world events overshadows that of Pakistan’s unprecedented flooding, the crisis continues unfolding. I arrived in Pakistan in mid-September on a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting to cover the floods. As an American journalist who had never visited Pakistan, I did not know what to expect. For many Parsis, Pakistan is seen as a dangerously volatile country full of armed religious zealots. Most Americans’ exposure to the country is limited to photos of Taliban fighters and suicide bombers. The reality I found in Pakistan bore no resemblance to this widely disseminated misperception. When traveling across the country, from the southern tip of Karachi to the northern tip of Kohistan, I met countless people who greeted me with genuine warmth and kindness. Pakistanis treated An American Journalist reflects on covering the flood in Pakistan by deena guzder T The wind-whipped open expanses of Gharo, halfway between Karachi and Thatta, are cramped with refugee camps billowing in the wind like sails on a stagnant ship. A motley crew of curious children follows me through the Aitemaad camp practicing their rudimentary English — Hello, Hello! — and smiling widely. Some of the younger children look fragile and bird-like, yet many of them manage to return my smile and share their stories. “I was scared when the water came to swallow us,” whispered one little girl whose hair is discolored from malnutrition. Most of them seem relieved to have a tent to call home and rice to fill their bellies. “I am happy here, not afraid!” exclaimed a barefoot little girl who is expertly balancing a baby on her hip. Article written exclusively for Hamazor me with more respect and appreciation than many of my compatriots back home, and they often invited me to join them for a cup of chai after our interview although they had recently lost their entire lives during the flood and were not in the position to entertain guests. My trip across Pakistan started in Karachi where I spoke with doctors at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) to gain a better understanding of the challenges ahead. Although international organizations such as UNICEF and Red Cross are often seen as a third-world country’s first-line of relief after a disaster, regional medical outfits such as SIUT are often better positioned to respond to local disasters since its medical staff is already versed in the problems afflicting its own population. Doctors at SIUT told me the most common post-diluvia ailments include scabies (a highly contagious parasitic skin disease that flourishes in cramped, moist quarters), gastroenteritis (a painful

Transcript of sponsored by late Nariman K Irani & his wife Franey An...

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sponsored by late Nariman K Irani & his wife Franey

In August 2010, epic floodsinundated vast expanses of Pakistanin the worst natural disaster in thecountry’s recent history. The floodsdisplaced an estimated 20 millionindividuals, damaged 5 millionhomes, submerged 5,000 miles ofroads, and washed away 7,000schools and 400 health facilities thatwill take years to rebuild. As themedia coverage of more recentworld events overshadows that ofPakistan’s unprecedented flooding,

the crisis continues unfolding.

I arrived in Pakistan in mid-September on agrant from the Pulitzer Center on CrisisReporting to cover the floods. As anAmerican journalist who had never visitedPakistan, I did not know what to expect.For many Parsis, Pakistan is seen as adangerously volatile country full of armedreligious zealots. Most Americans’exposure to the country is limited to photosof Taliban fighters and suicide bombers. Thereality I found in Pakistan bore noresemblance to this widely disseminatedmisperception. When traveling across thecountry, from the southern tip of Karachi tothe northern tip of Kohistan, I met countlesspeople who greeted me with genuinewarmth and kindness. Pakistanis treated

An American Journalist reflects on covering the flood in Pakistan

by deena guzder

TThe wind-whipped open expanses of Gharo, halfway between Karachi andThatta, are cramped with refugee camps billowing in the wind like sails on astagnant ship. A motley crew of curious children follows me through theAitemaad camp practicing their rudimentary English — Hello, Hello! — andsmiling widely. Some of the younger children look fragile and bird-like, yetmany of them manage to return my smile and share their stories. “I wasscared when the water came to swallow us,” whispered one little girl whosehair is discolored from malnutrition. Most of them seem relieved to have atent to call home and rice to fill their bellies. “I am happy here, not afraid!”exclaimed a barefoot little girl who is expertly balancing a baby on her hip.

Article written exclusively for Hamazor

me with more respect and appreciation thanmany of my compatriots back home, andthey often invited me to join them for a cupof chai after our interview although they hadrecently lost their entire lives during theflood and were not in the position toentertain guests.

