A small group of karachiite women namely Mobina Diwan, Samia Tariq, Rukhsana Akram, Nighat Daudi and Biba Nageeb Basir and their spouses got together with a resolve to do something meaningful towards the earthquake efforts. After deliberation we decided to supply 100 fully equipped tents to a 100 families. The fund raising efforts were quite successful and we were excited that a little effort on our part and with contribution from family and friends here and abroad we acheived much more than our target.
We were on our way with two hundred fully equipped tents. Drs Abida and Anisurehman were our anchors in Islamabad. They purchased all the contents and virtually turned their home into one big godown.
Irfan and Niggi Daudi, Rukhsana and Biba took off for Islamabad where Najia joined them bringing another 17 tents.
However, by the time we reached Abbotabad we found out that 50 of our tents were confiscated and therefore we were left with 167 tents and their furnishings. 100 sets were sent to Azad Kashmir (Muzaffarabad and Suddangali) and 67 to Abbotabad. The distribution of all these was personally accomplished by the five of us in Abbotabad and Drs Nageeb Basir and Anisurehman(Wali) in Azad Kashmir.
Day 1:
On Fiday 28th October we landed in Islamabad at 6 P.M where Naajia received us at the airport. Rashid Ali Khan and Asma invited us for dinner. We then met up with Abida and Wali at their house where we sorted out all the items before setting out for Abbotabad at 9 P.M, reaching three hours later . We checked into a functional flat in the true Jihadi spirit.
At 2.00 A.M an earthquake measuring 6.1 lasting approximately a minute woke us up violently. The rumbling sound the earthquake made was terrifying. For a moment each and everyone of us had flash backs about what must have gone through the minds of those frightened souls many of whom never made it on that terrible October 8th morning. Mercifully we were spared of any further morbid thoughts as the shaking passed away without any damage.
Day 2:
Total lack of sleep due to Biba’s musical phone constantly ringing and Nageeb’s cross questioning about the tent situation at 5.30 A.M. After this a little fun at the Daudi’s expense as to “whether or not to fast” as we were in Safar.
All set to leave at 9.15 A.M. We arrived at the godown in Abbotabad, picked up the food parcels and tents, and with our guides took off. We took the high road with two pick ups; with Irfan in the lead, Naajia’s Hilux in the middle with the girls and tents, chased by the food parcels in a pickup.
After driving through Garhi Habib Ullah, by which time Rukhsana had reached the dizzy heights of nausea and motion sickness-so much for the fasting few and so much for the mothers taab- e- daar two, we reached Siral at the height of 5200 ft. Not seeing the need to distribute our precious tents there, since the eye could not catch the site of too much devastation, we decided to return to base. On the way we stopped and delivered two tents to Shahjees son and two other deserving people. We arrived back in Abbotabad at 5.30 P.M. After a little rest we went to Ayub Medical College tented hospital. There we delivered clothes, food, sweets, and money to the sick. We met and talked to so many of the unfortunate souls.
It saddened us to see such misery about us and our incapacity to really help. The ‘helping hands’ staff from UK were very co-operative and also very dedicated workers, who seemed to be practicing humane medicine in the true spirit.
Later that night we met up with Maj Shakeel, (our main contact) and Dr Saad Niaz and Dr Naseerudin.
To bed on a sad note.
Day 3:
Early morning after loading up our supply of tents, rations, stoves and gas cylinders, we took to the silk route. Passing through Mansera, Dhochial and Shinkiari, we reached Battal-our destination. All the way, the signs of devastation increased. The earthquake here had destroyed all homes and people were living in makeshift tents. Aid was visible but at a minimal level. We had reached the place where we felt we could make a little difference.
We arrived at the hospital which had collapsed. It was being run by an AKU graduate Dr Ejaz, who despite personal tragedy had taken charge and had organised some relief. His brother Ilyas, who had lost his daughter, was a tremendous help in identifying the villagers who needed help.
We walked the villages–destruction and devastation everywhere to be seen but–a people of strength and perseverance met us there. The resilience of these people is remarkable; this carnage was “an act of God, therefore out of control according to them, so they accepted and got on with life. Mostly a peaceful people patiently awaiting their turn to be helped. Here we distributed “parchis” based on need and then reimbursed them at the end, with items from the godown near the hospital (where we had stored our things).
This accomplished, we forged ahead to Balakot. The army presence was very visible on the way-with check posts to deter looters, and the NWFP Police Patrol guarding the route. Water tankers ferried water to Balakot all the way but we didn’t see any signs of cranes and such likes. Medical and other camps had been set up by many political parties and foreigners.
We arrived in Balakot. Tears – silences – the car was quiet. Those of us who had been there in better times remembered –those of us who hadn’t could visualize what it must have been.
A monstrous giant had trodden on the town crushing all in its path, leaving the truth unrecognizable. A town where Shaheed had taken on the Sikhs and crushed them, laid crushed itself. The brave people carried on, now half a population, stoically, amazingly. No recrimation, no raving, no ranting, just carried on.
Shops open under caved in buildings selling fruit and vegetables, a town coming to grips with its tragedy. A town making the first moves to begin living again, despite its loss.
We returned a quiet crew–emotionally drained –to Abbotabad our haven of tranquility. Naajia left –we were now down to four.
Day 4:
That morning, a flurry of phone calls, and the decision was taken that after all we were not going to Muzaffarabad. In fact, we were going shopping for “chatais” and gas lamps because our “Battal” group wanted those items urgently.
First of course, we had to visit the D.H.Q hospital which Irfan had helped set up on his first trip (on the second day of the earthquake).We still had some ‘money’ envelopes that we had kept for distributing to the injured. The D.H.Q was full of the sorry victims of the earthquake. We visited three wards full of women, children and young men. These were the unfortunate who having escaped the earthquake got burnt with tent fires. These were the orphans–the fatherless or the motherless. These were the amputees. The saddest place on earth. The place where we needed to cry and then resume our work. And these people, not a tear in their eyes, not a complaint on their lips, were just sitting on their beds, waiting patiently for what life was going to deal them next. We truly felt helpless. What can a little envelope of money do?
And so again a grim bunch, we headed for the shops –bought and delivered the goods. Then we left for Islamabad; so easy for us –just leave, back to our life. What will happen to these unfortunate souls we leave behind, with nothing but misery to look forward to?
Day 5:
Back in Karachi. Our routine lives resumed.
