Letter 1
APPEAL FOR HELP A RESIDENT OF VILLAGE CHANAL KOT HAS ARRIVED AT ISLAMABAD. HE REPORTS THAT SUFFERERS OF EARTHQUAKE ARE WAITING FOR HELP AS THE AREA SEEMS OUT OF FOCUS OF RESCUE TEAMS. VILLAGE NAME: CHANNAL KOT LIFE LOSSES: 50% HOUSE/BUILDINGS DAMAGE: TOTAL NOW LIVING ALIVE PERSONS: ABOVE 250 LOCATION (NEIGHBOR TOWNS): JABARR GALI, DEWLEE (ALSO AFFECTED) ROUTE: ABBOTABAD-SHINKYAREE-JABARR GALI-CHANAL KOT (CURRENTLY PARTIALLY BLOCKED AHEAD OF SHINKYAREE). ITEMS NEEDED AT PRIORITY: TENTS, FOOD, MEDICINE, WATER PLEASE CONVEY THIS MESSAGE SO THAT THE NEAREST RESCUE TEAM COULD DISPENSE THE ITEMS. CONTACT PERSON: MR. MUHAMMAD MISKEEN PH. # 0997-531985
Letter 2
Hello guys and friends Great job. I am networking between this excellent group and my group of people who are all wanting to and currently contributing. The more networking, the more inspiration and ideas and commitment. My brother Dr. Fuad Khan (a psychiatrist in Peshawar, Pakistan) iscurrently working under EDHI in the remote town of Jabori (you go to Manshera, then Dadar, then Shinkiari and then you reach Jabori). The roads were blocked and people were telling them not to go forward to Shinkiari and onwards. Fuad et al forced and threatened the bulldozer guys to open the roads and they provided security themselves as they were armed with guns. They also convinced the bulldozer guys to keep on opening the road ahead of Jabori. The next village is Bhugrrmang. No one has gone there yet. Not even the media is there. No report of any help. He along with my brother-in-law Dr. Javed Hussain (Internal Med), and Dr.Fawaz (Opthalmologist) took two truck loads of medical supplies (drips, IV canulas, splints, splint powder, anti-biotics, anti-diarrhoeal, pain killers-both IV and oral and other things). They saw 350 plus patients -- 8 of them serious were transferred to Manshera hospital. They saw some very small children, whose whole family members are dead and they are homeless and with no adults. There is no shelter. My mother was talking to my brother... the children were crying in the background and they were trying to comfort them. Fuad et al don't know what to do regarding those children Fuad whose has gone around the town says he has not seen even one single house standing. Fuad says they still feel the earth is shaking (tremors). He says that it almost feels you are in a train while walking. Another truck-load was just sent today from Peshawar by my mother/father and sister which contains more anti-biotic (creams and oral anti-biotics), anti-diarrhea, bandages, drips, tapes, anti-septic solutions) and other basic emergency medical supplies. They are not risking sending food as trucks need security. But food is trickling in now thru EDHI. When they initially entered they were close to being looted, with people hungry and desperate for food. Fuad et al were armed, and initially told the people they were only doctors and had very little food. They said we could not afford to tell people that they had some food in their jeeps because they would have been mobbed. Then as they started seeing patients, they got people's confidence and asked those people not to loot trucks. 4 army trucks had previously turned back because of the threat. They are also helping people get organized. Remember they are mostly uneducated people there. Fuad et al latest report regarding urgent further need is: MEDICAL and SURGICAL Surgical gloves (both sterile and non-sterile) as doctors and nurses are using bare hands. (you can get a 100 pair non-sterile gloves for $5 so even $5 can save lives) Anti-biotics Anti-diarrhoel Anti-pain meds Tons of bandages Sterilized surgical gauzes (bandages) very much needed as there is no sterilization equipment. Unending supply of sticking plaster, tape needed Surgical catguts (stitching suture silk etc) Flashlights (preferrably headlights) to work in total darkness as no electricity Face masks (remember, Pakistan has little concept of disposable face masks) Electric generators Basic emergency lighting Heating Other basic necessities Tents (must must must) --- it is turning very cold and no shelter and constant rain Plastic sheets to cover people(people are sending blankets but if you are wet which they are, there is no use) Ropes (so they can make make-shift shelters) Cooking stoves Fuel Send rain wear Sleeping bags (they are practical) FOR THE DEAD Cloth for kafan (for dead bodies) This is report from right now (talking with my sister Sadia). Today it has stopped raining in Jabori, Dadar area. So supplies are starting again. EDHI continues to supply stuff as well whatever Fuad et al are asking for. I will keep updating you all. Muhammad Asad Khan, MD Psychiatrist Jonesboro, Arkansas
Letter 3
1. The road upto Balakot and beyond is completely clear. There is no damage up until Shinkiari. Abbottabad has some fallen buildings but nothing substantial. Shinkiari and beyond things get bad, but access is very easy and possible. 2. There is a huge traffic jam now, perpetual and unending, most of it caused by cars accompanying trucks who just want to see. Better to ride in the trucks in case someone wants to go personally. 3. There is tremendous chaos and ill-discipline. No PROJECT OFFICE where all relief organizations can come together and establish a pattern of operation. I think 60% of their time is being spent running about doing nothing. 4. The only two organizations working in a disciplined manner with regard to delivery of goods and establishing services are the Army and Edhi. Their camps are organized, their delivery is substantial and the process seems to be running smoothly. We delivered half the stuff to Edhi and the other half to the Army Camp just short of Shinkiari. Subsequently, one of the trucks was taken directly to a village called "Ouggi" which had received very few supplies. 5. There is no need anymore for food. In fact, it is not wise to send uncooked items since there is no means for cooking. What is required now are tents and kafans as first priority, and blankets and epidemic controlling drugs as second priority. 6. Ofcourse, the shortfall is happening seriously in terms of machinery to pull ppl out of the debris. International teams have been very effective, Pakistani teams utterly non-existent except for whatever the Army could pull together in terms of machinery. 7. The first emergency medical camp we saw was in Abbottabad, at Ayub Medical College. It was full of injured and dead. Also quite chaotic but somewhat more organized than the one in Mansehra. 8. The camp in Mansehra needs a PMO! There is all sort of political maneuvering going on to get goods and supplies to specific spots thru specific groups. I saw many politicians there - wont name them! - who were shaking hands and just generally checking up alongw/ their individual camera crews. For the 3 hours that we were there trying to find out who would take custody of our goods, we saw no progress other than doctors who were exhausted with looking after an unending line of injured. I saw more dishonest activity going on than I did serious work other than by the doctors. There were rooms full of medical supplies but they were all getting wet and dirty due to the rain and hailstorm. I didnt see anyone make an effort to move them to safer, closed structures. 8. In terms of communication etc., cellular service is working all the way to the top, i.e till Sinkiari, in patches ofcourse. Whatever communication network you intend to set up, make sure you put ONE TEAM INCHARGE, to organize it. I would advise do it in collaboration with either Edhi or the Army. There isnt any other organization there that I felt was equipped to handle any substantial cross-town, across-territory work. Rgds.