My trip across Pakistan started in Karachiwhere I spoke with doctors at the SindhInstitute of Urology and Transplantation(SIUT) to gain a better understanding of thechallenges ahead. Although internationalorganizations such as UNICEF and RedCross are often seen as a third-worldcountry’s first-line of relief after a disaster,regional medical outfits such as SIUT areoften better positioned to respond to localdisasters since its medical staff is alreadyversed in the problems afflicting its ownpopulation. Doctors at SIUT told me themost common post-diluvia ailments includescabies (a highly contagious parasitic skindisease that flourishes in cramped, moistquarters), gastroenteritis (a painful

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inflammation of the stomach and intestinesthat causes vomiting and dysentery), andconjunctivitis (more commonly known aspink-eye). Just southeast of Karachi, in theflood-destroyed historic city of Thatta, Imeet an overworked surgeon donningseaweed green scrubs who shows mearound the SIUT field hospital and mobileclinics. “We set off with a van and ask ifthere are any ill people,” explained DrRehan Mohsin. “They come to [us] and wedistribute oral rehydration packages,medicines, and anything else needed.”Back in Karachi, I speak with a fashiondesigner named Yousuf Bashir Qureshi whois one of many Pakistanis taking flood reliefefforts into their own hands. Immediatelyafter the floods, Qureshi sent out a personalappeal to his family and friends: “pleasecome under one flag—the Pakistani flag—and for the sake of humanity.” Soon,Qureshi and his team had launched “UnitedPakistan” with the tagline, “Rescue, Relief,Rehab, and Rebuild.” He transformed threeempty warehouses into storage spaces forrelief supplies and converted his artists’commune into an auction room wherephotographers, painters, and sketchersdonated their work for charity.

The next day, I fly to the third largest city inthe Sindh province, Sukkur, which issituated on the west bank of the IndusRiver. I spend the day with a Pakistaniphilanthropist named Afzaal Shaikh, awildlife photographer and dolphinconservationist who runs a constructionbusiness in Karachi. Shaikh, a burly manwith a broad build and moon-shaped face,jumped into action when he learned thefloodwaters were rapidly approaching hiscity. Shaikh started an organization,” VNeed U”, which defrayed the cost ofSukkur’s main hospital and provided freefood, medicine, and shelter for 3,000 peoplein an IDP camp that Shaikh continues to runtoday off Airport Road in Sukkur.

I spend the remainder of my time inPakistan’s rugged northern region. Unlike inthe south where the floodwaters slowly andstealthily supersaturated entire villages, inthe north the floodwaters raged through the

steep mountains with theferocity of a derailed train.Today, parts of Pakistan’sKhyber PakhtunkhwaProvince region stillresemble a warzone:battered bridges, crushedschools, and leveledvillages. Instead of bulletholes, there are watermarks.

In Islamabad, I meet the staff of theOmar Asghar Khan DevelopmentFoundation (OAKDF). They are striving tobuild a democratic and peaceful societybased on the values of equity, tolerance andjustice in which all people areassured a life of dignity andquality. The foundation works withcitizens, particularly the poor andvulnerable, to promote bothpolitical and socioeconomicjustice for Pakistanis across classstrata. Through town hallmeetings, OAKDF encouragescitizens to engage with the stateto reform institutions and revamp policies.The foundation promotes skill buildingworkshops, credit provision programmes,micro-finance plans, people participatorymeetings, and community infrastructureprojects. The OAKDF staff of 60 activistsare building a grassrootsmovement through adecentralized decision makingprocess in which power ishorizontally shared.

After the floods, the foundationvisited Kandian Valley andcollaborated with the communityto design a cash-for-work projectto reconstruct pedestrian paths destroyedby mudslides. OAKDF is currently workingon constructing a new suspension bridge inDubair, Kohistan. “What we’ve seenwork very well is collaborating withthe people affected by the disastersas equal partners,” explainedRashida Dohad of OAKDF. “Weestablished principles and guidelinessuch as trust-building andcommunity empowerment opposed

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to giving out tokens [such as dropping foodparcels from helicopters]. We believe ourapproach is more effective and it allowsdisplaced people to preserve their dignity.”

En route from Islamabad to Charsadda withOAKDF staff, we drive past smashedschools and collapsed homes. “The floodswere a natural disaster but linked to that isthe state’s failure to invest in vitalinfrastructure such as dams and canals,which would have made the flood lessdevastating,” explains Dohad. We stop at aunion council in Utmanzai, Charsadda thatOAKDF set up to help community membersvoice their hopes and frustrations in wake ofthe flood. In a dimly lit room with a mudfloor, we meet with a group of seventeen

women who range from youngadults to grandmothers. “Thepeople we voted for did notcome until five days after theflooding,” complains an elderlywoman wrapped in a colorfulshawl. More recently, OAKDFhas organized art therapyclasses in Charsadda to helpchildren cope with anxietyresulting from the flood. “In our

psychosocial session for children, we askthem to draw what they fear most,”explained Dohad. “Many of the drawingsare full of blue, full of water.”

