Pakistani Alpinists Aide Quake Recovery

On 8 October 2005 an Earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale struck parts of Northern Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir, affecting more than 28,000 sq km of the mountainous area. The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) responded immediately in the rescue efforts and is now focusing on assisting in long-term rehabilitation for the area and the affected people.

More than 4 million people are affected by the earthquake that caused damage to 75-percent of buildings in the region. Some 80,000 people perished in the disaster, many of them children that were buried under school buildings that could not withstand the force of the quake. 70,000 more were injured, and these figures are expected to rise with the approaching winter.

The elevation of this mountainous terrain varies between 2000 ft (610 m) to 15,000 ft (4570 m), with communities found up to 9000 ft (2740 m). Winter sets in early November and continues up to March with snowline descending down to 4000 ft (1220 m), presenting new dangers to the affected people of the region.

After the earthquake struck, the first batch of ACP members immediately left for Balakot on 9 October 2005 to help in the evacuation of the injured and was reinforced by another group of volunteers the following day. During their 10-day operation they were able to rescue 25 men, women and children, as well as recover 47 bodies. In the following days, further teams were dispatched helping with the distribution of relief supplies and evacuating more of the injured.

In the following weeks the organization set about meet the various needs of the crisis, which included:
•Collaborating in establishing a school in Gull Maira, near Gharhi Habbibullah.
•Assisting various national and international NGO’s in their relief efforts.
•Distributing 3 truck loads of relief goods in Muzzaffarabad.
•Donating 20 tons of relief goods to the President’s Relief Funds.
•Organizing a meeting of all tour operators (who all made appreciable contributions to the relief effort) to coordinate with their relief activities.
•Making an appeal to the members of the International Mountaineering and Climbing
Union - UIAA members and the international mountaineering community to provide support to the earthquake victims. Their overwhelming support was received.

Working with the international mountaineering community the ACP is now shifting to a long-term plan of rehabilitation for the area. They are involved in the construction of semi-permanent earthquake resistant steel shelters that will act as schools as well as family shelters. With the support of the tour operators and the Ministry of Tourism, the ACP is also planning to conduct workshops to plan new tourism products for the earthquake-affected areas. The action is aimed at producing regeneration for the area and a livelihood for the now jobless and disabled sections of the population

For more information on the Alpine Club of Pakistan or to donate to their relief work, contact Nazir Sabir at nazirsabir@alpineclub.org.pk or visit the website at:
http://www.alpineclub.org.pk

LINK :
Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP)