Focus Humanitarian Assistance in Gilgit / Chitral – Spring 2008

 

Community based disaster risk management training in Gilgit

Sixteen Master Trainers attended the first FOCUS community based disaster reduction management Training of Trainers workshop, in Gilgit, northern Pakistan between 19th February and 1st March 2008. The workshops aimed to strengthen local community skills by covering a range of technical educational sessions including basic search and rescue, fire fighting, resource mobilisation and first aid techniques; the last of which were led by the Pakistan Red Crescent. These Master Trainers are now equipped to conduct localised disaster reduction management training in their regions. Local village and community leaders were also among those who participated in the training, enabling them to be integral stakeholders of local disaster resilience programmes.

 

Providing relief in Chitral

The province of Chitral was badly affected by a number of natural hazards including heavy snow and avalanches. Communities suffered through loss of lives and damage to homes and crops. FOCUS, alongside agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network government and the Ismaili National Council provided immediate food and fuel and other humanitarian relief items to affected families for the winter months ahead. In December 2007, FOCUS in collaboration with Aga Khan Social Welfare Board and the Ismaili Councils for Upper and Lower Chitral, conducted a relief assessment which resulted in the distribution of winter materials and humanitarian relief for more than 260 severely affected families in the districts of Sonoghore, Wasich and Garmchashma

 

http://www.akdn.org/news/focus/spring2008.htm

 

Focus Humanitarian Assistance is an international group of agencies established in Europe, North America and South Asia to complement the provision of emergency relief, principally in the developing world. It helps people in need reduce their dependence on humanitarian aid and facilitates their transition to sustainable self-reliant, long-term development. Focus Humanitarian Assistance is affiliated with the Aga Khan Development Network, a group of institutions working to improve opportunities and living conditions, for people of all faiths and origins, in specific regions of the developing world. Underlying the establishment of FOCUS by the Ismaili Muslim community is a history of successful initiatives to assist people struck by natural and man-made disasters in South and Central Asia, and Africa.