The next day, I embark on a nine-hour tripwith OAKDF staff members, Mumtaz Tanoliand Hassan Ali Khan, to the northern districtof Kohistan. Quite aptly named, Kohistanmeans “land of mountains” in Persian. Wezigzag through jagged roads, abruptlyhalting and speeding as the potholesdictate. Driving past a pile of rubble, Alinotes: “People built a 18 kilometer road andelectric plant here, but now nobody canbelieve there was anything here before thefloods.” After the raging floodwatersdemolished a bridge between Shangla andBattagram, OAKDF helped install a cablecar so villagers could cross the Indus River.We stop in Battagram, catch a ride on thecable car, and speak with locals benefitingfrom the new form of transportation. “Weare very happy and grateful,” says an

elderly man with a fluffy beard anddiscolored snaggletooth.

Shortly before leaving Pakistan, I speakwith CNN correspondent Reza Sayeh overgreen tea in Islamabad. Sayeh notes that,“Pakistan is seen as dangerous and scaryto many Americans.” With a tinge of irony,he continues, “The US mainstream mediaexaggerates violence in Pakistan” anddrowns out the voices of ordinaryPakistanis. “We report fanaticism as if it’sthe only story,” he says. As a journalist, I ampainfully aware the media is interested inwhat’s most sensational, what’s most likelyto sell. I am extremely grateful I had theopportunity to visit Pakistan and witness theother side of the story that rarely catchesworld headlines. And, that is the story of anation full of warm-hearted and generouspeople who are elbow-deep in the nitty-gritty work of rebuilding their country,bridge-by-bridge and life-by-life.

This article was reported with a grant fromthe Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

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Photographs : Deena Guzder / PulitzerCenter on Crisis Reporting

Deena Guzder’s profile appears on p 50

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On 24th August, nearly a month after thecrisis began, WZO solicited donations inorder to help the victims primarily giving aidto SIUT, as they were treating anddistributing medicines in all four provinces.The delay in taking action was due to theextensive area of the flood, too manyindividuals rendering assistance, andrelevant question - how best to achieveresults. Earlier, individuals did approach meand were directed to send their donations toOmar Asghar Khan DevelopmentFoundation, if they wished, having workedso closely and effectively with them after theearthquake of 2005.

Flyers were sent off through out the world toall the people whom I knew would assist ifthey could, both to Zoroastrian organisationsand individuals. Our Chairman, Mr Motiwalainformed our members wherever emailaddresses were available.

Report written on 24 September aftervisiting various locations on 17th, 19th, 20th –22nd September.

I was planning to go and see various placesmuch earlier, but Deena Guzder anIndependent Journalist who has written forHamazor and met once in Houston, contactedme saying since she was at present inKathmandu could I arrange a trip for her sothat she could interview the displaced personsand write about the situation prevailing atpresent. Various publications have since

WZO assists flood victims of Pakistan

by toxy cowasjee

TThe 2010 Pakistan floods began in July following heavy monsoon rains inthe Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan regions of thecountry. United Nations estimates that more than 21 million people areinjured or homeless as a result of the flooding, exceeding the combinedtotal of individuals affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005Kashmir earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. At one point,approximately one-fifth of Pakistan’s total land area was underwater due tothe flooding. [source Wikipedia].

asked Deena to write which will hopefullyopen the minds of individuals. I invited her tostay in our home and travel with mewherever I had planned to go.

Our first stop was at the camp set up by agroup of individuals, headed by known pastgovernor of Sindh and retired SupremeCourt Judge – Fakruddin Ibrahim, the Trustbeing registered as Aitemaad Pakistan. Thecamp was half way to Makli on the mainroad between Dhabeji and Gharo which isin Thatta district. Their local volunteer, MrAhmad Mazari, arranged by Zahid Ibrahim,was there to show us around and answerany questions. The large tents had beendonated by the Swiss Red Cross suitablefor a family of even eight with groundsheets, being the only camp which wevisited having this facility. Tents werepitched in straight lines, with large walkingspaces between rows. Food rations aregiven out to each family on a weekly basiswhich is then managed by themselves –cooking as they wish. Utensils, clothing,charpois [local bed] were allocated to thedisplaced as they arrived, whereas freshwater is brought daily in tankers andsupplied to all. Large water containers areall along the rows of tents for the people touse for washing and drinking. A separatetent with a medical practitioner wherepeople can come for immediate treatment,and those who are more serious aretransported to the closest hospital byambulance. The common problem seen

The World Zoroastrian Organisation

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everywhere was scabies, diarrhea,malnutrician and some suffering frommalaria. In this well run camp wherecontentment was obvious, the men weremainly fishermen, a few labourers, barbersand carpenters.

