The Focus Humanitarian Assistant (Focus) NGO, has engaged in additional emergency relief distributions in collaboration with local government authorities in remote North Western district of Chitral following the spate of severe avalanches in March-April 2006.
Seventy eight villagers lost their lives and over 30 were seriously injured in the disaster struck areas. The avalanches blocked critical roads and damaged infrastructure as well as caused damage to dozens of family homes, schools and other civic buildings.
Responding to the government's request for additional assistance to dozens of villages in the region, Focus provided essential food, kitchen and shelter items to families who lost their food reserves as well as roofing on their houses.
The first distribution phase of vital supplies including flour, rice, tea, sugar, oil, kitchen utensils and galvanised iron sheets, commenced at the Governor's House in Chitral.
In his speech to the local community before the distribution began, the Nazim conveyed his happiness at the increasing level of co-ordination between Focus and the government, as well as his admiration for Focus in taking the lead in effective disaster response and management in the region. He also requested other local NGOs to follow Focus' example in this respect.
Executive Officer Ghulam M Panjwani, reiterated the support of Focus Pakistan to local government initiatives concerning community preparedness and disaster response.
At the request of local government authorities, over the next year, Focus will be establishing capacity building programmes for the wider community and will facilitate the creation of the government's district disaster management plant (DDMP) for Chitral. An additional plan for the Northern Areas (NADMA) will also be developed. This government initiative falls directly under Pakistan's National Disaster Management Commission (NDMC), headed by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.-PR
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