Our next stop was the SIUT medical campat Makli where the present exodus isreaching from middle Sindh. [on 17th thiswas the case but the dire situation inOctober is Sehwan, Dadu and environs].SIUT have taken over a small governmentbuilding which they have converted intotheir lab, scanning room etc. Outside on anarrow strip of grass, three large tents havebeen set up. The middle tent is for thedoctor on duty who attends to any out-patients, with full treatment being given atone time saving the patient to return daily.The other two tents are used for keepingpatients who need more supervisedtreatment. The serious cases are sent byambulance, to the main SIUT hospital atKarachi.

As there were no out-patients at the time,the two doctors came with us to visit theSaudi run camp and hospital. Enroute, tentcamps stretched for about five miles, beingmethodically arranged by the army to be runeither by NGOs or private parties. TheSaudi run hospital which was housed in thearmy barracks and reputed to be state ofthe art, unfortunately we were not permittedto enter. The camp for the refugees wasopposite which seemed to be receiving allthe necessary aid and though the lanes inbetween the tents were more spacious thanelsewhere, they too had no ground sheetand only the earth to sleep / sit on.

The SIUT run a mobile medical facility twicedaily in Makli, parking at a site wherepeople can come easily. Here we saw quitea few people though no more than 70, butwere informed an average of 700 peopleare treated daily.

All along the way from outer Karachi toMakli / Thatta, we saw unauthorised tentson both sides of the road, some genuinerefugees, some capitalising on the situation

and generosity of people. [Update: as SIUTdo not require funds for purchasingmedicines for the flood victims at present, Ihave diversified the donations].

On 19th early morning we flew from Karachito Sukkur via Mohenjodaro. As weapproached Mohenjodaro we could see theextensive flooding. The raging river hadabated now flowing peacefully, having mademany incursions and destruction. At Sukkur,a friend of my daughter’s Afzaal Shaikh,who is from this area but lives in Karachi,was our able guide for the day. Afzaal, is agiant of a man both in stature and heart. Hehas set up two camps, which are definitelythe best in this city with his own resourcesand that of some friends. Now they needmonetary assistance or commodities inkind. Weekly rations are handed out,treatment for every ailment is on handhaving volunteer doctors coming daily whospecialise in eyes, stomach, or generalproblems. A large tent where an equallylarge blackboard has been placed, makinga temporary school for the children who areabout 800. They attend daily for lessonsboth in Urdu and a bit of English and whenthe children leave they are given biscuits,juice packets and chocolates. In this campthe food is very generous, with meat orchicken once a week, as well asvegetables, flour, rice, pulses and cleanwater. A volleyball court has been set upwhere they play under floodlight with theamazing young men who are volunteeringtheir time. Football and board games arealso supervised. All refugees are registeredwhen they arrive with name, age andnational ID number. While driving aroundSukkur, we saw SUVs or jeeps which hadtrailers containing fresh water hooked on,supplying to camps and to individualpitched, courtesy of “V need U” or AfzaalShaikh.

In the grounds of the Civil Hospital theCanadians had set up a large enclosedcapsule, obviously brought with them,complete with airconditioning to treatcholera patients. They had worked heremost effectively for some weeks leavingbehind a grateful community but before

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departing, teaching the doctors from theIndus Hospital, Karachi, how to manage thisdeadly disease.

We drove to the Sukkur Barrage and overthe Rohri Bridge where the river had been30 feet high which was hard to imaginenow. While driving from one location toanother, Afzaal showed us the Sukkuragiary and another building which musthave been a dharamsala, in total neglect,housing squatters in the spacious groundsof 6000 sq yds. The engraved sign on theagiary building was still there, though withmissing words and above the words ‘Mama’was the very prominent farohar. Theadjacent building had ‘Marker’ inscribed,and on the same road was the old Parsicolony, now owned by others.

On 20th we flew to Islamabad where wewere welcomed by my friend of postearthquake days, Ali Asghar Khan andsome team members of OAKDF at theiroffice. Soon thereafter we left forCharsadda which took well over three hoursto reach, though travelling on good surfacedroads. Charsadda is the district adjacent toNowsherra having suffered the sameoutcome due to flooding. To explain howareas work in Pakistan, we have a district,in it is a Union Council, in which there aretowns, and hamlets known as ‘mohalla’.

Destination was Mohalla Saadat, UCUtmanzai, Charsadda. This mohalla istucked away and approached by smalllanes, all destroyed now, and as we drovewe could see houses ravaged, thoughmade from red brick and even some sturdyconcrete ones. Main exterior walls weregone with gaping large expanses nowremaining. Some people were remakingtheir walls, some still camping in their ownterritory in tents, but nothing was left whole.This was due to the flooding of the JindiRiver (colloquially called a nullah, literally atrickle normally), which is a tributary of themain Kabul River that meets the Swat Riverand flows into the Indus at Attock. Deenahas already mentioned the meeting ofwomen and children. Our next stop was tosee the rural damage at Mohalla Chena, UC

Mirza Dher - just miles of water logged sugarcane fields destroyed. One cannot fathomhow strong and fast these rivers must haveflowed till one physically sees the destructionleft by them.

Twenty-first morning, our long butinteresting trip to Kohistan which began at7am and ended at 9:30pm at Abbottabad,where we were staying in Ali’s office to savefurther hours commuting to Islamabad. Atlast I was going to a territory which hasbeen on my “wish list”, via the KarakorumHighway; carved through the mountains bythe Chinese and the Pakistan army to Chinabetween the years 1958-78 and considereda modern wonder of the world. “Highway”as the West may conjure in their mindsshould not be taken literally. It is a surfacedroad enabling to and fro heavy traffic tomove safely which is used mainly for trade.After leaving Battagram, the road was moreor less running parallel to the river and wecould see the havoc caused. The land hadreceded by double, the watermarks of theflooding was visible, and the huge riverstones weighing hundreds of kilos, hadbeen left behind all over the landscape.

Our stop was at Kund, where 18 bridgeshave been swept away, the only means ofcommuting. At present with all walkingtracks lost, people take from four to six daysto come from their homes to the road. Thesolid concrete bridge had collapsed intopieces, but no sooner the people had madea “cage” of sorts, which was suspended onrope, produced from where I don’t know andmanually operated across the river. Onecannot help but admire their courage forimprovising a means of crossing where theriver had turned into a rapid at a height of100 feet. Ali and his team were the first toarrive at this site to render help and a cablecar was installed, operating on cable wirewith a truck engine having gears. Verybasic, but safe and effective. The cable carhas been handed over to the committee torun themselves now, which is greatlyappreciated by the Union Council. And thenthe fun part, going across in the cable carand returning – just terrific and so fast, highup in the air across a vast span! Our last

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stop was the beginning of the Dubair valleyin Kohistan where the Dubair nullahdestroyed the whole market, bridge, road,and taking away a large section of the land.This area is part of Tehsil Pattan of DistrictKohistan. While this destruction was takingplace a villager took a video on his mobilephone which he has given to Ali. The linkwhere you may watch this scene is:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFS-dY1_FUA&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yotH0CnFGk&feature=related

Once again Ali with his team were the firstto come here with food and basicnecessities, which they are still supplying.The only way these people have managedsince ever, has been walking on their trackseither for basic needs or moving theirlivestock. These having gone now, theyhave to scale the Karakorum mountains tillsomeone renders help with the remaking ofcountless tracks, as Kohistan is a forgottenarea of Pakistan.

Websites of the four worthy NGOsmentioned in the report is shared. We areblessed with countless good Samaritanswho quietly carry on doing whatever theycan. We are not all terrorists or corrupt asPakistan is popularly pictured.

Omar Ashgar Khan DevelopmentFoundation – http://www.oakdf.org.pkSIUT - http://www.siut.org/index.phpAitemaad Pakistan – http://www.aitemaad.pk/V Need U – http://www.vneedu.com

WZO gratefully acknowledges and thankseach donor for coming forward to assistenabling us to help the less fortunate.GBP 2,332.48 is with WZO in UK which willbe transferred to Pakistan. Rs3,650,102/-[average rate taken: GBP 27,239 or US $42,942] is the amount received by me till15 October, primarily from overseas,from which the following has already beengiven for:

3 Rs500,000 for two portable ultra soundmachines to SIUT on 2 September, sent tothe Makli medical camp and one to Sehwan.

3 Rs200,000 for Lifestraw-family units on 14September which gives good potable water withoutthe use of electricity or batteries. This amount hasbeen matched by United Bank who are a privatebank in Pakistan. 157 units have been purchasedand will be sent by UBL on our behalf to remoteareas of Sindh. Check out: http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw-family/features

3 Rs30,000 to OAKDF on 22 September, to holdtherapy sessions for children in various locationswhere relief work is being carried in Charsadda &Nowsherra districts.

3 Rs400,000 to OAKDF on 22 September, to builda wooden jeep-able bridge at Dubair Valley,Kohistan, work to commence week of 18th October.

3 Rs1,100,000 to OAKDF on 14 October, tocomplete the 7.31 km jeep-able track in the DubairValley, which will link three Union Councils havingmore than 30,000 people. Half the amount has beenpaid now, balance on completion. The peoplethemselves have already made tracks with their barehands of 13 km and now need this assistance tocomplete their ‘road’. The project will take 6-8 weeksto complete. This has been made possible throughthe generosity of ZSO & OCZF of Toronto, Canadawho collected funds from their community for theflood relief.

There is much to be done but together we canachieve!

Donations may be sent by bank transfer direct to :

Mrs Hutoxy Cowasjee WZO, a/c No: 18-1049259-01, Standard Chartered Bank, I.I. Chundrigar Road,Karachi 74000, Pakistan. Swift Code SCBL PKKX.Please inform me by email: [email protected] sothat I may follow up my end.

Or to: Cheques payable ‘WZO’ and sent to theChairman, WZO, 135 Tennison Road, SouthNorwood, London SE25 5NF, for UK residents. Foroverseas: By Bank Transfer to HSBC account; SortCode 40-44-51, Account No 71455982, AccountName WZO. Swift Code MIDLGB2159J. The IBN isGB94MIDL followed by the Sortcode 404451 and theAccount no 71455982.

photographs : Deena Guzder / Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

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SIUT medical camp, Makli - [photographs: Toxy Cowasjee]

Tent life Tanker water being supplied daily

Cooking on village style stoveBaby on the mend after fall from ‘joola’

Being treated for severe scabis

Aitemaad Pakistan - Dhabeji camp - [photographs : Deena Guzder / Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting]

Outpatients arriving at SIUT camp. [Deena Guzder] Tent for outpatients

Visit to the camp doctor

Good quality cooking utensils

Above left: Doctor sorting medica-tion for mobile van, right: boy beingadministered a drip for dehydrationat the camp. Bottom row : peoplecrowding for attention from doctorson Mobile van, facility given twicedaily.

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Sukkur & VneedU camp - [photographs : Afzaal Shaikh]

Exodus entering Sukkur

Rescuing old man afloat on his ‘charpoi’ Children crossing river on their buffalo

Flooding of Sukkur Barrage

Centuries old historical site, flooded

Immediate right: children’s playground under water, seen are the two topbars of the slide. Far right above: children taking shelder under ‘charpoi’,below: Afzaal fed people daily along the high river bank during Ramadan.

Photographs appearing from pp50 -62 may not be used withoutpermission.

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‘VneedU’ SUVs ‘VneedU’ camp with school & volley ball area being centre point

‘VneedU’ free water supply

for displaced persons

‘VneedU’ camp school

Mother with new born son after losing threebabies at birth. Born a day before our visit at‘VneedU’ camp

Charsadda - [photographs : Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation]

Aerial view

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[photographs : Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation]

Landsliding on Karakoram Highway

Riding the ‘dollie’ - a wooden small platform to getacross the river

One man’s courage - building a ‘bridge’ using the fallen pylon andwires, so people may cross over

Another ‘bridge’ made by the people after the flood

Beautiful Dubair before the flood

Dubair , what is left after the flood

Manual operated cage for crossingthe river at Kund

Damaged bridge at Dubair

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Tracks are gone, people find alternative ways of carrying relief goods back home or tobring the sick tothe nearest point of transport.

Dubair Belabridge forpedestrians,underconstruction,below -completed byOAKDF earlyOctober

Above two photographs show the site in Dubair Valley where the jeepable track isto be constructed by OAKDF on behalf of WZO. The jeepable bridge will connectup with the track making a complete project costing Rs1,500,000/-

Two portable ultra soundmachines purchased and given toSIUT to be used in their medicalcamps for flood displaced persons.Rs500,000/.

Lifestraw-family units for floodaffected persons in Sindh. 157 unitsfor Rs200,000 matched amount byUBL Pakistan.